Jersey census forms must completed this Sunday by every household

Every household in Jersey is required to take part in the census which must be completed this Sunday 21 March. Leaflets and questionnaires have been sent to every letterbox in the island. The census sets out to provide an accurate count of the island's population and help build a more detailed picture of who lives in the island.

The information collated will be used to assist with the longer term provision of services, from education to healthcare and housing. Taking part in the census is a legal obligation. Anyone who does not will be liable for a fine of £1,000. This year's census will include information that has not been gathered before. There will be two new questions about health and disabilities.

There will also be two new voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. The latter will help monitor the island's progress on equality provision.

Vic Tanner Davy, CEO of Liberate, an equality and diversity charity, has welcomed the additional questions.

For the first time, the form can also be filled in online.

The census is run by the island's Statistics Unit and takes place every ten years.

To ensure compliance, collection officers will also be deployed to assist people who have not returned the questionnaire. The response rate in the last census in 2011 was 99.5%.

This year's census marks 200 years since the island's first ever census which was taken in 1821, when the population was just 28,600. At the last census, there were 97,857 people registered as living in Jersey. Since then the population is estimated to have increased by over 1000 people per year. Jersey's resident population at the end of 2019 was estimated as 107,800.

The results of the 2021 census are expected to be published early next year.