Approximately five million people will be represented in 2023 Census data - that's more than 99 percent of the population. Interim coverage and response rates and the findings of an independent review of the 2023 Census were released by Stats NZ today.
After receiving responses from approximately 4.4 million New Zealanders in 2023 and combining government administrative (admin) data, the combined census dataset covers around 5.0 million people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
"This is a great result delivering high coverage this census. Our current assessment of census coverage is 99.1 percent of the population, exceeding the 98 percent target coverage rate and coverage rates for past censuses," Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive Mark Sowden said. [See Interim rates for more information.]
"We designed and delivered a census model combining census form responses and government admin data, to give the population coverage needed to produce quality data and statistics."
The results are reflected in the independent Report of the Statutory Review of New Zealand's 2023 Census published on the Stats NZ website.
The report summarises the findings of independent consultant Murray Jack and Director General Statistics Canada Geoff Bowlby who conducted an in-depth assessment of the 2023 Census between November 2023 and March 2024. Mr Jack also participated in the independent review of the 2018 Census.
"I would like to thank Mr Jack and Mr Bowlby for their extensive assessment of the 2023 Census operation," Sowden said.
"Their findings are timely, providing further, independent assurance of the 2023 Census, as we get closer to releasing data and statistics from 29 May 2024, and as work gets under way on options for how we will conduct future censuses."
The report includes 11 recommendations based on the reviewers' findings. Stats NZ has agreed in principle with the recommendations, noting they are based on the current model of census delivery.
"We will deliver a successful 2023 Census, but traditional census collection models with a large-scale field workforce are becoming unsustainable in terms of cost, survey burden on people, and timeliness of delivering census data and statistics," Sowden said.
"There is an opportunity to modernise how we collect data in the future and to continue to deliver value for money to the country. The 2023 Census shows the important role admin data can play in producing quality data and statistics about the people and communities of Aotearoa New Zealand.
"We will be inviting our customers, iwi and Māori, government and non-government partners, traditionally underserved population groups, and the public to have a say on what a future census could look like - and what is important to them. A six-week public consultation process will begin in May 2024."
Stats NZ will consider the 11 recommendations as we develop the model for a future census, and more broadly, how Stats NZ produces data and statistics for the country.
The first data and statistics from the 2023 Census will be released on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
Further information
Statutory review of New Zealand's 2023 Census:
- The review of the 2023 Census is a requirement under the Data and Statistics Act 2022 and assesses the census operation within 12 months of the date of the census (in this case Census Day, 7 March 2023). It covers the operation from design phase through to preparations for the release of census data.
- Report of the Statutory Review of New Zealand's 2023 Census provides the reviewers' findings.
- The national population interim coverage rate is 99.1 percent, with the official coverage rate measure due to be published on 9 December 2024. The missing 0.9 percent (interim figure) is approximately 44,000 individuals who have not been counted from either census form responses or admin data.
- The target coverage rate for the 2023 Census is 98 percent.
- The official coverage rate for the 2018 Census was 97.4 percent.
- The official coverage rate for the 2013 Census was 97.6 percent.
- The official coverage rate for the 2023 Census will be provided with the results of the 2023 Post-enumeration Survey. This smaller household survey of 16,500 households is part of an assurance exercise conducted every census to validate the census count.
- The interim collection response rate, which reflects the number of people counted through census forms, is 88.3 percent. This is close to the target for the collection period for the 2023 Census of 90 percent. The official response rate for the 2023 Census will be provided by the Post-enumeration Survey on 9 December 2024.
- With people in the census being counted in two ways - through the combined use of census form responses and admin data - the interim coverage rate reflects the number of people counted in the 2023 Census.
- Interim coverage rates, collection response rates, and data sources for the 2023 Census provides more information.
