Romania has extended the deadline for the census after households failed to complete their forms compounded by a shortage of census staff throughout the country.
The deadline was extended by one week on Thursday to July 24, the statistics office said.
It said that people could speak to local census staff or go and complete the form at the town hall or a special center.
”Participation is obligatory to help create a better future,” the National Statistics Institute said in a statement.
So far, the return rate is 75%. Still, there is a shortage of about 1,300 census staff nationwide and many people haven’t received a form.
The census, which began on May takes place every ten years, and was delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bucharest, which is Romania’s largest city, has a shortfall of 900 staff.
Staff are paid according to the number of questionnaires they complete- reportedly 7 lei per individual and about half that if they help someone fill in the form. Those working in rural and remote areas get higher rates.
Local authorities have recently set up census centers where people can get help and city halls are also helping people with the forms.
People are asked details such as where they were born, their personal registration number, whether they have higher education, and whether they have air conditioning in their homes.
Romania had a population of 19 million at the last census. There are an estimated 5 million Romanians living abroad.
In Romania, people are moving to cities. One city is losing its population
