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Establishing a register-based Establishing a register-based statistical systemstatistical system

Example: Population and housing censuses in NorwayExample: Population and housing censuses in Norway

Statistical Training Course Use of Administrative Registers in Production of Statistics

Warzaw 14 – 17 March 2014

Harald Utne, Statistics Norway

harald.utne@ssb.no

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Norwegian Censuses 1960 – 2011

• 1801: First complete census

• 1960: Last fully traditional censusCensus data used to establish CPR (in 1964)

• 1970 Census: Mainly traditionalCensus used to – Check and update CPR– Establish Register of Education (in Statistics Norway)

• 1980 Census: Questionnaires shortened and sent by mail– Registers used to rationalise data collection: Mail out – mail back

No enumerators

– Demographic variables taken from CPR

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Norwegian Censuses 1960 – 2011 (2)

• 1990 Census– Register data on demography, education, income, geographical

characteristics– Questionnaires for data on labour marked, households and housing

Sample survey Labour market register used in estimation

• 2001 Census– All data on persons from registers– Data on and households based on registers and questionnaires– Housing data based on questionnaires– Full coverage survey (all households)

• 2011 Census: Totally register-based– Establish a system for register-based censuses

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Historical development, main trends:

1. Extensive use of census data in establishing registers– Use of “census data” for administrative purposes:

– Multiple legal base for Census 2001 in Norway: Statistics Act, CPR, Cadastre

2. Step-by-step development– Developing a register-based census may take time!

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Education IncomeSocial security

Unemployedpersons

PopulationReg.

Jobregisters

Business register

Addresses BuildingsDwellings

P B

PP

P P

A A

P = Personal id numberB = Business id numberA = Numerical address

Other registers

P

Register-based population and housing census system

• Units covered in base registers: Persons, dwellings/buildings and enterprises/establishment

• Derived units: Families and households

• Persons linked to– Dwellings

– Workplaces (establishments) through job registers

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Census data from registers – “tertiary use”

Wages Adm. registers

Emp-loyees CPR

Statistical registers in Statistics Norway Employment Population

CENSUS FILECensus

Income

Income Education

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Education IncomeSocial security

Unemployedpersons

CentralPopulation

Reg.

Jobregisters

Business register

Addresses BuildingsDwellings

P B

PP

P P

A A

P = Personal id numberB = Business id numberA = Numerical address

Other registers

P

Census data system before 2001

No register on dwellingsNo link person- dwelling, that is no household register

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Norwegian 2001 Census

Goals

• Produce Census statistics for 2001

• Establish a basis for the 2011 register-based census– The Dwelling Address Project

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The Dwelling Address Project

• Major goals– Extend the Cadastre to comprise dwellings, not only buildings

Add dwelling number to street address Main Street 8A, H0103 Establish a link between dwellings and resident persons (in CPR) Using data from census forms

• Main problem: Multi-dwelling buildings

• Participants– Statistics Norway (Census 2001)– Tax Inspectorate (CPR)– Norwegian Mapping Authorities (Cadastre)

• Use “census data” for administrative purposes– Multiple legal base for Census 2001

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Multi-dwelling buildings before Census 2001

Main street 8 A

H0101

H0102 H0103

H0104

?

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Goal for Census 2001

Main street 8 A H0101

H0101

H0102 H0103

H0104

BUT-----------

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Multi-dwelling buildings after Census 2001, result

Main street 8 A H0101

H0101

H0102 H0103

H0104

55 % of persons in multi-dwelling houses linked to a unique dwelling address. Following up necessary!

Main street 8 AMain street 8A H0102

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Following up on the Dwelling Address Project

• Statistics Norway played an active role – pushing forward

• Quality monitoring

• Situation by end of 2010: 95 % of population linked to a dwelling

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Comparing register-based and traditional censuses Advantages

• Reduced response burden

• Reduced costs– Specific census costs rather low

• No need to hire and train a census staff every tenth year

• Census statistics and subject matter statistics based on same sources

– Comparability– Annual “census statistics”

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Comparing register-based and traditional censuses Disadvantages

• Only variables available in or derived from registers included

• Some restrictions on definitions– Dwelling households, not housekeeping units– Legal place of residence, not usual place of residence

• No collection tool for emerging needs – Sample surveys may be used, but not for small area statistics

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Register-based censuses – the processRegister-based censuses – the process

Traditional

Investigation

Costs Response burden Annual statistics

Relevant registers?

Linking? Legal base? Public approval?

QualityRelevance Coverage TimelinessAccuracy

Partly register-based

Fully traditional

Traditional andSample surveys orYearly updates

RegistersandTraditional

New technologies

Registers andSample survey

Fully register-based

?

Reg. andad hocSample survey

Reg. and existingSample survey

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State of affaires in UNECE region

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Census costsCensus costs in UNECE countries (Europe and North America)• Traditional census (30): 5,57 $ per capita

• Combined censuses (10): 3,94 $ per capita

• Register-based censuses (9) : 0,24 $ per capita

• Traditional censuses– Variation in costs caused by national circumstances, legislation– From 1 to 40 $ per capita

• Combined censuses– Most expensive in countries with full enumeration

• Register-based censuses– Most expensive for countries using registers for the first time– Norway 0,50 $ - 10 % of costs in 2001 Census

• Major savings: Data collection

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Register-based censuses – the processRegister-based censuses – the process

Traditional

Investigation

Costs Response burden Annual statistics

Relevant registers?

Linking? Legal base? Public approval?

QualityRelevance Coverage TimelinessAccuracy

Partly register-based

Fully traditional

Traditional andSample surveys orYearly updates

RegistersandTraditional

New technologies

Registers andSample survey

Fully register-based

?

Reg. andad hocSample survey

Reg. and existingSample survey

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