Throughout the ongoing controversy in Canada over the end of the mandatory long form census, many have argued that Denmark (among other Scandinavian countries) no longer conducts a census. I asked fellow data professional and blogger Henrik Liliendahl Sørensen to explain how his country manages population data as a guest contributor to BIProfessional.com:
Census Options: The Scandinavian Model
The Scandinavian model exemplified through the Danish variant does not require citizens to periodically fill out a census form. Census information is extracted automatically when needed from administrative registers.
When a new Danish citizen is born (typically at a hospital) the child is assigned a national identification number within minutes. The ID is linked to the mother’s ID and, if she is married, also automatically to her husband as father as well. Otherwise the father’s ID (if possible) is obtained within a short time. In case of immigration, procedures exist for assigning national ID and collecting basic data. All information is kept in a centralized citizen registry.
The less romantic consequence of a marriage is that the two national IDs are linked in the citizen registry from that day forward. A divorce will result in a deactivation of the link.
All buildings, and if not a single family house, all the apartments within, are reflected in a centralized registry. When establishing a new house or apartment a lot of data is captured and if the residence is changed the data will be updated.
Your place of living is a relation between your national ID and the unique ID of the residence having the valid-from-date being the day you moved in until the day you move on is registered as the valid-to-date.
Practically all events in the life of a citizen involving a public sector body are logged with the national ID. This also includes healthcare and interaction with financial services and employer relations where mandatory reporting exists.
The technical opportunities for compiling census information based on these registrations are plenty. However every case must be approved by a body within the authorities and wherever possible data must be made anonymous in the actual processing.
#1 by Richard Nygard on July 27, 2010 - 12:21 pm
I had a part-time job in Blaine, MN (northern suburb of Minneapolis, MN) with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Americans would not be willing to go with the National ID #, as we are too independent minded. Unfortunately, it also requires a huge effort to recruit, train and carry out the census every 10 years. Also there are no mandatory participation with penalties and so a fair amount of people don’t get counted and their govermental units lose funding as a result. I know in Australia there are financial penalties as a result of non-participation.
Sincerely,
Richard Nygard
#2 by Joanne on July 14, 2011 - 1:14 am
I was just wondering where you would stand if you were a British citizen, ie the parents of the child were both british and there child was born in a Danish hospital, would the birth then be registered in Britain or Denmark and would the child be a british or danish citizen?
#3 by Berlin Hospitals on July 26, 2011 - 12:01 pm
There is loads of red tape when it comes to citizenship, possibly your best way forward is to go to your local citizens advise centre who will be able to offer you all the information you should need.
#4 by Oliver on August 5, 2011 - 10:32 am
It really does depend on whereabouts you are in the world, as to whether you are able to class yourself as that countries citizen, I totally agree with the above and would advise approaching the local council and registrars and births they will usually be able to help in your plight of discovering the truth.
#5 by Jo on August 9, 2011 - 5:06 am
I think that the post above gives the best bit of advise if you are wanting to find out about citizenship, the local registrars office will certainly be able to help in this matter.