It’s census time in France! I figured we’d get a few forms in the mail that we’d need to fill out and send back a few weeks later… but nope! They’re hand delivered and picked up! And know what two questions they can’t ask on the French census?
Read on!
Does France have a census? French census info
Managed by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEEE), the French census is conducted every year for towns with 10,000+ inhabitants (and every five years if there are fewer than 10,000). There is one form for each individual and one for questions pertaining to the house or apartment. Each form includes an array of questions about your household, job, and more.
It’s a pretty standard form except unlike in the U.S., it’s absolutely illegal for the government to ask you about your religion and race on a census in France.
Interesting. Although the French census is for statistical purposes, you don’t share your religion or race. Period. It does ask your nationality though, so although they’ll know I’m American, they won’t know I’m a white chick who was raised Catholic. Among the 25 questions are inquiries about your education, employment, age and place of birth.
Fancy stuff, eh?
But more strange to me than NOT answering questions about your race or religion, which seem commonplace to me on a census questionnaire, is again the level of formality in France that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to. Case in point: The delivery of the French census form…
I’m a grown adult and the last time I referred to another grown adult with a Mr or Mrs before his or her name when I address them was probably when I was 5 years old. Except if it’s someone older than me who I met as a kid — like my neighbor who I’d still call Mrs. Rubin today, a friend’s parents or my old third grade teacher who if I saw today I would still call Mrs. Gallagher.
But as an adult, if you meet another adult (aside from doctors) in the U.S. either through a friend or at work, it would be very rare to call them by anything but their first name. Almost condescending to call your co-worker Mister So-and-So instead of Bob. But not in France!
I had a chuckle when the census employee left a note in our mailbox to call her and signed it Mrs. DuPont instead of Nicole DuPont. The level of formality in France still stands out to me. Even when my husband calls customer service for something, he will refer to himself as Mr. Our Last Name and not Thomas Our Last Name. Aren’t misters old guys? Again, not in France.
So I called Mrs. Census Lady back so she’d know when we’d be home to deliver these uber-important French census forms. They are always delivered and picked up (two days later) in person. Seems like a waste of resources — can’t we just put a stamp on it and call it a day? Guess not. So at 6 p.m. tonight, Mrs. Census Lady will be swinging by to pick up our completed census in France forms. This is a big deal, guys. And maybe I’ll pencil in that I’m white. Just to be thorough.
Hi 🙂 As a Swiss living in France, I had the surprise last year to have a woman knock on my door with this form! It’s indeed weirdly unefficient to go door after door to have people write down their information… Maybe they’re afraid that if they just put it in the mailbox, the French won’t care 😉
I talked about it on my blog too (http://www.yapaslefeuaulac.ch/youpieje-me-suis-faite-recenser) 🙂
Yup, I think they assume that the paper will be thrown out or forgotten about so the knock at the door ensures it’ll get done. But definitely surprising if you’re not expected it. I thought the lady was selling knives (a guy was one time) or a discount on gas (another guy who rang). Going to check out your blog. Thanks for stopping by!
For a country like India, going door-to-door is the only way to put 1.2 billion persons on the record! 🙂
Massive exercise. Happens every 10 years.
Yes, I can only imagine. Huge undertaking w/that size population. Yikes!
They tried this same thing here in California a few years back. A lot of people complained and the idea fizzled out. I was never at home when they came to my house. Eventually they gave up and sent me a form in mail. To me the whole idea of them coming to the door seemed like a big waste of time and money !
I wonder why we never received anything? I remember my husband filling in a census a few years ago, but I can’t remember when that was exactly.
When I was still back in Canada I remember getting 2 dollars for filling in the census. The thing is, they gave out the 2 dollars before you handed the thing in, so there was so way of verifying that you had actually handed it in!
Well, they (the government) never came and picked up the forms to verify that you had filled it in so they were basically just hoping that you would turn in the completed census yourself. They were giving people money for nothing!
I may be mistaken but if you’re in a town with fewer than 10K residents, it’s not done annually. So maybe that’s why? And love that free $2! Don’t think that’ll be happening here!
Actually, these guys do visually crosscheck the data that you put on the forms. That’s the unofficial reason why they come to every household.