UNECE

Types of censuses, enumeration methods and selected operational aspects: results

of the ECE questionnaire

Paolo ValenteSocial and Demographic Statistics

Section UN Economic Commission for Europe -

Statistical Division

ECE Work Session on Population Censuses Geneva, 23-25 November 2004

UNECE

Summary of presentation

Review of census methods used in 2000 round, also in relation with legal and administrative context.

“Bonus slides” with preliminary general results on some topics not covered in the paper:

- Statistical uses of census data- Publicity and information campaign- Census evaluation- Census costs by main budget lines - Main problems faced by countries in the 2000 round

Conclusions

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The 2000 round of population and housing

censuses in the ECE region

Censuses taken in 48 out of 55 countries in the ECE region

In all countries the census was taken between 1999 and 2002, with a few exceptions:

- Turkmenistan, Israel and Malta: 1995- Republic of Moldova: October 2004

Replies to the ECE questionnaire on censuses available for 44 countries (43 out of the 48 ECE countries where census was taken + Australia)

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Types of censuses and main enumeration methods

Main enumeration method:

Traditional census (fieldwork)

Registers plus fieldwork

Registers plus sample survey data

Data from registers only

Interviewer, paper questionnaire

21 2 (Latvia,

Slovenia)

23

Self-compiled form, delivered and collected by enum.

9 1 (Spain) 10

Self-compiled form, delivered by enum. and mailed back

3 (France,

Canada, UK)

3

Self-compiled form, mailed-out, collected by enum.

1 (Malta) 1

Self-compiled form, mail-out, mail-back

1 (USA) 2 (Belgium,

Switzerland)

3

Enumeration based on registers (no forms)

1 (Netherlands)

3 (Denmark,

Finland, Norway)

4

35 5 1 3 44

Type of population census:

UNECE

Types of censuses and main enumeration methods

Main enumeration method:

Traditional census (fieldwork)

Registers plus fieldwork

Registers plus sample survey data

Data from registers only

Interviewer, paper questionnaire

21 2 (Latvia,

Slovenia)

23

Self-compiled form, delivered and collected by enum.

9 1 (Spain) 10

Self-compiled form, delivered by enum. and mailed back

3 (France,

Canada, UK)

3

Self-compiled form, mailed-out, collected by enum.

1 (Malta) 1

Self-compiled form, mail-out, mail-back

1 (USA) 2 (Belgium,

Switzerland)

3

Enumeration based on registers (no forms)

1 (Netherlands)

3 (Denmark,

Finland, Norway)

4

35 5 1 3 44

Type of population census:

A1

A2B

C

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Legal context for the 2000 censuses: Existence of statistical legislation

Census act existing in 38 countries (86%)Statistics act existing in 36 countries (82%)Data protection act existing in 33 countries (75%)

No significant differences among different groups of countries, but…

…in countries using registers, possible association with existence of Statistics acts and Data protection acts, rather then Census acts?

UNECE

Administrative context:Existence of use of PIN (1/2)

Existence

of PIN Census SurveysAdmin. Sources

(None)

All 44 countries 70% 48% 39% 77% 16%

Group A1(Trad. census, interviewer)

71% 40% 27% 87% 7%

Group A2 (Trad. census, self-compilation)

71% 30% 20% 50% 40%

Group B (Registers + fieldwork)

60% 100% 100% 100% 0%

Group C (Registers, no fieldwork) 75% 100% 100% 100% 0%

Where the PIN exists, it is used for…Countries

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Administrative context:Existence of use of PIN (2/2)

PIN is not necessary to use registers for censuses (examples: Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland)

Countries using registers for censuses and where PIN exist, use it extensively for statistical purposes

Other countries make limited use of PIN for censuses and statistical surveys (because of restrictions?)

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Administrative context:Existence of registers

Existence

of registers PopulationBusiness

(incl. agr.)Dwellings

Insurance (incl. soc. sec.)

All 44 countries 89% 57% 77% 16% 55%Group A1(Trad. census, interviewer)

86% 38% 71% 14% 62%

Group A2 (Trad. census, self-compilation)

86% 57% 79% 7% 57%

Group B (Registers + fieldwork)

100% 100% 80% 20% 0%

Group C (Registers, no fieldwork) 100% 100% 100% 50% 75%

Countries

Existing registers:

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Administrative context:Existence of registers

Existence

of registers PopulationBusiness

(incl. agr.)Dwellings

Insurance (incl. soc. sec.)

All 44 countries 89% 57% 77% 16% 55%Group A1(Trad. census, interviewer)

86% 38% 71% 14% 62%

Group A2 (Trad. census, self-compilation)

86% 57% 79% 7% 57%

Group B (Registers + fieldwork)

100% 100% 80% 20% 0%

Group C (Registers, no fieldwork) 100% 100% 100% 50% 75%

Countries

Existing registers:

No population register No register-based census!

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Administrative context:Use of registers for

censuses…

Type of register:To establish address lists

To pre-fill census forms

To produce census data

Population 11 6 7Dwellings 5 0 4Business 0 2 8Insurance 0 1 4Post office address list 3 0 0Other registers      6 2 7TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES:

21 8 9

Countries using the registers…

UNECE

Administrative context:… and use of censuses for

registers

Type of register:To update

existing registerTo create

new register

Population 5 2Dwellings 3 6Business 1 2Insurance 0 1Post office address list 2 1Other registers      5 2TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES:

11 7

Countries using the census…

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Administrative context:… and use of censuses for

registers

Type of register:To update

existing registerTo create

new register

Population 5 2Dwellings 3 6Business 1 2Insurance 0 1Post office address list 2 1Other registers      5 2TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES:

11 7

Countries using the census…

Confidentiality implications!

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Statistical uses of census data

Revision of intercensal population estimates

Base for population projections

Revision of admin. records

Frame for sample surveys

All 44 countries 84% 84% 20% 77%Group A1(Trad. census, interviewer)

100% 100% 29% 90%

Group A2 (Trad. census, self-compilation) 93% 100% 14% 79%

Group B (Registers + fieldwork)

60% 40% 20% 80%

Group C (Registers, no fieldwork) 0% 0% 0% 0%

Groups of countries by census methodology

Uses of census data:

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Publicity campaign (1/2)

Publicity campaign carried out in 41 countries

No publicity campaign in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands…

…but publicity campaign in some countries with register-based censuses (Finland and Norway)

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Publicity campaign:Means of publicity

Means of publicity: Countries1st mean of

publicity

National TV 40 31Newspapers and magazines 38 15National radio 38 14Local radio 37 9Press conf., other events 35 10Posters 34 8Leaflets 31 9Local TV 31 8Internet 22 5Billboards 20 6Gadgets 9 2Other 8 0

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Publicity campaign: “Innovative approaches…”

• In Canada, no national TV, but: - free ads/inserts

- sugar bags- milk cartoon- rail cars- calendar and agenda companies- mail inserts- plastic bags- ATMs, etc.

• And in Italy: SMS!!!

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Publicity campaign (cont.)

Main locations for posters and leaflets Selected targets of the campaign:

Locations: Countries Locations: CountriesPublic institutions 36 Young and students 28Schools 30 People in rural areas 19Stations, airports 25 Foreigners 16Post offices, pharmacies 25 Ethnic minorities 15Libraries 19

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Information campaign

Means of information: Countries1st mean of information

TV programs 39 21Newspapers, magazines 39 13Radio programs 37 11Call center 29 12Internet 28 4Booklets 26 7Events 17 2CD-ROM 6 1Other 6 1

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Information campaign

Countries

3937332912Other

Main aims of information campaign:Make respondent confidentMake answering correct and easierExplain legal frameExplain instruments

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Census evaluation

Countries

2420191414

Types of evaluation conducted:Comparison with other data sourcesDemographic analysisCoverage post-enumeration surveyQuality post-enumeration surveyField re-interviews

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Census evaluation

In case of PES, were census official figures adjusted accordingly? Countries

No adjustment 13Yes, for the total population 8Yes, for geografic breakdowns 7Yes, for age/sex breakdowns 6Adjustement only for retrospective estimates/future forecasts, but not to official population figures

2

No post-enumeration survey 10

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Cost of censuses% distribution by main

budget linesAll countries A1 A2 B C

General preparation, services, logistics

16 19 10 13 25

Equipment 10 13 8 5 8Enumeration (fieldwork)

40 44 44 42 0

Data entry, checking, coding

12 7 18 16 13

Processing and analysis

5 2 3 7 21

Publication, dissemination and documentation

5 3 3 2 22

Other costs 13 12 14 14 11Total 100 100 100 100 100

Groups of countriesCensus budget lines:

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Cost of censuses% distribution by main

budget lines

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Allcountries

A1 A2 B C

Other

Publication, disseminationand documentation

Processing and analysis

Data entry, checking, coding

Enumeration (fieldwork)

Equipment

General preparation,services, logistics

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Main problems and difficulties faced in the 2000

round of censusesMain problems and dificulties:

Number of countries

Data collection 15Funding sources 12Cartography/Mapping 11Use of new technologies 11Staff 11Design of questionnaires 8Data processing 8Publicity 7

Checking-controlling-coding 6

Conformity to content according to Recommendations and Concepts

4

Regional and local structure 3Evaluation 3

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Conclusions

In 2000 round, limited variability in census methodology adopted: most countries took traditional census

Different methods have different implications on various phases of census

In 2010, much higher variability is expected with regard to census methods (seminar, pres. on Plans for 2010)

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Implications for 2010 recommendations (1/2)

New expanded section on census methodology (2000 recommendations focussed on content)

Objective: not to “recommend” specific approaches, but rather to “inform” about possible options and help countries to evaluate them

Review of different approaches, discussing:- necessary conditions- implications on various phases of census- advantages and disadvantages

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Implications for 2010 recommendations (2/2)

Possible areas to be covered: - Possible uses of registers - Possible uses of sample surveys - Other approaches (“rolling census”?)- Census evaluation (coverage and quality)- Publicity and information campaign - …