Permanent censuses do not involve all the citizens, enterprises and institutions, but only representative samples on a case-by-case basis. However, the country-wide provision of so produced data is of census type, hence it concerns the whole observation field.

The strategy of permanent censuses, in line with European development policies and the Istat modernisation programme, covers all thematic areas: population and housing, enterprises, nonprofit organizations and public institutions. Starting by 2021, the agricultural census will be permanent as well.

Thanks to the integration between administrative sources and sample surveys, the new censuses ensure the increase both in amount and in quality of data output, the reduction of the response burden for citizens and economic operators, and the decrease in overall costs.