In the UK, every 10 years a census counts everyone in the country and collects information about characteristics of populations in different areas.

Organised by the General Register Office of Scotland questions in the Census will include asking about people in your household, martial status, income, ethnicity, religion, health, education and work.

The Census is important as it provides the government, local authorities, business, academics and many other organisations with statistics which help to accurately inform and plan public services such as health, education and transport.

Completing the Census is compulsory; however data that is collected is anonyomised (no names are published) for 100 years after each census.

The next Census is due on Sunday 27 March 2011.

For more information about all aspects of the Census please visit the national public portal Scotland’s Census 2011.