Survey · Other
Demographic survey questionnaire template
A set of respectful demographic questions to add to research or use on its own, with consent asked first and a 'prefer not to say' on every sensitive question. Anyone under 18 is stopped at the age question and let go kindly, so you don't collect data you shouldn't from minors.
Try it live
Try it as a respondent
Every question, and where it leads
The conversation
What a respondent is asked, in order.
A few questions about you. They help us understand who took part, and you can skip anything you'd rather not share.
How we'll use your answers
How old are you?
How do you describe your gender?
Which country do you live in?
Which best describes where you live?
What's the highest level of education you've completed?
Which best describes your current situation?
How many people live in your household, including you?
Which best describes your household's finances at the moment?
Which language do you mainly speak at home?
Do you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your daily life?
Endings
Thank you for taking part
Thanks for your interest
The flow
Where each answer leads. Every route here is editable once the form is yours.
Consent
Single select
Single select
Short text
Single select
Single select
Single select
Number
Single select
Short text
Single select
What this template uses
- Consent
- Single select
- Short text
- Number
- 1 branch
- 2 endings
Questions to consider
- Which of these characteristics do you actually need to compare groups or check who you reached, and which can you delete?
- Do the age bands and education levels match the ones in any data you plan to compare against?
- Is your research open to under-18s, and if so, what extra consent do you need?
- Who will see individual answers, and how long will you keep them?
How to use the responses
Use the answers to check who you actually heard from against who you meant to reach: if most responses came from one age group or from cities, say so when you report findings. Compare the main research answers across groups only where each group has enough people to be meaningful, and report combined figures rather than anything that could identify a person. Count 'prefer not to say' as its own group rather than dropping it.
How to customize and share it
- 1Delete every question your research doesn't need; fewer personal questions means more people finish.
- 2Match the age bands, education levels and regions to the categories used in any data you'll compare with.
- 3Copy these questions into the end of your main survey or share this form on its own, and state in the consent text who will see the answers.
Frequently asked questions
What are demographic survey questions?
Questions about a respondent's background, such as age, gender, location, education, work and household. They help you describe who took part and compare answers between groups.
Where should demographic questions go in a survey?
Usually at the end, once people have answered the main questions, so personal questions don't put them off early. Screening questions such as age can go first when they decide who may take part.
Should demographic questions be optional?
Yes, for anything sensitive. Every personal question here is optional or offers 'prefer not to say', which keeps people answering instead of abandoning the survey.
How should I ask about gender in a survey?
Offer a few common options, a way to describe it in their own words and a 'prefer not to say'. Only ask if you need it for your research.