| Census Characteristics | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| Title | Swiss Federal Population Census of 1970 | Swiss Federal Population Census of 1980 | Swiss Federal Population Census of 1990 | Swiss Federal Population Census of 2000 |
| Census Agency | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office |
| Population | All persons residing in Switzerland, except foreign diplomats stationed in Switzerland and their families. | All persons residing in Switzerland, except foreign diplomats stationed in Switzerland and their families. | All persons residing in Switzerland, except foreign diplomats stationed in Switzerland and their families. | All persons residing in Switzerland, except foreign diplomats stationed in Switzerland and their families. |
| Universe | | | | |
| De jure or de facto | De facto | De facto | De facto | De facto |
| Enumeration unit | Household | Household | Household | Household |
| Census day | December 1, 1970 | December 1, 1980 | December 4, 1990 | December 5, 2000 |
| Field work period | November 25-28, 1970 | November 25-28, 1980 | November 23-31, 1990 | |
| Enumeration forms used | There are three forms: (i) person questionnaire, (ii) dwelling [household] questionnaire, and (iii) building questionnaire. | There are three forms: (i) person questionnaire, (ii) dwelling [household] questionnaire, and (iii) building questionnaire. | There are three forms: (i) person questionnaire, (ii) dwelling [household] questionnaire, and (iii) building questionnaire. | There are three sets of questionnaires: (i) person questionnaire, (ii) household questionnaire, and (iii) building questionnaire |
| Type of field work | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration |
| Respondent | All person for person questionnaire; the head of household for dwelling and building questionnaires | All person for person questionnaire; the head of household for dwelling and building questionnaires | All person for person questionnaire; the head of household for dwelling and building questionnaires | All person for person questionnaire; the head of household for dwelling and building questionnaires |
| Coverage | - | - | - | - |
| Microdata sample characteristics | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| Sample microdata source | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office |
| Sample design | Systematic sample of every 20th household, drawn by the Federal Statistical Office | Systematic sample of every 20th household, drawn by the Federal Statistical Office | Systematic sample of every 20th household, drawn by the Federal Statistical Office | Systematic sample of every 20th household, drawn by the Federal Statistical Office |
| Sample unit | Households | Households | Households | Households |
| Sample fraction | 5 % | 5 % | 5 % | 5 % |
| Sample fraction (private households) | | | | |
| Sample fraction (institutional households) | | | | |
| Sample size (person records) | 312.538 | 312.538 | 342.797 | 364.086 |
| Sample size (private households) | | | | |
| Sample size (institutional households) | | | | |
| Sample weights | Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 20. | Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 20. | Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 20. | Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 20. |
| Units identified | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| Dwellings | No | No | No | No |
| Vacant units | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Households | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Individuals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group quarters | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Settled/unsettled Population | | | | |
| Special populations | - | - | - | - |
| Unit definitions | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| Dwellings | Residential buildings including single family home, mutiple family home, farm, and apartment building; other buildings (e.g. factory or commercial buildings) if they contain at least one unit for residential purposes; other accommodations (e.g., barracks, mountain farms, wagons) if they are occupied on the census day. | Residential buildings including single family home, mutiple family home, farm, and apartment building; other buildings (e.g. factory or commercial buildings) if they contain at least one unit for residential purposes; other accommodations (e.g., barracks, mountain farms, wagons) if they are occupied on the census day. | Buildings isolated or separated by a wall that, on the day of the census, is inhabited or habitable. Buildings that are uninhabited on the day of the census are recorded only if equipped for permanent residence and are accessible throughout the year. For duplexes, either in groups or in series, each building separated from the others by a wall, going from the cellar to the roof, is considered an independent building. | Buildings that are free standing or separated by a fire wall from other buildings, and they are occupied or can be occupied on the census day. In the case of row houses, duplexes and other grouped houses, each building part is considered a building if a fire wall exists. |
| Households | Family members living together and all other persons living with them (e.g. maids, apprentices, lodgers, paying guests, permanent guests, nurses); lodgers or sub-tenants living with the host household; single persons or persons not related to each other living in their own closed dwelling or single room which they have rented from the landlord and is separated from his dwelling. | Family members living together and all other persons living with them (e.g. maids, apprentices, lodgers, paying guests, permanent guests, nurses); lodgers or sub-tenants living with the host household; single persons or persons not related to each other living in their own closed dwelling or single room which they have rented from the landlord and is separated from his dwelling. | Family members living together and all other persons living with them (e.g., mainds, apprentices, lodgers, permanent guests, nurses, etc.); persons living in the same dewlling without specific family ties; persons living alone in a dwelling. | All persons living in the same dwelling (apartment or single family house); persons belonging to one family plus all other persons living in the same dwelling (such as maids, other domestic personnel, care children, sub-tenants, permanent guests, care givers); persons living alone in a closed dwelling; nonârelated persons keeping house together. |
| Institutional population | | | | |
| Group quarters | Collective households are groups of persons who reside in hotels, boarding houses, care facilities, boarding schools, hospitals, company dormitories, etc. | Collective households are groups of persons who reside in hotels, boarding houses, care facilities, boarding schools, hospitals, company dormitories, etc. | Collective households are groups of persons who reside in hotels, boarding homes, care facilities, hospitals, company dormitories, etc. | All households which are not private households are considered collective households. Such households are hotels, pensions, boarding schools, workers dormitories, long term care homes. |
| Unsettled population | | | | |
in collaboration with Minnesota Population Center 
