2013 Census Data Entry Completed, Results on Total BiH Population by Mid-Year

By the end of last year (December 31, 2014), all raw data entry tasks were completed, and consequently, external associates working at the Central Data Entry and Processing Center have concluded their engagement on the project, the Agency for Statistics of BiH announced regarding the 2013 Census, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

- All material received from the field has been scanned and stored in the database in its original form. Textual entries have been converted into codes using international classifications adopted for the census (classification of occupations, classification of activities, and classification of countries). The official registry of municipalities and settlements in BiH was used for coding settlements and municipalities. This process is complete, and the next phase is code control, which will be carried out by statistical staff from all three statistical institutions, followed by the preparation of a report on the quality of coding.

- Regarding ethnic characteristics found on the census forms (questions on national and religious affiliation and mother tongue), a draft codebook has been prepared for adoption by the Central Census Bureau. The codebook includes all responses from the census forms. This means that all answers have been included and coded in their original form, as provided by the enumerated persons. This will be followed by the coding of these questions and control of the coded material.

The complete census database with coded variables will be finalized by the end of January. Following this, data editing and control will commence. This involves applying a set of rules to identify the resident population and other population categories (families, households, etc.). Representatives of statistical institutions, along with international experts, are currently working on preparing the material and proposed rules for processing these questions, which will be reviewed and adopted by the Central Census Bureau.

According to the activity plan, the final results on the total population of BiH will be published by the middle of this year.