Censuses provide population numbers, household or family size and composition, and information on sex and age distribution. They often include other demographic, economic and health-related topics as well. The Marshall Islands 2011 Census of Population and Housing collected data via questionnaires covering agriculture, education, disability, social characteristics, fertility and mortality, and persons in institutional living quarters. Control forms were used to generate preliminary counts, and manuals were prepared to guide enumeration teams. Data collection began in the urban centers and dispersed to the outer islands.