Abstract

Spain has undergone a profound transformation in its census methodology over recent years. In 2001, Spain still conducted a traditional census largely based on extensive fieldwork and direct data collection. A decade later, in 2011, the country moved towards a combined approach, integrating survey data with administrative information. This transition was further consolidated in 2021 with the implementation of a register-based census, relying primarily on administrative registers. Overall, these changes represent a major shift towards more efficient, modern, and data-driven census production.
Reaching the implementation of a fully register-based census has been strongly supported by the major progress achieved in Spain’s population register (Padrón), managed by the National Statistics Institute (INE). Over time, the Padrón has improved in terms of coverage, consistency, and its capacity to provide timely information on the resident population. Equally important has been the ability to link the Padrón with other administrative sources held by different institutions. These include, for example, labour, education, and social security registers, which enrich the available information and enhance overall data quality. Together, these developments have made it possible to produce a more integrated and robust statistical system.
All these changes have enabled Spain, now approaching a population of 50 million inhabitants, to move towards a much more frequent and responsive census system. In particular, they have made it possible to implement an annual population census based on administrative registers, ensuring regular and up-to-date information on demographic dynamics. In parallel, Spain has also established a housing census framework that can be updated more often than in the past. As a result, a new Housing Census is already planned to be carried out again in 2026, reinforcing the country’s commitment to modern and timely official statistics.