Singaporeans: who are are you?

The Census of Population 2010 starts today, the fifth census conducted since Singapore’s independence.

Census 2010 will adopt a register-based approach, with the Singapore Department of Statistics sending out notification letters to the selected households from March to June 2010. Detailed information will be collected from some 200,000 households while broad characteristics of the population will be obtained from administrative records. Information to be collected relate to demographic profile, economic status, education and transportation, and other data.

Chief Statistician, Ms Wong Wee Kim, said, "The Census of Population is the largest national statistical exercise conducted in Singapore. It collects a wide range of information on population and households. Statistics compiled from Census will serve as key inputs for policy planning and programme formulation by the public sector agencies for the population and the community. We would greatly appreciate the cooperation of the households in providing information requested for in Census 2010."

The selected households can choose to submit their Census 2010 returns either online or through the toll-free Census 2010 Hotline or via face-to-face interview. Responses from households will be kept in confidence in accordance with the Statistics Act.