Senator Bell On Population & Housing Census
Data collection for the 2026 Census of Population and Housing begins on May 21st, Junior Minister of Economy & Labour Senator Lauren Bell said today [May 20] in the Senate.
The Junior Minister’s full statement follows below:
Good morning, Madam President,
I rise to inform Honourable Colleagues and listening members of the public that today, May 20, 2026, is Census Day for Bermuda. This means that from tomorrow, May 21, data collection for the 2026 Census of Population and Housing begins.
Madam President,
A national census is one of the most important exercises undertaken by any modern society. It is the only process that captures comprehensively, uniformly, and reliably the full picture of who we are as a country. The census tells us how our population is changing, how our communities are evolving, and what our people need to thrive. In short, it allows us to fill the gap between assumptions and evidence.
Therefore, it is fitting that the theme for the 2026 Census is “Fill the Gap.”
The Statistics Act 2002 requires that a census of population and housing in Bermuda be taken at least once every ten years, as directed by Order. The last census was conducted in Bermuda in 2016, and therefore, the next census is due this year.
Madam President,
The census is of critical importance to the Government and people of Bermuda. It is a comprehensive count of Bermuda’s population and dwelling units as at Census Day, May 20, 2026. Our census collects data on our geographic, demographic, social, and economic characteristics making it a rich source of invaluable statistical information.
Census data informs long-term planning for housing, healthcare, education, labour, and social services. It identifies movements in our workforce and helps us to understand demographic trends, population growth, migration and shifts in housing composition. It can highlight inequalities that may otherwise remain hidden. Without accurate and complete data, we are planning in the dark.
Madam President,
I must emphasise that the success of the census and the quality of the information we produce from the data collected depends entirely on the participation of Bermuda’s residents. Every household, every family, every individual counts.
When you participate, you help ensure that decisions being made today, and for future generations, are rooted in the real lived experiences of our community. With everyone’s participation we can better ensure up-to-date data to support in-depth analysis and informed, data-driven decision-making.
Madam President,
Census data will be collected using a variety of methods, including online, telephone, or personal interviews. As always, strict confidentiality provisions under the Statistics Act 2002 will ensure that personal information is safeguarded and used in aggregate form only for statistical purposes.
For many Bermuda residents, the quickest and most convenient way to complete the census will be via the e-Census found at census.gov.bm. This can be done from the comfort of your own home. Private households were mailed letters on May 11, 2026 outlining the steps to follow for completing the e-Census.
For those without access to a computer, there are computers set up at the Department of Statistics which allow for proper privacy. Alternatively, you can call the Department of Statistics, and a staff member will assist you in completing the census over the phone. Eventually, interviewers will be in the field to sit with seniors and others who require more help in completing the census.
Notwithstanding these options, we urge everyone to complete the e-Census for their household as soon as possible.
Madam President,
As a reminder, when you respond to the census, you respond for where you usually live on Census Day, May 20. One person can respond for a whole household, and you must include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of May 20, even if they are staying somewhere else temporarily. This includes babies, household members who are temporarily in the hospital, abroad for vacation, study or other purposes.
Completion of the census is mandatory.
Madam President,
The Census is our opportunity to fill the gap – the gap between what we think and what we know, between perception and reality, between outdated data and the needs of today’s Bermuda.
I therefore encourage every resident of Bermuda to support the 2026 Census of Population and Housing and to take part from Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Together, we can build a clear and accurate picture of our island and help shape policies that reflect who we truly are.
Thank you, Madam President.
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