French census 2026: how it works, questions asked and must you answer?

France is soon to see its annual census take place, as areas of the country prepare for the process. 

The annual census questions a sample of the population to see how many people live in each area, what their living standards are and what local services they require.

Population responses are used to define how the State contributes to the budget of each municipality: the larger its population is, the larger that contribution will be.

When does the census take place?

The 2026 census will start on January 15 for metropolitan France, the Antilles (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint-Martin), and French Guiana.

The process will run until February 14 for communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, and until February 21 for communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants. 

The schedule is slightly different in La Réunion (running from January 29 - March 7) and in Mayotte (November 27 - January 10). 

Where will it be conducted?

Not all communes participate every year:

• Communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants: all inhabitants undertake the census every four years

• Communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants: 8% of inhabitants involved each year

A search engine on the dedicated census website (scroll to the bottom of the page) shows this year's communes.

How does it work?

The annual census is organised by Insee, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 

People selected to participate receive a letter from their local mayor informing them that a census agent will visit their home.

The letter will include the agent’s name, reference and photograph. It will also say when the agent will visit.

Residents are given a questionnaire to complete either on paper or online. Both options are free.

An individual reference number (provided by the census agent) must be used to complete the questionnaire online.

The agent can provide an instruction leaflet in English (or in several other languages) explaining how to complete the questionnaire. The English version is available here.

Who is concerned?

Participation is mandatory. There is a €38 fine for those selected who do not participate.

Those who receive a census notice must take part “if they are living or plan to live at least 12 months in France,” says Insee.

If you are not a resident or do not plan to be one within the year, it is not relevant to you. This exception applies both to tourists (including those who have second homes in France) and seasonal workers.

If you receive notice and you are not a resident, or you receive notice at your secondary residence, you must tell the census agent. The census only concerns main residences.

If you are not at home when the agent visits, they will leave a letter telling you how to organise another visit.

Since part of the census agents’ role is to verify the existence of participants, they cannot put the questionnaire in a letterbox or send it by mail.

What questions are asked?

The questionnaire covers two areas: housing and personal information. 

The housing form includes roughly 15 questions about the home itself, and 10 questions about the people living in the home and their relationships with each other.

The personal information form contains around 30 simple questions. These are related to: age, gender, place of birth, nationality, marital status, place of residence in the previous year, education, parents' place of birth, health-related constraints, and professional activity.

Responses can be modified if you think you have made an error. To do so, you must contact your local mairie. 

Only Insee, the bureau of statistics, has access to the questionnaires.

The census is overseen by the French Data Protection Authority, CNIL and cannot be checked by the tax authorities.

Once the questionnaires have been processed the names and addresses are deleted.

Census results for previous years can be viewed on Insee’s website here.