Transcript Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses Minsk, 8-12 December 2008 Overview of Approaches to Register-Based Populating Censuses Paolo Valente United.

Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme
on Population and Housing Censuses
Minsk, 8-12 December 2008
Overview of Approaches to
Register-Based Populating Censuses
Paolo Valente
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Statistical Division
Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
General considerations about using registers
Fully register based census
Data from registers + full enumeration
Data from registers + existing sample surveys
Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys
Conclusions
1. General considerations
Advantages of using register data for censuses:
• Use information already available  No additional
burden on respondents
• Data potentially available every year
• Cheaper that full enumeration once high quality
registers are established
1. General considerations
Requirements of using register data:
• Need to have public and legislative support
• Long time and large investments needed to develop
high quality statistical register system to be used for
censuses
2. Fully register based censuses
• Census conducted by integrating data from various registers
• Conclusion of long step-by-step process
• Census is part of a system of register-based information
Main requirements:
• Availability of population register
and dwelling register
• Capacity to link persons and
dwellings, identifying households
• Public and legislative support for
the use of population registers
2. Fully register based censuses
Experience 2000 census: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway
From 2010: Sweden, Netherlands, Slovenia
Advantages:
• No burden on individuals
• Data usually available every year
• Once high quality registers are established, it is cheaper than a full
field enumeration
Limitations:
• Setting up and maintenance require significant resources
• Characteristics to be collected are limited to those on the registers
• Quality of census depends on coverage and quality of registers
• Data in registers usually collected for non-statistical purposes
• Statistical agencies are also dependent on register authorities
3. Data from registers + full enumeration
• Option when registers exist but some important
variables are missing, or quality is not sufficiently good
• Enumeration provide data on these variables, and
evaluation of coverage and accuracy of register data
• Some register data can be pre-printed in questionnaires
3. Data from registers + full enumeration
2000 round: Belgium, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland
Advantages:
• Data collection operations could be used to update and improve
registers
– Preliminary step to « pure » register-based census
– Distinction between statistical operation (census) and admin. operation
(register update) should be clear to the respondents
• More efficient than traditional census in field operations
Disadvantages:
• Method can be complex to apply
• More expensive than pure register based census
• Burden on the public
4. Data from registers + existing sample surveys
• As an alternative, register data can be integrated with
data from existing sample surveys (i.e. LFS)
• Survey results are used for variables
not covered in registers
• Data linked at individual level
4. Data from registers + existing sample surveys
2000 round: Netherlands (« Virtual census »)
Advantages:
• No burden on respondents
• Reduced costs: no specific field data collection
• Consistency between census results and survey results
Disadvantages:
• Process to successfully link information on individuals
from different surveys and registers is complex
• Limited detail for information taken from sample surveys
5. Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys
• Other alternative: using ad hoc sample surveys instead of
existing surveys.
• Ad-hoc surveys can be used to evaluate accuracy of
registers and collect traditional long form census data.
• Requires capacity to link individual data from different
sources
5. Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys
Plans for 2010: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel (2008),
Switzerland
Advantages:
• Accuracy of population register can be tested
• Population counts could be adjusted
• No burden on respondents
• Reduced costs: no specific field data collection
Disadvantages:
• Method could be complex
• Limited detail for information taken from sample surveys
Conclusions: Census methods adopted in ECE Region
2000 census round and plans for 2010 round
100%
1
5
1
1
6
3
75%
5
Traditional census
+ yearly updates
7
Registers + sample
surveys
50%
Registers + full
enumeration
35
countries
24
countries
25%
Rolling census
Registers only
Traditional census
(field operations)
0%
2000
2010 (plans)
Conclusions
• UNECE countries seem to find their way to use data
they have in registers for the census
• Quality of register data is a key factor, but not an
« excuse » not to use them
• Learn from other countries’ experiences but then
take decisions based on national context
Source on Register based censuses
More details available
in CES Census
Recommendations,
Appendix II:
http://www.unece.org/stats/census/
Sources on Register based censuses
Fully register-based
censuses also
covered in UNECE
publication on
register-based
statistics:
http://www.unece.org/stats/census/
Other UNECE material on censuses
•
CES Recommendations for 2010 Censuses
(English/Russian/French)
•
•
•
Documents of annual meetings on censuses
Documents of training workshops on censuses
Methodological and reference material:
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–
–
Collection of questionnaires and material used in 2000
Publication on national practices in 2000 censuses (Eng/Rus)
5 multimedia presentations on censuses (Eng/Rus)
http://www.unece.org/stats/census/