During the 1979 census, as in 1970, it was decided to hold a sample census in addition to the comprehensive census, i.e. 25% of the population answered extra five questions.

A survey of the working-age population (men aged 16–59, women aged 16–54) who, for whatever reason, were not engaged in public production was carried out at the same time.

«New configuration of the census form»

A specific feature of the 1979 census was a new census form, designed to enable the efficient transfer of information into an electronic computing machine

(efficiency of the system was verified in the 1976 pilot census).

Citizens could respond to most of the questions simply by making a mark. Only responses to more complex questions were written in words, which had to be subsequently encrypted. This reduced labour intensity in preparing the census materials for mechanised processing, and so shortened the time required to obtain results.

The census materials were published in 1984 in a single volume. Most of the data remained inaccessible to the public and specialists until the publication of a 10-volume series with full results of the census in 1989–1990.

The first microcensus in the Soviet Union was held in January 1985, when 5% of the country's population was counted. A microcensus differs from a pilot census by the number of respondents and by its geography, since the former is carried out nationwide.

The 1985 microcensus was based on lists of voters: 5% of polling stations in all regions of the country were covered.

«The main unit of account was the family.»

The main unit of account was the family, rather than (as nowadays) the household. This choice was motivated, among other reasons, by the goal of assessing the impact of a new demographic policy that had been launched in the early 1980s.

Overall, the census program included 27 questions: general details about the respondent, information about marriage and children, living conditions, and the person's opinion of current demographic policy. For the first time, women aged under 45 were asked how many children they expected to have.