Costa Rica: 2011 Census Underway Starting Monday

An army for more than 35.000 teachers begin on Monday the arduous task of counting everyone in Costa Rica in the Census 2011. Costa Rica carried out its 9th population census in 2000.

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC), National Institute of Statistics and Census - is in charge of conduct these censuses.

Past Costa Rican censuses were conducted in 1864, 1883, 1892, 1927, 1950, 1963, 1973 and 1984.

The census takers will be visiting some 1.3 million household and interview an estimated 4.6 million people, using a questionnaire comprised of 60 questions inquiring about income, education level, marital status among other items.

The census is expected to end by June 3.

To ensure security, each census worker will carry a photo identification card, a light blue official vest and official Census 2011 bags and other items.

The INEC explains the dress of each census take on its page http://www.inec.go.cr and on Facebook.

Leonardo Garnier, the Ministro de Education Pública, in his website message to the population, asks for everyone's cooperation and to call the INEC's hotline 800 CENSO2011 (800 23676 2011) if in doubt the identity of any census taker.

Not counted in the census will tourists and temporary visitors.