Leading up to the 2020 round of censuses, the U.S. Census Bureau is releasing a series of technical notes on Select Topics in International Censuses. Each note highlights a new subject, method, or operation relevant to census planners in middle- to low-income countries. These notes complement the U.N. Principles and Recommendations on Population and Housing Censuses by describing some topics in more detail. Sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Select Topics in International Censuses series is designed for staff in national statistical offices to assist them in addressing some of the significant issues in the 2020 round of censuses.

U.N. Principles and Recommendations on Population and Housing Censuses

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Planning & Management

These technical notes address the challenges and risks national statistical offices must plan for and manage when undertaking a major operation like a census.

Field Operations

These technical notes outline international guidelines and considerations for field-based operations to ensure high quality census enumeration.

Mapping

These technical notes detail the crucial role geographic data play through the census lifecycle for high quality data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Data Processing

These technical notes explain data processing considerations and techniques recommended for a census.

Questionnaire Content & Development

These technical notes summarize international recommendations and standards for measuring key social and demographic characteristics from census data .

Analysis & Practice

These technical notes characterize data-driven insights derived by analyzing census data.

Publicity & Communication

These technical notes provide guidance on census publicity and effective data presentation strategies for engaging diverse audiences with census data.