Census of population: when and where is it taking place in 2027?

The population census concerns the entire population living in France. But it does not take place at the same time for everyone, the years differ according to the municipalities:

• for municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants, it takes place every 5 years and concerns the entire population;
• for municipalities with 10,000 inhabitants or more, it takes place every year but on a sample of 8% of addresses that differs each year.

Census dates in 2027

For municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants:

• from 21 january to 20 february in metropolitan France, the Caribbean, French Guiana and Mayotte;
• from 4 february to 6 march in Reunion.

For municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants:

• from 21 january to 27 february in metropolitan France, the Caribbean, French Guiana and Mayotte;
• from 4 february to 13 march in Reunion.

How is the census conducted?

If you are concerned by the census in 2027, you will be notified by a letter from your town hall or by the visit of the enumerator. He has a tricolor card signed by the mayor, with his photo and his name. Any person enumerated is entitled to demand the presentation of this card and can also verify his identity by contacting the town hall.

You can also register via an online questionnaire, when the campaign opens. The process is simple and fast. The enumerator will give you a notice containing your login credentials to the site le-census-et-moi.fr.

If you are unable to respond via the Internet, the enumerator will provide you with the necessary documents:

• a housing sheet that includes questions about the characteristics and comfort of the housing;
• as many individual reports as there are people in the household with questions about age, place of birth, nationality, level of education, place of residence, professional activity;
• explanatory notes available in French and in certain foreign languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, Portuguese, Romanian, German, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian).

The enumerator will agree with you on an appointment to pick them up. If you wish, it can help you complete them. You can also send them directly to the town hall or the Regional Directorate of Insee.

Responses to census questionnaires are mandatory.

What is the census for?

Carried out by the French national institute of statistics and economic studies (Insee) and the communes, the census makes it possible to know how many persons live in France and to establish the official population of each commune. It provides information on the characteristics of the population: age, occupation, means of transport used, housing conditions...

It is thanks to this data that projects that concern you can be designed and carried out.

These figures give rise to the State's contribution to the budget of the municipalities. The number of inhabitants depends on the number of elected members of the municipal council, the determination of the voting method, the number of pharmacies, etc. Knowledge of these statistics is one of the elements that make it possible to define national public policies. At the local level, it is used to provide the necessary public facilities (schools, hospitals, transport infrastructure, etc.). The analysis of these data also helps to target housing needs, it allows companies to better know their clients and associations to better meet the needs of the population.