The usability of administrative data for register-based censuses.

The Dutch 2011 Census tables were produced by combining existing register and sample survey data. Since the last census based on a complete enumeration was held in 1971, the willingness of the population to participate has fallen sharply. Statistics Netherlands no longer uses census questionnaires and has found an alternative in the register-based census, using only existing data. The register-based census is cheaper and more socially acceptable. The table results of the Netherlands are not only comparable with earlier Dutch censuses, but also with those of the other countries in the 2011 European Census Round, although most other countries do not yet have register-based censuses. The Dutch Census 2011 cannot be considered in isolation from its predecessors. This most recent census builds on a rich tradition of traditional population and housing censuses carried out in the period 1829–1971. For the European Union censuses of 1981 and 1991, Statistics Netherlands provided alternative census data consisting of a combination of register and survey data, but without complete numerical consistency between census tables and without detailed information about regions and specific categories. This combined data provision was continued for the censuses of 2001 and 2011, by which time it was possible to compile completely consistent data at a very detailed level. The 2011 Census data are more detailed than those of 2001, and include the hypercubes (high dimensional tables) that are mandatory for all EU countries under the 2008 European Census Act. The challenge for the future is to keep comparability, but to improve the timeliness of the European census results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]