1. Ethnic characteristics as topics in the next Census of Population, 2011 in the Republic of Macedonia Blagica Novkovska Blagica Novkovska Director of the State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia

2. Background  The decision on having or not having questions on ethnic characteristics in the population census is an internal issue of a given country, and depends on the historical and political circumstances and on the level of socioeconomic development.  In the Republic of Macedonia, a country with multiethnic composition of the population, there is a need and demand for these data from different users.  The data are used for different purposes, but in general should be used for measuring the socioeconomic status of the given ethnic group. REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA STATE STATISTICAL OFFICE

3. Background  Ethno-cultural characteristics are « non-core » topics in the CES Recommendations  Data on ethnocultural characteristics are of high relevance in the context of migration, integration, minority policies;  Ethno-cultural topics are concerned:  Ethnicity  Language  Religion

4. Ethnic affiliation  Information is collected to understand cultural diversity, the position and participation of groups in society and for anti- discrimination policies;  The questionnaire includes an open question (not precoded);  The answers are collected from the persons on the basis of free declaration.  The answer given by the person is written on the indicated line in the form.

5. Question: Declaration by ethnic affiliation  The enumerator is obliged on the indicated line to write down the answer to this question, precisely as the person has declared himself/herself about his/her ethnic affiliation.  In accordance with the Census Law, a person could, due to personal reasons, refrain from declaring his/her ethnic affiliation. In that case, as an answer on the line should be written: "the person has not declared himself/herself". The line should not be left empty.  For children up to 15 years of age the answer to this question is given by one of his/her parents, adoptive parents, or the tutor. The enumerator and the other persons involved in the Census must not in any way influence the enumerated persons to state their ethnic affiliation against their own will.

6. Language  Information is collected to understand linguistic diversity and for language and minority policies;  Different types of data on language are collected, reflecting different aspects of the distribution, knowledge and use of languages;  The questionnaire includes an open question (not precoded)  The answers are collected from the persons on the basis of free declaration.  The answer given by the person is written on the indicated line in the form.

7. Language Different questions  Mother tongue: first language spoken in the early childhood at home;  Language(s) most frequently spoken at home: Data on spoken languages and knowledge are asked to understand language practices in everyday life and individual knowledge of languages;  Knowledge of language(s), defined as the ability to speak and/or write one or more designated languages.

8. Questions: What is your mother tongue (language you have learned in your early childhood)  Mother tongue means the language that the person has learned to speak in his/her early childhood, i.e. the language the person considers to be his/her mother tongue, regardless of whether the person still uses it or not.  For children younger than 15 years of age, the answer to this question should be given by one of the parents, the adoptive parents or the tutor.  For the deaf, the mute, the deaf-mute and other developmentally challenged persons not being able to speak any language, the language most frequently spoken in the home in their early childhood should be written.

9. Religion  Information on religion can be collected to understand religious diversity and possibly to develop policies with respect to members of religious communities.  The answers are collected from the persons on the basis of free declaration.  The answer given by the person is written on the indicated line in the form.

10. Question:Declaration by religious affiliation  The enumerator is obliged to write down the answer precisely in the way the person has given it, i.e. he/she must not influence the persons to declare themselves against their will.  For children up to 15 years of age, the answer to this question is given by one of the parents, adoptive parents or the tutor.  The person may not declare himself/herself on this question for personal reasons. In that case, as an answer on the on the line should be written: "not declared".  If the person declares that he/she is not a believer, on the line should be written: “non-believer”, or “atheist”, but the line should not be left empty.

11. Questions for ethnic Questions for ethnic characteristics in the Pilot Census 2009