Contact telephones at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information regarding 2021 CENSUS:
+ 389 (0)75 268 732 (mobile, Viber, WhatsApp);
+ 389 (0)75 268 745 (mobile, Viber, WhatsApp).
Contact telephones at the State Statistic Office
071 48 33 13 (mobile, Viber, WhatsApp); - for Macedonian language
071 48 32 91 (mobile, Viber, WhatsApp); - for Albanian language
Useful links on 2021 CENSUS:
The census of population, households and dwellings is defined as a statistical operation used to perform an official count of the population of the country at regular intervals (usually every ten years), from its smallest geographical territorial units (for the needs of the Census, the so-called. census counties (CCs)), up to the state level, together with the defined demographic, educational, economic, and social characteristics of the population.
The census of population, households and dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia will be conducted in the period from 1 to 21 April 2021 (critical point: 24:00 hrs. on 31 March 2021)
The competences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the 2021 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia arise from Article 23 of the Law on the 2021 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia No.19/2021), and are aimed at ensuring equal principles for organizing the census and equal application of the census methodology when conducting it.
The obligations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are listed in the Guidelines on Self-counting/Self-registration of Persons Assigned to Duties in the Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts of the Republic of North Macedonia and their family members, adopted by the Director of the State Statistical Office (SSO) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and scheduled to be conducted from 1 to 15 March 2021.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and in keeping with its competences as laid down under the Law on the 2021 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia (hereinafter: Law on the 2021 Census), in the period from 1 to 15 March 2021, the State Statistical Office (SSO) shall organize the early self-count of the persons assigned to the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad, as well as of the members of their families staying with them abroad.
- The early census of these persons, scheduled to take place in a period prior to the one in which the regular census is to be performed in the country (from 1 to 21 April 2021), will allow for this category of persons/Census Units to be fully covered and counted, seeing as, at the time of the Census, they will be absent from their place of (usual) residence in the Republic of North Macedonia, and all with a view to:
- collecting complete and quality census data for this category of persons/Census Units; and
- ensuring the equal principles for organizing and applying the Methodology for Conducting the Census.
1. UNITS (PERSONS) TO BE COVERED BY THE EARLY SELF-COUNT
In keeping with Article 23 of the Law on the Census, the persons/Census Units to be covered by the early self-count are the following:
- the persons who habitually reside in the Republic of North Macedonia, but who, at the time of conducting the Census are on service in the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad, as well as the members of their families staying abroad together with them.
2. CRITICAL POINT AND PERIOD OF CONDUCTING THE CENSUS
The census of population, households and dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia will be conducted in the period from 1 to 21 April 2021.
The data collected during the self-count will be recorded as per the status registered at 24:00 hrs. on 31 March 2021, i.e. at midnight between 31 March and 1 April 2021. Statistical science identifies that time frame as a “Census critical point”.
NOTE: The count of the persons as listed in item one of this here Instruction is to be conducted in the period from 1 March to 15 March 2021, and in keeping with the status expected to be recorded at the Census critical point (24:00 hrs. on 31 March 2021).
3. BODIES AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT THE SELF-COUNT
In order to conduct the early self-count, the MFA should ensure the following:
- A list of persons who are serving in the diplomatic missions and consular posts (DMCP) of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad at the time of the Census, as well as their family members who are staying abroad with them;
- A list of DMCP headquarters in the countries where the aforementioned persons are conducting service;
- Assigning contact persons abroad as authorized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who are to provide support for the conduct of the early self-count of this category of persons/Census Units;
To conduct the early self-count, the SSO should ensure the following:
- Functionality of the census application used to conduct the self-count;
- Assigning contact persons as authorized by the Director of the SSO who are to provide methodological and technical support for the conducting of the early self-count;
- Guidelines on conducting the self-count/self-registration of persons serving in the diplomatic missions and consular posts (DMCP) of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad as well as of their family members staying abroad together with them.
In addition to its obligations arising from Article 23 of the Census Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also assigned another very important role in conducting the self-census of persons/Census Units residing abroad on any grounds, and that is sharing the media campaign with persons absent abroad and motivating them to self-count/self-register. Such persons include those working in the United Nations and the organizations within its system, those working in representative offices or representatives of chambers of commerce abroad, those assigned to offices of businesses abroad, military representatives of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad, and students and citizens who are engaged by the Republic of North Macedonia on the basis of international, technical, and other cooperation, as well as the members of families/households residing abroad together with all of the aforementioned.
This also includes all persons - citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia who reside abroad on any grounds, regardless of the length of their stay.
This activity is to be conducted in the period from 1 March to 21 April 2021.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all diplomatic missions and consular posts of North Macedonia abroad are encouraged to use all possible channels for sharing information on the Census and self-count. In doing so, it is recommended for them to use all contacts with citizens', religious, and student associations, all with a view to allowing as many citizens of North Macedonia staying abroad as possible to self-register. The purpose of this activity is to collect data on the people who have moved abroad and their demographic, educational, and economic and social status, as well as to identify the places in North Macedonia they had moved from, and the period of their moving abroad. This data is extremely important for the analysis and development of strategies and policies to prevent or at least reduce the emigration waves and plan development policies that will provide conditions for their return to the homeland.
In its media campaign, the State Statistical Office is to pay special attention to this extremely important target group and will try to reach these people via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the country abroad, their websites and social media channels, and reminded them that, although they emigrated from the homeland, they are still part of it and by self-counting they will be contributing to the future development of their country of origin.
4. MANNER OF CONDUCTING SELF-COUNT/REGISTRATION
The self-registration of the persons in the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad shall be conducted via the census application which can be accessed at the following websites:
Self-registering shall imply filling in the census application by the persons who are Census Units themselves.
The household data shall be entered by an adult member of the household best familiar with that data, whereas for children of up to 15 years of age - by one of the parents, adoptive parents or the guardians.
The person entering answers to Census questions shall be obligated to provide accurate and complete data on all questions.
The key to conducting the census shall be the national identification numbers (NIN) of citizens/ persons being counted.
The national identification numbers (NIN) of persons being registered shall be collected as entered in appropriate personal identification documents of the foregoing persons such as ID cards, travel documents, birth certificates or other relevant documents.
5. PROTECTION OF CENSUS DATA COLLECTED
The personal data collected in the Census is confidential and will be used for statistical purposes only. It is subject to special protection, to be ensured throughout all stages of the Census (collection, control, entry, processing and dissemination), and in keeping with the provisions of the Census Law, the Law on State Statistics and national regulations governing personal data protection.
The definitions of household and family are explained below in this Guide.
6. ORDER OFSELF-COUNT/SELF-REGISTRATION
For persons listed in item 1 of this Guide who are living abroad alone (single households) or staying together with members of their households/ families (multi-member households), the self-description shall take place in the following order:
1. Self-description starts by logging onto the SSO website at the following links:
2. Logging in/registering to complete self-counting shall only be done from abroad - the country in which the person logging in resides (logging in/registering from North Macedonia shall not be possible or allowed), and the key to self-counting shall be the national identification numbers (NIN) of the persons being registered and their electronic addresses;
3. After successfully completing registration, the person being counted shall be notified via e-mail of the password to be entered in order to start self-registration. After receiving the verification code, it would be advisable to change that password, i.e. to create a new one;
4. After successfully logging in, self-counting may start, and the application will allow for it to be done by selecting one of the languages offered as chosen by the person being self-counted;
5. The census application shall display seven different (screens) pages, to refer to as follows:
Ø Address and identification data - Screen 1,
Ø Migrations - Screen 2,
Ø Marital status and ethno-cultural status (ethnicity, religion and mother tongue) - Screen 3,
Ø Education status - Screen 4,
Ø Economic status - Screen 5,
Ø Livelihood - Screen 6, and
Ø Disability status - Screen 7;
6. In its content (features for which data shall be collected), the census application shall be the same as the census application to be used for conducting the census in the country, whereby technical and organizational measures shall be applied in keeping with relevant regulations governing personal data protection.