What are they used for

The Census produces essential information for economic and social development and it is an indispensable tool for informed planning of services and policymaking in a wide range of areas. Census information is therefore relevant for the public and private sectors, as well as for citizens in general.

Human capital is a determining factor for the well-being and progress of societies. The purpose of the Census is to provide information that allows in-depth and accurate knowledge of this capital, at national, regional, and local level and, at a finer level, for small geographical areas or sub-populations. This information is fundamental for decision-making and research by States, governments, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders.

The Census data allows to obtain, for each geographical level, a “photograph” of the people and their living conditions. This way, we know how many we are, how we are, where we live, how we live.

Census data on population and housing are therefore crucial to identify, for example:

The number of schools, nurseries or nursing homes that are needed;
Where should roads, hospitals, etc. be built;
How to distribute the funds across Municipalities.
In addition, the comparison with data from previous censuses enables the analysis of changes in the Portuguese society. Census data enables the social and economic structure of the country to be analysed, its evolution and trends, as well as the comparison with other societies and countries.

Thus, the Census is a unique and renewable source of data that, by characterising the population and the housing stock, is a valuable diagnostic, planning and intervention tool in a wide range of areas, such as

In the definition of objectives and priorities for global development policies;
In regional and local planning;
In market research and opinion polls;
In social sciences research.