What is the structural survey?
The structural survey is a component of the population census and complements information obtained from registers with additional statistics on the structure of the population. In this survey, part of the population fill in a written questionnaire. The first results are available one year after the reference day. Cumulative results are also made available for the periods of three and five years.
The main characteristics
- sample survey of at least 200,000 people;
- covers persons aged 15 and over living in a private household;
- can be answered by internet or by completing written questionnaire;
- is conducted annually with reference day 31 December. The reference day coincides with the register survey. In this way, the dates of both surveys can be combined;
- provides information on population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, language, religion and migration;
- provides answers at the following geographical levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with 15,000 inhabitants and more;
- the results can aggregated over 3 and 5 years. This allows analyses to be made at a lower geographical level or in more detail on certain topics;
- Cantons and cities may increase the sample size within their territory.
Why do I have to complete the questionnaire?
Participation in the structural survey is mandatory under the Federal Census Act (SR 431.112). In 2007, the Federal Council and Swiss Parliament enacted legislation that requires all Swiss residents to respond to the survey truthfully and free of charge, see Article 10 of the Census Act. The structural survey of the Federal Population Census is the largest statistical survey on population and household structures in Switzerland and is therefore extremely important for policymaking, the economy and administration.
Federal Act on the Federal Census
Why is it important to participate?
By taking part, you help the Federal Statistical Office to build a complete and useful picture of Swiss society and to track changes in the population. The collected data is used by federal and cantonal authorities to make decisions about the economy, environment, urban planning, transportation, social welfare, family and education. The structural survey also provides important information regarding policy on language and religion, as well as for federal and cantonal policy on equality and minorities.
What about data protection?
All collected data is subject to the Federal Statistics Act (SR 431.01) and the Data Protection Act (SR 235.1). This means that any information provided is treated as strictly confidential, is only used for statistical analyses for which there is a legal basis and may never be passed on to other authorities for administrative purposes. Your surname and first name, your address and telephone numbers will be permanently deleted after processing and your OASI number will be encrypted so that you can no longer be identified. The published results do not make it possible to draw any conclusions about the individual circumstances of individual households and persons. The employees of the Federal Statistical Office and of participating survey institutions are legally obliged to maintain confidentiality.
Federal Act on the Federal Census
Federal Statistics Act of 9 October 1992 (FStatA)
Federal Act of 25 September 2020 on Data Protection (Data Protection Act, FADP)
Will I receive a fine if I refuse to give information for the structural survey?
While the structural survey is compulsory, the Federal Census Act does not stipulate a fine for non-respondents but instead an administration fee. Non-respondents create an additional workload such as reminder letters or inquiries. Experience with previous structural surveys show that respondents’ willingness to participate is very high and therefore no such fees have to be paid.
How was I selected for the structural survey?
Samples of respondents are chosen at random from the Federal Statistical Office’s random sample register. This register is based on the data of the official population registers of the communes, the cantons and the Confederation.
Why have I/we been chosen to complete the structural survey once again?
As a rule, this should not happen as the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has introduced a process to ensure that the burden is distributed equally throughout the whole population. However, this process cannot entirely prevent the same people from being chosen twice. Potential reasons for being selected twice may include having moved house, a stay abroad or the size of your household. These cases are very rare, and the FSO makes every effort to avoid them. Thank you for your understanding. Please complete the questionnaire nonetheless.
Why has my household been sent two questionnaires for the structural survey?
This should not happen. It could be due to incorrect information on your household in the registers and their data being used by the Federal Statistical Office as the basis for the random sample of recipients. You only have to complete one questionnaire. The questionnaire of the person who has their birthday first in the year is decisive here. Thank you for your understanding.
Why have I received a letter without a paper questionnaire?
As an increasing number of people use the internet, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) wishes to encourage respondents to complete the questionnaire online. The online questionnaire is easier and quicker to complete and reduces costs for the Confederation. For this reason, the FSO sends only a letter containing access information for the online questionnaire to most of the selected population. If you are unable to complete the questionnaire online you may contact the hotline to order a paper questionnaire.
Why should my child take part? He/she is under 18.
The structural survey is interested in the structure and the development of the Swiss population and should therefore include as wide a cross-section of the population as possible. The questions in the survey can also be answered by young adults.
In Switzerland, compulsory education ends between the ages of 15 and 16 years. Many young people either start an apprenticeship and enter the job market or continue their schooling. The answers of young adults are relevant for population surveys and for comparisons with international statistics.
Is the Federal Statistical Office allowed to pass on data to other authorities, such as the Tax Administration or the DI?
No, that is not allowed and is clearly governed by law. The data collected for the structural survey is anonymised and may only be used for statistical purposes.
What possibilities do I have to complete the questionnaire of the structural survey?
We recommend completing the questionnaire online. The online questionnaire is available in English, German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic. You can fill it out using a smartphone, desktop/laptop or a tablet device. You can find your username (=login) and your password on your letter or, if you have received a paper questionnaire, on the form labelled personal questionnaire.
www.ecensus.bfs.admin.ch - online questionnaire
The paper questionnaire is available in German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic. If you want to answer on a paper questionnaire and have only received a letter with access details for the online questionnaire, we can send you a corresponding paper questionnaire. Please contact the hotline for this.
In which languages is the questionnaire available?
The online questionnaire is available in English, German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic. We recommend completing the questionnaire online.
www.ecensus.bfs.admin.ch - online questionnaire
The paper questionnaire is available in German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic.
Is the questionnaire also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Albanian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin?
Unfortunately the questionnaire is not available in these languages. However, a brochure is available that can be used to help you translate the questionnaire. If you want, we can also send you this brochure by mail. Please contact the hotline for this.
Translation aid for the structural survey 2025
Who operates the online questionnaire for the eCensus structural survey?
The technical operation and maintenance of the online questionnaire are handled by Demo SCOPE AG on behalf of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in accordance with the technical and data protection requirements of the FSO. Under the Census Act, the FSO may commission third parties to conduct surveys. The contract was awarded to Demo SCOPE AG in accordance with Swiss procurement law.
Is the eCensus online questionnaire accessible?
Yes, the www.ecensus.swiss website has been developed in an accessible version for people with a visual impairment and certified by the "Access for All" foundation. The eCensus complies with the WCAG 2.2 AA standard and accessibility level.
How are the paper questionnaires scanned?
The scanning mandate was awarded to the firm Tessi Switzerland GmbH by means of a WTO call to tender. The contract award was published on 7 May 2018 on www.simap.ch. The paper questionnaires arrive in a pre-stamped reply envelope at the Federal Statistical Office's data collection service centre which is ensured by Tessi. The questionnaires are scanned and the answers given are transformed into electronic data by means of optical character recognition (OCR). If the automatic OCR process is unable to read the entries, the questionnaire is re-processed manually. The scanned data do not leave Switzerland but they may be processed by specially trained employees of Tessi in Tunisia by means of a secure online system. Comprehensive data protection measures that are at least equal to those applied in Switzerland ensure that the manual correction of individual data is carried out securely.
Can the general public access the results?
The results of the structural survey are publicly available. A large number of summarised results (tables, maps, etc.) is available on the Federal Statistical Office’s (FSO) website as well as on those of the cantons. Anonymised individual data are made available for research projects and following the conclusion of a data protection agreement.
The FSO publishes the information. However, the evaluation of data is up to the users, e.g. the cantons, federal offices, businesses or academics. The population benefits indirectly from these evaluations that are conducive to planning and may be used as the basis for decisions.
