DOI:10.36172/EKONOMISTI.2024.XX.03.SHELIA.CHELIDZE

Expanded Summary

The programs of the general population census need to be amended appropriately, taking into account the mistakes made during the previous censuses, which more or less always occurred in the population census programs conducted in Georgia. Taking into consideration the demographic situation that deteriorated dramatically in the 1990s, the questions "about the expected number of children" and "about religious affiliation" were included in the questionnaire of the 2002 census, and "about health" in the questionnaire of the 2014 census. At the same time, based on the demand for socio-economic development of the country, in the same year, an agricultural census was conducted in parallel with the general population census that qualitatively worsened the information about the population. The same activity is planned to be carried out for the 2024 census.

It is known that in ancient times (historically) population censuses were conducted in Georgia once every seven years. It is a significant fact that the incorrect registration of the population was subject to punishment by law. In particular, if a feudal lord hid a serf or a household, in case of disclosure of the hidden information, the feudal lord would be deprived of this serf or would become the property of another feudal lord or remained in the state's property.

Currently, our law "On Official Statistics" imposes an obligation on all citizens and residents of Georgia to participate in the population census and provide accurate information (Article 18 of the law), however, in case of non-fulfillment of the obligation, it does not impose any legal punishment. Based on our historical experience, it is necessary for the legislation to provide such a legal norm that would minimize the unregistered population.

We have significant deficiencies in registering external migration, which often becomes the subject of criticism. Only during the population census we are able to record internal migration. Therefore, in the inter-census period, it becomes impossible to fully assess the changes occurring in the settlement system, the dynamics of the population of individual areas and the municipalities. The correction of this deficiency would allow the country to elaborate a more effective regional policy. For this purpose, we consider it necessary to improve the methodology of registration of migration. Taking into account external migration should not be excluded from the population census program, which we consider unjustified both financially and methodologically. It is completely unacceptable not to take into consideration the census program for the actual, „currently present“ population. Determining the population of this category is of great importance for a tourist country. Along with this, based on the specifics of the demographic development of our country, we consider that it is necessary to count the rate of natural movement of individual nationalities during the ongoing population census. For this purpose, it is required to add the column "Nationality" to the databases in the health and civil registers. This will considerably help the implementation of an effective demographic policy in the country.