2025 French census begins: Who has to answer, and why a new parents question?

The controversial question has prompted criticism from human rights groups

Agents from national statistics office INSEE will visit large sections of the population for the census this year
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The 2025 census has begun today in France, with nine million people set to take part, via an online or paper form that for the first time includes a new, controversial question about parents’ birth locations.

The census is taking place from Thursday, January 16, 2025, until February 22, with the exact dates depending on the size of the commune (see below).

Agents from national statistics bureau INSEE will be travelling across France to count the population and collect data on living situation and other demographic details. 

In towns with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants there is a one-in-five chance of being visited. France runs a census operation for these towns every five years.

For towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants, the census is carried out every year, but only on a sample of 8% of the population.

What is the purpose of the census?

The censuses not only collect important data on population size and living situations, but are also used to allocate grants or subsidies to a given town or city.

This information can also help the local mairie to manage their area, as it offers a deeper understanding of population density and needs. 

For example, it is unlikely that pharmacies and similar services would be set up in towns with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants, said Muriel Barlet, head of the demography department at INSEE, to Actu.

The census can also identify new trends in France, for a better understanding of the population. It also contributes to major INSEE reports such as that released this week on January 14, which revealed new trends on life expectancy, marriage and PACS, and the birth rate. 

Read more: How do new French life expectancy stats compare with US and UK? 

What are the 2025 census dates?

The dates of this year’s census are as follows:

For communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

  • From January 16 to February 15 in mainland France (and Corsica)

For communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants

  • From January 16 to February 22 in mainland France (and Corsica)

The overseas territories have their own dates.

Can I check if my commune is included? 

Yes. Communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants have a census every year, while those with fewer than 10,000 have one every five years on a sample of the residents. 

You can also check if your specific commune will be included this year on the Ouest France website, which has created a searchable table of communes across the country. 

Type in the name of your commune to see the year in which the next census will take place.

For example, the table shows that the commune of Ambérieu-en-Bugey (Ain) will have a census in 2025, while Villeneuve-sur-Aisne (Aisne) will not have one until 2028.

The site has also created a detailed map of the communes set to be included this year.

How does it work if I am included?

People who are set to be included in the census will receive a letter from the mairie to let them know that the INSEE agent is coming. 

The easiest way to take part is to complete the form online. The agents will bring you a leaflet containing a login for people to be able to do so via the le-recensement-et-moi.fr website.

Paper forms are provided to residents who are unable to complete the questionnaire online.

Read also: Do second-home owners need to take part in France’s 2022 census? 

What do the questions include?

The questions focus on household characteristics and demographic details, as well as your housing and transport needs.

New questions this year focus on home working - which has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic - and disability. 

Controversial new ‘parents’ question

There is also another new question this year, which asks about the person’s parents' place of birth.

INSEE has said that this is aiming to improve the measurement of mobility across the generations, and detect any inequality, segregation, and discrimination. It also reminds people that this type of “data from the census are confidential”.

INSEE has also said that any new questions on the census are only added after a “lengthy consultation process”, during which a sample of the population was consulted, along with the Conseil d'Etat (supreme court) and the data freedoms agency la Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL)”, reports FranceInfo.

CNIL said that the question on parents’ place of birth was “possible as all methodological precautions have been taken to guarantee data protection” and “the acceptability of this question has been tested beforehand”.

However, the sensitive nature of the question has prompted some controversy. Human rights group the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) is among five associations to have criticised the question. They say that it is unnecessary, and that responses could eventually be misused by far-right politicians.

The Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peuples (Mrap), and three trade unions (CGT, FSU and Solidaires) have also said there are “dangers” in this question. 

It is optional to answer it and the associations have urged people not to answer.

“We call on you not to answer this new question,” the associations state, in a new online petition.

Do I have to comply if an INSEE agent visits me?

Yes. The law (Article 3 of law no. 51_711, of June 7, 1951) states that it is forbidden to refuse to answer the questions.

The law adds that people are required to “reply accurately, and within the time limits set, to the statistical surveys which are compulsory [by law]”. However, as seen above, not all questions are mandatory.

If you refuse to comply with the census requirements, the mairie could send you a formal notice warning of the legal requirement to take part. You also risk a fine of €38 for “persistent refusal”. Giving “knowingly inaccurate” answers may also be subject to sanctions.