Population Census Tarkov: Your Guide To Finding That Elusive Journal
For anyone playing Escape from Tarkov, getting started can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when a quest like Population Census comes along. This particular task, you know, it asks you to find a very important journal on the Streets of Tarkov map. It's a quest that, honestly, pops up pretty early in your journey with the Therapist, and it's all about finding a specific item and getting out alive.
This quest, Population Census, is one of those early game challenges that, you know, can really test your patience and your map knowledge. It's available once you hit level 12, so it's not something you can just jump into right away. The main goal here, you see, is to locate a journal that holds resident details, and then, well, you have to bring it back to the Therapist without losing it.
It's a rather significant step for your progress with the Therapist, and it opens up more possibilities later on. Plus, it gives you a good reason to get to know the Streets of Tarkov map a little better, which, as a matter of fact, is one of the newer and more demanding areas in the game. So, let's talk about how to get this done, shall we?
Table of Contents
- Population Census: A Quick Overview
- Getting Started: Requirements and What You Need to Do
- Exploring Streets of Tarkov: The Map and Its Challenges
- Finding the Journal: Key Locations and Tips
- Extracting Safely: Getting Out With Your Prize
- What You Get: Population Census Rewards
- What Comes Next After Population Census?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Population Census
Population Census: A Quick Overview
The Population Census quest, as you might guess, is all about finding a specific item and bringing it back. It's given by the Therapist, who is one of the main dealers you'll deal with in Escape from Tarkov. This quest, actually, was added in patch 0.13, bringing a new task to the already challenging game. It's a bit of a fetch quest, to be honest, but it comes with its own set of hurdles, especially on a map like Streets of Tarkov.
You need to be at least level 12 to even pick up this task, which means you've probably done a few other things for the Therapist already. Once you get it, your main objective is to find a journal that has resident details inside. This journal, you know, is located somewhere on the Streets of Tarkov map, which is known for being pretty tough on your computer's performance, too.
It's not just about finding the journal, though; that's only half the battle. The really important part, you see, is making it out alive with the journal in your possession. If you don't survive the raid, well, you're back to square one, and that can be a real bummer, quite frankly.
Getting Started: Requirements and What You Need to Do
So, to begin the Population Census quest, you first need to make sure you're at least level 12. This is a pretty standard requirement for many tasks in Escape from Tarkov. Once you've reached that level, the Therapist will give you this quest after you've completed some of her earlier tasks, which, you know, usually get you acquainted with her services.
The core of the quest is simple enough: get the journal and hand it over. The journal itself contains "resident details," and it's located specifically on the Streets of Tarkov map. You'll need to load into a raid on that map, find the item, and then, as I said, make sure you extract successfully. It sounds straightforward, but Streets of Tarkov, actually, adds a lot of layers to that.
It's one of those missions where the actual finding of the item can be a bit tricky, but the real challenge often comes from simply surviving the map itself. You'll need to be prepared for combat, and you'll need to know the map's layout, or at least the part where the journal is, pretty well, too.
Exploring Streets of Tarkov: The Map and Its Challenges
Streets of Tarkov is one of the latest maps added to the game, and it's a very large, dense urban environment. It's full of buildings, alleyways, and lots of places for both players and AI scavs to hide. Because of its size and the sheer amount of detail, it's also, you know, one of the heaviest maps in the game when it comes to performance.
This means that for some players, running Streets of Tarkov can be a bit of a struggle, especially if your computer isn't top-tier. You might experience lower frame rates or stutters, which can make completing a quest like Population Census even harder. It's something to keep in mind before you jump in, honestly.
The map itself is visually impressive, but it's also incredibly dangerous. There are many different points of interest, and the housing department where you need to go is just one small part of this sprawling city. Knowing the general area and the common player routes can be quite helpful, you see, for staying alive.
Performance Considerations on Streets
Before you even think about starting this quest, it's a good idea to consider your system's performance on Streets of Tarkov. This map, you know, is notoriously demanding. Many players report lower frame rates compared to other maps, and that can really affect your ability to react in a fight or even just move around smoothly. So, if you're experiencing issues, you might want to adjust your graphics settings first, too.
Running this map smoothly is, in some respects, almost as important as knowing where the journal is. If your game is constantly freezing or lagging, finding a small item in a dark building becomes much harder, and surviving a firefight becomes nearly impossible. It's a good idea to test the waters on Streets in an offline raid first, perhaps, just to see how your system handles it.
Optimizing your game settings can really make a difference here. Things like texture quality, shadow quality, and overall visibility settings can have a big impact. A smoother experience means you can focus more on the quest itself and less on technical difficulties, which, honestly, is what you want.
Finding the Journal: Key Locations and Tips
Now, let's get to the main event: finding that journal for Population Census. The quest tells you to get the journal containing resident details from the Streets of Tarkov. More specifically, you're looking for the Primorsky Housing Department. This area, you know, is a cluster of buildings that can be a bit tricky to navigate at first.
The general location you're aiming for is the northwestern cluster of buildings, just below the underpass extraction point. This is a pretty distinct area, and you'll probably recognize it once you get close. The quest item, the journal, is located inside one of these abandoned housing buildings, so you'll need to go inside and search around, too.
It's not just about getting to the right building, though. The journal has several possible spawn points within that building, which means you can't just run to one spot and expect it to be there. You'll need to be thorough and check multiple rooms, which, you know, adds to the challenge and the time you spend exposed.
The Primorsky Housing Department
The Primorsky Housing Department is where all the action happens for this quest. It's a key landmark on Streets of Tarkov for the Population Census task. This building, you know, is near an "Idea poster," which can be a useful visual cue if you're trying to pinpoint its exact location on the map. It's a rather run-down place, as you might expect in Tarkov, but it holds the item you need.
When you approach the housing department, be ready for potential encounters. This area, like many on Streets, can be a hot spot for both player scavs and other players trying to complete quests or just find loot. So, move carefully and keep your eyes peeled, because, as a matter of fact, you don't want to get ambushed while looking for a book.
Inside, the building can feel a bit like a maze, with multiple floors and rooms. You'll need to systematically clear each room that's relevant to the journal spawns. It's not a huge building, but it's big enough to hide a small item in several different spots, which, you know, means you have to be patient.
Journal Spawn Points: Check Everywhere!
This is where the "annoying mission" part of Population Census really comes into play. The journal doesn't have just one fixed spot; it has five possible spawn points inside the building near the scav checkpoint. This means you can't just rush to a single location and expect to grab it. You need to check each room thoroughly, which, you know, takes time and exposes you to more danger.
The journal is typically found on desks, shelves, or on the floor in these specific rooms. You'll need to open doors, look under furniture, and just generally scan every surface. It's a small item, so it can be easy to miss if you're rushing or if the lighting isn't great, too.
My advice, and something I've learned from my own channel's guides, is to have a clear path for checking these spots. Start at one end of the relevant rooms and work your way through. Don't skip any potential spawn points, because, honestly, the one you skip is usually where it is. Taking screenshots of these locations beforehand can also be super helpful, you know, for quick reference in-game.
Remember, the goal is to get the journal. If you don't find it in one raid, you'll have to try again. That's just how it goes with these types of quests in Tarkov. But knowing the multiple spawn points increases your chances significantly, which, you know, is what we want.
Extracting Safely: Getting Out With Your Prize
Finding the journal is, honestly, only half of the Population Census quest. The most important part, as "My text" points out, is making it out alive. If you find the journal but die before extracting, you lose the item, and you're back to square one. This is a pretty common frustration in Escape from Tarkov, you know, losing quest items.
Once you have the journal, your priority shifts entirely to survival. You need to head for an extraction point. On Streets of Tarkov, there are several extraction points, and knowing which ones are open to you (based on your spawn, whether you're a PMC or Scav, and if they have specific requirements) is very important. The northwestern cluster of buildings is, you know, just below the underpass extraction point, which might be a convenient option.
Consider your route to extraction carefully. Try to avoid high-traffic areas or known hot zones. If you've been in a fight or made a lot of noise, it might be better to take a longer, quieter path, even if it feels slower. Your goal is to keep that journal safe until you're out of the raid, which, you know, is the true completion of the task.
Remember, surviving extraction is what makes the quest complete. Without that, all your effort in finding the journal, well, it goes to waste. So, be patient, be cautious, and prioritize getting out over anything else once that journal is in your secure container or backpack, you know.
What You Get: Population Census Rewards
Completing the Population Census quest for the Therapist comes with some pretty good rewards, especially for an early-game task. You're not just getting experience points; you're also building your reputation with a key dealer and getting some useful items and money. These rewards, you know, can really help you out as you continue to play the game.
First off, you get a solid chunk of experience: +6,900 EXP. This helps you level up, which, you know, unlocks more quests and skills. Then there's the Therapist reputation boost of +0.02, which is really important for getting better prices and more items from her later on. Building dealer reputation is, as a matter of fact, a big part of progression in Tarkov.
For money, you get 35,000 roubles as a base reward. But if you have an Intelligence Center in your Hideout, that amount increases. With Intelligence Center level 1, it goes up to 36,750 roubles. And with Intelligence Center level 2, it jumps to 40,250 roubles. So, investing in your Hideout, you see, really pays off for quests like this.
On top of the money and experience, you also receive some very practical items: two Salewa First Aid Kits and two Medical Tools. Salewas are excellent for healing, and Medical Tools are useful for crafting or for other quests. These items, you know, are always good to have, whether for personal use or to sell for more money.
So, the rewards are quite generous for what is, essentially, a glorified fetch quest. They set you up well for future tasks and overall progression in Escape from Tarkov, which, honestly, is what you want from your quests.
What Comes Next After Population Census?
Once you've successfully completed Population Census, handed over the journal to the Therapist, and claimed your rewards, you might be wondering what's next. Well, completing this quest usually unlocks subsequent tasks from the Therapist. She'll have more assignments for you, which will continue to build your reputation with her and lead you to new areas or challenges.
This quest, you know, serves as a good introduction to the Streets of Tarkov map. Even though it's a tough map, completing Population Census means you've now had some experience with its layout, its dangers, and its extraction points. This experience, you see, will be valuable for any future quests or raids you do on Streets.
You can also take the knowledge you gained about journal locations and extraction points to help other players, or to revisit the area for more loot if you feel confident. My channel, for instance, offers a variety of content for FPS, TPS, and extraction-based games, including gameplays, shorts, guides, and tips for Escape from Tarkov and others. So, you know, there's always more to learn and explore.
Keep an eye on your quest log for new tasks from the Therapist. She's a very important dealer, and continuing her questline is a good way to progress through the game. Plus, you've now mastered one of those "annoying missions" that many players find challenging, which, you know, is a pretty good feeling.
For more detailed guides and tips on other quests or game mechanics in Escape from Tarkov, you can learn more about on our site, or even check out this page for additional resources. And for some in-depth community knowledge, you might want to look at the Escape from Tarkov community wikis, which are, you know, full of useful information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Population Census
Where is the Housing Department location for Population Census?
The Housing Department for the Population Census quest is located in the northwestern cluster of buildings on the Streets of Tarkov map. It's usually found just below the underpass extraction point, and you might spot an "Idea poster" nearby, too, which can help you find it.
What do I do after finishing the Population Census quest?
After finishing the Population Census quest and handing over the journal to the Therapist, you should check your quest log for new tasks from her. Completing this quest usually unlocks subsequent quests in her storyline, so you can continue to build your reputation and earn more rewards, you know.
How many spawn points does the journal have for Population Census?
The journal for the Population Census quest has five possible spawn points inside the building near the scav checkpoint in the Primorsky Housing Department. You'll need to check each room thoroughly to make sure you find it, which, you know, can take a little bit of time and patience.
Population Census - Escape From Tarkov Quest Line Database
Population Census - Escape From Tarkov Quest Line Database
Population Census Tarkov: Player Count Statistics 2024
