Preface

Since its earliest years, the United Nations has issued a series of international principles and recommendations on population and housing censuses to assist national statistical offices and census officials, throughout the world, in planning and carrying out improved and cost-effective censuses. The first set of principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses was issued in 1958 at the request of the Statistical Commission of the United Nations in response to a need for developing international standards and as a cornerstone of the first World Population and Housing Census Programme. Although the scope of these recommendations has evolved over time in response to current practices and national needs, they usually provide guidance on the main characteristics of population and housing censuses, general material on census operations and methods and more detailed guidance on the content of censuses.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions