Media campaign accompanies launch of first national census for 14 years

Starting on Tuesday, 40 million people will have to answer questions to 180,000 talliers who are conducting the first national census for 14 years. Besides general questions concerning age, maritial status, education, household description and work, there will also be additional questions. Women will receive a special optional form, which will include questions about their family and the number of children they are planning to have. The media are running an information campaign to encourage the public to cooperate with the talliers. It is compulsory for every citizen to fill in the census, or face a large fine. As in other countries, the census will show how Polish society has changed and will help understand the new phenomenon of homelessness and unemployment. At least 2,500 statisticians will analyze the answers for three years. (Zycie, pp. 1, 3; Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A5) A.D.