A trial population and housing census will be held from August 28 to October 10, in preparation for the proper census next year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced.

The trial census will take place in selected sectors in 11 localities, including Chisinau, Balti and Comrat.

According to the NBS, a trial census is a mandatory step in preparation for a national census, with the purpose of testing the census questionnaires, data collection tools and various other organizational aspects. The trial census also helps to better understand the challenges and obstacles that might arise during next year’s census, thus ensuring a high quality of the collected information, said the NBS.

The trial census will cover residents of Moldova and people who are abroad for work, studies and other purposes for periods shorter that 12 months. It will also target residential buildings, both occupied or unoccupied, as well as non-residential buildings that are used as homes.

The staff involved in the census will be issued identification cards and distinctive wear and gear, such as hats, t-shirts and tablets, bearing the “RPL” logo to be recognized by the population. If no one answers the door, the canvasser will leave a note to make arrangements for another visit. Selectively, some households will be revisited by reviewers to see how the canvassers did their job.

Per UN recommendations, population and housing censuses in Moldova are taken every ten years.