Government officials will take to the streets to survey residents on May 20, 2010 for the census.

A census is an official count of a country's population and collection of economic and social data. The data is useful in that it helps Government's plan for the future and is often used for research and business marketing.

Bermuda's census takes place every 10 years, which is the recommended interval given by the United Nations. Any resident over the age of 16 will be required to answer all questions if approached by a census officer over the phone or in person on May 20, 2010.

A variety of questions will be asked such as you age, racial make up, marital status and religion.

Here is a sample of the questions the census officers will ask:

• Do you have diabities/cancer/asthma?

• What type of health care coverage do you have?

• How is your child cared for during work hours?

• How much you spend on child care a week?

• What is the highest academic qualification that you have obtained?

• Were you, or are you being, formally trained for a particular occupation, profession or trade?

• How do you usually travel to your main place of work?

• How many jobs do you report to (on the week of the census)?

• How many hours do you normally work in our main job in a typical week, including overtime?

• What is your gross income from your main job?

• What is your pension income?

• During the past 12 month did you receive any income in the form of rent?

• Including yourself how many people do you live with?

• Do you own your home?

• What is your monthly mortgage payment?

• How many bedrooms and full bathrooms does your home have?

• How many desktop and lap-top computers are in your home?

• What type of Internet connection do you have?

• Does your home have any solar panels or wind turbines?

• Does your home recycle?