How much does the Population Census cost? - The budget of the Population Census was estimated at R$ 1.677 billion. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) belongs to the federal public administration and is subordinate to The Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management. The census activities are included in the Federal Budget.
How is the budget of the Population Census calculated? - A Population Census is a costly endeavor in any country, even more in Brazil with its 8,512,000 km2 of a heterogeneous territory, often difficult to access. The budget took into account the investments in communication infrastructure, equipment acquisition, advertising campaign, personnel expenditure and operation costing. Of this budget, 67% will be spent with personnel, 19% with costing and 14% with investments. The budget encompasses the period between 2008 and 2011, though 70% of its whole amount will be spent along the three or four months of data collection.
When did IBGE begin to prepare the Population Census? - IBGE began to prepare the Population Census back in 2007, intensifying the activities in 2008.
You can find below a summary schedule of the actions undertaken in the Population Census.
- 2007: beginning of the planning for the 2010 Population Census;
- August 2008: census mapping began to be switched from analogic to digital;
- June 2008 up to February 2009: tests and pilots of questionnaires and systems were accomplished;li>
- September 2009: Census Rehearsal;
- August 2009 to February 2010: acquisition of additional equipment to collect the Population Census (handheld computers and others);
- October 2009 up to March 2010: recruitment and selection of temporary personnel;
- March up to July 2010: training of the data collection and supervisory teams;
- August 1st, 2010: beginning of data collection (data collection period: three to four months, approximately);
- December 2010: dissemination of first results
Did IBGE undertake any "test" for the Population Census? - Early planning and testing are key to the success of the Population Census. Assessments and analyses of previous Population Censuses were undertaken during the planning phase of the 2010 Population Census, as well as cognitive and pilot testing for specific topics like: Disabled Persons and Indian Population, among others.
What is the "Census Rehearsal"? - As the name says, it is a kind of rehearsal for the Population Census, key to assess, improve and correct, if needed, the expected procedures. The Census Rehearsal was carried out between September and November 2009 in the municipality of Rio Claro (SP), in the districts of Santo Antonio do Tauá (PA), Guaporé (RS), Fazenda Nova (GO) and in the district of Bonfim da Feira of the municipality of Feira de Santana (BA), as well as in an enumeration area in an Indian land (Aldeia Velha, located in Porto Seguro-BA), taking the night of July 31-August 1st, 2009 as the reference date. Questionnaires were tested (understanding of the questions by the population), as well as logistics (for example, data transmission and storage).
How was the city for the Census Rehearsal selected? - A diversified economy (agriculture, industry, retail trade and services) and the availability of higher education were the factors that made Rio Claro (SP) the selected city for the Census Rehearsal, and allowed IBGE to test the questionnaires on topics like labor, income and education.
What is the census mapping? - The census mapping is known by IBGE as the collection of maps, including addresses, locality names, satellite images and other elements which represent the way the enumerators will track to collect the data. The updating of the Territorial Base for the 2010 Population Census started with the digitalization of the maps used in the 2000 Population Census, followed by the integration of the urban and rural bases. Properly speaking, the updating of the base began after the acquisition of images from Google Earth and from the Japanese ALOS satellite, as well as of ortho-photos (high definition aerial photos).
In municipalities up to 20 thousand inhabitants, the association of addresses with maps was made by IBGE’s local offices. In municipalities with more than 20 thousand inhabitants, routing companies were hired to associate addresses with maps. This work involved multidisciplinary teams within IBGE. The mapping was checked during the pre-data collection phase between April and May.
What is an "enumeration area"? - The enumeration area is the territorial unit for the purpose of file control. It should be a continuous area, located at a single urban or rural frame, sized in terms of territory and number of housing units that can be visited by only one enumerator. As a result, each enumerator will collect the data aiming at covering the assigned enumeration area.
How many enumeration areas are there in Brazil? - The mapping built for the 2010 Population Census divided the country into 314 thousand enumeration areas.
How does IBGE reach people’s houses? - The enumerator covers all the ways in the enumeration area during the data collection, listing all the addresses found, which will update the National Address File for Statistical Purposes (CNEFE).
What is the so-called pre-data collection and why does IBGE carry it out? - During the pre-data collection period, more than 20 thousand supervisors list the addresses of both residential and non-residential units and gather information about their surroundings - for example, paving, lighting and afforestation of blocks and street faces. These lists will be associated with the maps of the enumeration areas, which will be subsequently digitalized, allowing the enumerators to know in advance the addresses to be visited. This work was carried out after April 12 in the municipalities with more than 1,500 urban housing units; and after May 7 in the municipalities with less than 1,500 urban housing units.
Which inter-municipal border does IBGE take into account? - The inter-municipal borders are established by the state legislative houses. As a result, the enumerated population living in a disputed inter-municipal area will be included in the municipality that encompasses that area according to the state law. Which intra-municipal border does IBGE take into account? The intra-municipal borders (neighborhoods, districts) are established by the municipal legislative houses. As a result, IBGE will respect the legislation in force in those municipalities with intra-municipal data.
How many area and subarea coordination units are there? - In order to cover approximately 8.5 million square kilometers of the Brazilian territory and its 5,565 municipalities in the census operation, IBGE created 1,283 subareas (groups, on average, of five municipalities), distributed along 222 areas. Each subarea will have its own Coordination, subordinate to its respective Area Coordination. Each Coordination will count on an IBGE professional in charge during the census operation.
How to assure that an enumerator will visit the area assigned to them and not to another enumerator? - The handheld devices where the data will be stored use GPS technology, assuring that all the national territory will be enumerated and that each enumerator will visit the area assigned to them, since each device will be programmed to work in the enumeration area previously defined. In addition, the enumerators will be permanently followed by the supervisory team responsible for the data collection.
How to make sure that the enumerator has applied the questionnaires to the housing units they visited? - The enumerator’s work will be followed up in real time. The information they collected will be downloaded, in the Collection Unit, into a system of indicators that will follow up the evolution of their work. From that point onwards, the collected information will be assessed in terms of compliance with expected value ranges, as well as adequacy to the expected schedule. In addition, a supervisory plan will follow up the work of the enumerator, including the correct application of the questionnaires.
What kind of housing unit is most difficult for an enumerator to visit? - IBGE assumes that residents in de luxe condos and in violent areas are the most difficult to interview. The former, due to the restrictions to strangers in condos; the latter, due to the difficulty to guarantee the safety of the enumerator. And, in both cases, due to the difficulty to find persons in their housing units during business hours.
How prepared is IBGE to handle difficulties in the enumeration of condominium residents? - IBGE has created an awareness campaign directed at condominium administrators, managers and porters, presenting information about the importance of the Census for the country. This material also shows how one can identify the enumerator - so as to ensure safety to the residents of each condominium or individual dwelling visited.
How prepared is IBGE to handle difficulties in the enumeration of persons living in violent areas? - IBGE has put some initiatives into effect in order to facilitate the enumeration of populations living in highly violent urban areas. In Rio de Janeiro, for example, job posts have been created in these areas to motivate residents to work as enumerators, through enrollment in a Selection Process.
How can the enumerator be identified? - The enumerator can be identified by their uniform (2010 Census vest and cap), data collection equipment (PDA) and identity card (with a name and photograph). IBGE has a toll-free number (0800-7218181) available for those who need to check the identity of IBGE enumerators.
Can the enumerator visit housing units on the weekend or in the evening? - Yes. Each enumerator is responsible for organizing their own visiting schedule, so that they can visit all the housing units of their enumeration area. In case it is not possible to speak to residents during working hours, the enumerator will need to pay visits in the evening or even on weekends.
Does the enumerator have to enter the interviewee's home in order to apply the questionnaire? - No. The resident can answer the questionnaire outside the housing unit if that makes them feel more comfortable or safer.
Does IBGE request any documents to prove information provided by the interviewee? How can one know the report given is true? - No, IBGE does not require any documents to check the reliability of information given. Also because of that, IBGE works on several initiatives to make the population aware of the importance of answering the questionnaire properly.
Are people obliged to answer the Census? - The 2010 Census is a responsibility of IBGE and of society, for, by cooperating with the Census operation, people also play their role as citizens. Law no. 5,534, of November 1968 demands the compulsory provision of statistical information. Article 1 establishes that every natural or legal person in public or private law under the jurisdiction of the Brazilian legal system is entitled to provide information required by IBGE, aiming at the accomplishment of the National Statistical Plan (Decree-Law no. 161, of February 13, 1967, Article 2, § 2).
Will the respondent be subject to any type of punishment, in case of refusal? - According to law no. 5,534, of November of 1968, "not providing information on fixed schedules" results in a fine of up to 10 (ten) times the highest minimum wage in effect in the country. Paying a fine does not exempt the offender from the obligation towards information provision, but the primary offender who provides the required information according to the schedule established at the notice of violation will be exempted from the fine. However, IBGE knows that information given adds to efforts towards citizenship. Also, that it is more useful to have data provided as respondents see the importance of our job for the planning and development of the nation.