Towards a new regulatory framework for European population statistics
Census data and demographic statistics are of great relevance for policy-making at the European, national, regional and local levels. At a time where the European Union (EU) is undergoing major demographic changes, driven by an ageing population, low fertility rates and increased migration flows, demand for accurate and timely population statistics rises. In parallel, owing to progress in digitalisation, statistical data collection methods are shifting from traditional population censuses and surveys towards the use of administrative data. Such register-based data collection methods bear great potential in terms of improved data frequency, granularity and burden reduction. The modernisation of European population statistics is one of the action points included in the European statistical programme 2021-2027, and part of a wider programme to modernise social statistics. Under the current regulatory framework, Eurostat collects population data under a number of separate legal acts, covering demographic, census and migration data. One of them, Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics, is set to expire in 2028. According to the 2022 Commission work programme, the Commission will present a legislative proposal on population statistics in the second quarter of 2022. The new proposal should integrate, in a single legal act, annual demographic and migration statistics and decennial census data, as well as regional and geo-referenced population data. It should provide for timelier, more coherent and more specific population statistics that reflect migration more adequately and facilitate the use of administrative data sources.
Briefing