die  Volkszählung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfɔlksˌt͡sɛːlʊŋ/

📊 What Exactly is a 'Volkszählung'?

Die Volkszählung (often also called Zensus in German) is an official, systematic collection, processing, and publication of data about the population of a specific area (usually a country) at a particular time. In English, this is known as a census.

The word is feminine in German, so it's always die Volkszählung.

• Purpose: It serves to gather fundamental information about population size, age structure, distribution, households, housing situations, and often social and economic characteristics (like education, occupation).
• Importance: This data is crucial for political decisions, planning (e.g., infrastructure, schools, hospitals), electoral district apportionment, and scientific research.

⚠️ Sometimes there are debates surrounding Volkszählungen, particularly regarding data privacy concerns.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Volkszählung' in Detail

The noun „Volkszählung“ is a feminine noun. The article is „die“.

Declension:

Example Sentences

1. Die letzte Volkszählung fand vor zehn Jahren statt.
   (The last census took place ten years ago.)
2. Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung werden bald veröffentlicht.
   (The results of the census will be published soon.)
3. Mit der Volkszählung werden wichtige demografische Daten erfasst.
   (Important demographic data is collected with the census.)
4. Die Regierung plant eine neue Volkszählung.
   (The government is planning a new census.)
5. Die Daten aus früheren Volkszählungen sind online verfügbar.
   (Data from previous censuses are available online.)

🏢 When and How to Use 'Volkszählung'?

• Official Context: The term is primarily used in official, political, and statistical contexts when referring to the state-organized collection of population data.
• Periodicity: Volkszählungen usually take place at regular intervals (often every 10 years).
• Distinction: A Volkszählung is more comprehensive than a Stichprobe (sample survey), like the Mikrozensus (microcensus), which only surveys a part of the population.
• Discussions: The term often appears in media reports and public discussions when a census is due or its results are being discussed, sometimes controversially (e.g., costs, data privacy).

Example phrases:

• "Die Teilnahme an der Volkszählung ist verpflichtend." (Participation in the census is mandatory.)
• "Die Volkszählung liefert die Grundlage für die Zuteilung von Finanzmitteln." (The census provides the basis for the allocation of financial resources.)

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Volkszählung'

For the article 'die': Think of other official actions or surveys ending in '-ung' in German, many of which are feminine (die Befragung - the survey, die Erhebung - the collection). Die Volkszählung fits this pattern.

For the meaning: Break it down: Volk sounds like 'folk' (people) and Zählung relates to 'zählen' (to count). So, Volkszählung is literally 'people-counting' or a census.

🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms

Similar but Different Terms

• Wahl / Abstimmung: (Election / Vote) Serves political decision-making, not primarily statistical data collection.
• Umfrage: (Survey/Poll) Usually on specific topics and often voluntary, not the comprehensive, mandatory collection of a Volkszählung.

😂 A Little Census Joke

Der Volkszählungsbeamte fragt einen sehr alten Mann: "Ihr Alter, bitte?"
Antwortet der Greis: "Zwischen 99 und 101."
Der Beamte: "Aber Sie müssen doch das genaue Alter angeben!"
Der Greis: "Na gut, dann schreiben Sie 100. Aber letztes Jahr bei der Volkszählung war ich 99 und nächstes Jahr werde ich 101 sein – da kann doch dieses Jahr nur 100 richtig sein, oder?"

Translation:

The census taker asks a very old man: "Your age, please?"
The old man replies: "Between 99 and 101."
The official: "But you must state your exact age!"
The old man: "Alright, then write down 100. But last year during the census I was 99, and next year I'll be 101 – so this year can only be 100, right?"

✍️ Poem about the 'Volkszählung'

Einmal im Dezennium, so der Brauch,
klopft der Staat an, zählt Bauch um Bauch.
Die Volkszählung, sie will's genau wissen,
wer wohnt wo, soll man nicht vermissen.
Wie viele Kinder, Alte, Junge,
für Planung braucht's die Datensumme.
Manch einer murmelt leis': "Muss das sein?",
doch für die Statistik ist's fein!

Translation:

Once a decade, as is the custom,
The state knocks, counts belly after belly [idiom for counting people].
The Census, it wants to know precisely,
Who lives where, not to be missed.
How many children, old, young,
For planning, the data sum is needed.
Some mutter softly: "Must this be?",
But for statistics, it's just fine!

❓ Riddle Time

Ich komme nicht jährlich, doch bin geplant,
und zähle jeden hier im Land.
Ich frage nach Alter, Wohnort, Zahl,
für Statistiken, ganz neutral.
Manchmal gefürchtet, oft gemacht,
hab' über Daten stets gewacht.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I don't come yearly, but I am planned,
And count everyone here in the land.
I ask for age, residence, number,
For statistics, completely neutral slumber [figure of speech].
Sometimes feared, often done,
Over data, I have always watched, bar none.

What am I?
(Answer: die Volkszählung / the census)

💡 Other Information about 'Volkszählung'

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Volkszählung" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Volk (noun): Refers to the people, the population of a country. Cognate with English 'folk'.
• Zählung (noun): Derived from the verb "zählen" (to count), denotes the act of counting or enumeration.

Historical Context (Historischer Kontext):

Censuses have a long history, dating back to antiquity (e.g., in the Roman Empire or Ancient Egypt), often conducted for military or taxation purposes. Modern censuses primarily serve statistical and planning purposes.

Controversies (Kontroversen):

In Germany, the 1987 census (Volkszählung 1987) faced significant protests and legal challenges due to data privacy concerns. This led to stricter data protection regulations for subsequent censuses (like the Zensus 2011 and 2022, which were primarily register-based).