1. Dissemination of statistics on ethnic/ religious /language groups 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  Data on ethno-cultural groups are important for democracy and good governance, cultural development, integration policies and protection of minority rights.  Population Censuses are still the most important and, in many countries, the only source of statistical data on the ethnic, language and religious groups in the population. This is essentially for two reasons:  In most cases, sample surveys can’t catch ethno-cultural groups adequately because the groups are too small and unevenly distributed in the country.  Register data are generally not available because of the politically sensitive, often subjective and potentially unstable nature of ethno-cultural characteristics.

3. Background  In the Republic of Macedonia – a country with multiethnic composition of the population, there is a need and demand for data on ethno-cultural characteristics from different users.  Data on ethno-cultural characteristics are of high relevance in the context of minority policies, migration, integration.  The data are used for different purposes, but in general they should be used for measuring the socioeconomic status of the given ethnic group. REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA STATE STATISTICAL OFFICE

4. Ethnic affiliation  In accordance with the Census Law, the data on ethnic affiliation are result of the free declaration of the population in reply to this question.  The questionnaire includes an open question (not precoded) and the answer is written on the indicated line in the form.  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. 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.

5. 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.  During the phase of data processing these responses must not undergo any correction.

6. Language  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.  The questionnaire includes an open question (not precoded) and the answer is written on the indicated line in the form.  The enumerator is obliged on the indicated line to write down the answer to this question, precisely as the person has declared himself/herself on the topic.  In accordance with the Census Law, a person could, due to personal reasons, refrain from declaring. 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.

7. Language  Different types of data on language are collected, reflecting different aspects of the distribution, knowledge and use of languages. 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. Language  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.  During the phase of data processing these responses must not undergo any correction.

9. Religion  With the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, the citizens are guarateed the freedom of religious affiliaton.  In accordance with the Census Law, the enumerated person could on his/her own free will give an answer to this question, regardless whether he/she is a registered member of some church or religion, or for private reason, he/she could refrain from declaring himself/herself on this question.  The questionnaire includes an open question (not precoded) and answer is written on the indicated line in the form.  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.

10. Religion  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 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.  During the phase of data processing these responses must not undergo any correction.

11. Criteria for classification and dissemination of groups Criteria for classification and dissemination of statistics on ethnic groups  The tables with data on the population according to the topic Declared Ethnic Affiliation use several classifications: Classification in 8 groups, using the ethnic groups that are specified in the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia; and ethnic groups which are more then 2% of the total population. Classification in 22 and 14 groups according to the size of the group i.e. all ethnic groups shown for which at least 100 or 1000 persons had declared their affiliation.  When the answers include two or more modalities, the data will be published according to the declared ethnic affiliation and the size of the group.

12. Criteria for classification and dissemination of Criteria for classification and dissemination of statistics on language and religious groups  Classifications at the highest level depend on national circumstances, but the procedures for coding and aggregation are documented and fully transparent.  In the preparation of the tables with population data according to the topics Mother Tongue and Religious Affiliation, the initial criterion for the classification is the size of each language or religious group.  The languages and religions represented are those for which at least 1000 persons had declared themselves.