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Report on the Results of a Survey on Census Methods used by Countries in the 2010 Census Round

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:40:48 GMT

By United Nations Statistics Division, 2011.

In 2009 and early 2010, the United Nations conducted a survey to collect information on methods used by countries or areas in the planning and implementation of their 2010 round population and housing censuses. The survey also collected information on challenges that countries or areas faced or expect to face in the implementation of their censuses for the 2010 round as well as on aspects of the census process in which they may have expertise. The questionnaire used for conducting the survey had 28 questions seeking information on: (i) source of population and housing census data; (ii) cartography; (iii) method(s) of enumeration; (iv) census evaluation; (v) data processing; (vi) data dissemination; (vii) census budget and source of funding; and (viii) technical assistance required and areas of expertise. This report presents the main results of this survey.

[Working paper: UNSD/DSSB/1]

France’s redesigned census: lessons and prospects

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:48:21 GMT

By the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), France, 2011.

From 1801 to 1999, France periodically conducted “traditional” censuses
with exhaustive enumeration. In 1997, it decided to undertake a radical reform of its
census involving (1) a switch to annual surveys in parts of the country, (2) introduction
of a sample survey in large municipalities based on a statistical register of addresses,
and (3) annual publication of detailed results using five annual surveys and
administrative data. This system is now operational and is supplying results on a
regular basis. Have the goals of the reform been met? This paper analyzes the successes
and difficulties of the project, and assesses the extent to which it has met its goals for
cost, data quality, and information timeliness. We describe the defects and risks that
emerged during implementation, and discuss planned developments.

(Conference of the Italian statistical society Statistics in the 150 years from the Unit of Italy
Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna Bologna, 8 -10 June 2011)

[Available in English and French]

Census Quality of French Rolling Census

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:43:43 GMT

By the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), France, 2008.

Since 2004, the French census system has worked to a revised method combining two core principles: a rolling census based on a 5-year cycle, and the deployment of a sample survey scheme led on communes counting either side of 10,000 inhabitants, based on a comprehensive housing inventory called the ‘RIL’. These principles are written into national census law. This revamped census system can output detailed year-in-year-out statistics at each geographic level of analysis, from national figures down to commune or district-level scope (§ 1 to 3).
The census reform was implemented in response to a mounting need for recent demographic data, most importantly at more granular levels. The reforms also make it possible to even out both the HR and budget-related census costs, and implement better operational control (§ 4). Finally, the new census format, and particularly the housing inventory, cuts down on omissions.
The population census, in its French format, meets the five core criteria set by the UN (§ 5) as well as the general quality assurance criteria governing statistical operations (§ 6).
Quality is managed end-to-end throughout the census preparation, collection, processing and publishing operations. Census quality is assured through quality control and metrics protocols plus reviews with input from all the census actors involved: communes, data collection agents, INSEE teams, and subcontractors (§ 7 and 8). Pilot tests and phased investigations are run to enhance a quantitative and qualitative analysis of census coverage (§ 9).

[Available in English and French]

The dissemination of French census results since 2009

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:43:16 GMT

By the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), France, 2010.

The dissemination of census results in France is annual since 2009. This distribution
takes place exclusively online, under the shape of varied products adapted to different
categories of users. Documentation and specific assistance are intended to make users
autonomous in their use of data. Dissemination products have been designed after
consultation of users, taking into account methodological characteristics of the census and
the opinion of the National Commission on Informatics and Freedoms, committee in charge
of monitoring respect for freedoms and privacy. On the second edition in 2010, products
have evolved to include early user feedback

(Paper presented at the Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of European Statisticians, organized by ECE)

[Available in French and English]

The french use of housing tax in the new census method

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:42:18 GMT

By the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), France, 2010.

1. France has implemented, since 2004, a rolling census: a survey is conducted annually on a
portion of the territory. At the beginning of each year, about 14% of the population completes a
census form. At the end of each year, an official population (used in used in many financial and
regulatory areas ) is calculated, for each commune, based on the last 5 surveys. This “legal
population” is calculated for each commune (of which there are 36,682 in France) regardless of the
survey’s date in its territory.
2. The method is mainly based on population surveys. But an administrative source, the
housing tax, is used to put back to the same reference date data collected within different years. This
paper aims to present the details of this "statistical” use of administrative data.
3. When the survey in a commune under 10 000 inhabitants has taken place one or two years
before the reference date of the census, the number of homes subject to the tax allows to extrapolate
the population. The administrative data is used as a trend factor -not a level factor-, to refresh the
data from the last survey. (Part 1)
4. The first step is collecting data from the tax administration. The data is constructed
according to rules and practices that meet the fiscal targets. We had to understand their way of
elaborating and schedule update. A second phase of expertise then led to the conclusion that the
separation between occupied dwellings and other dwellings (seasonal or secondary used, vacant),
was not sufficiently reliable in the tax databases. So, the final method takes in account the evolution
of the total number of dwellings from one year to another. A correction coefficient, from the figures
collected during the previous census, takes into account the trend in the number of persons per
dwelling in the town.
5. Finally it was necessary to establish “correction” rules in the very few situations where the
data changes from year to year is clearly erroneous, with significant decreases one years followed by
increases of similar magnitude following year. (Part 2)
6. Finally, this process has been operated for 2 years (legal populations have been computed
and published in December 2008 and December 2009), and has raised no objections, especially from
the 21 000 municipalities whose population has been calculated by this method. It however requires
significant permanent human resources. (Part 3).

(Paper presented at the Joint UNECE/Eurostat Expert Group Meeting on Register-Based Censuses, The Hague, The Netherlands, 10-11 May 2010)

[Available in French and English]

Census taking in Europe: how are populations counted in 2010?

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:02:24 GMT

By Paolo Valente, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2010.

It is essential to count the population so that necessary levels of service provision for schools, transport,
healthcare, etc. can be determined in each municipality. But census taking is costly, and a growing
number of people are reluctant to participate. To address these problems, the industrialized countries have
developed new, less expensive methods based on existing data obtained from surveys and population
registers. This article describes the methods employed by European countries for the population censuses
scheduled in 2010 and beyond.

Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Rev. 2

Jan Beise — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:05:21 GMT

By United Nations Statistics Division, 2008.

Since its earliest years, the United Nations has issued a series of international principles and recommendations on population and housing censuses to assist national statistical offices and census officials, throughout the world, in planning and carrying out improved and cost-effective censuses.

The Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2 is divided into three parts: Part One - Operational aspects of population and housing censuses – covers mainly issues of census planning and management; Part Two – Topics for population and housing censuses – includes topics as well as their definitions and classification for both population and housing; and Part Three – Census products and data utilizations – is aimed at enhancing the dissemination and utilization of census data. The publication also contains a set of recommended tabulations on population and housing that every country is should produce at least once during the 2010 census round. There are also additional tabulations that countries may produce depending on their needs.

Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.07.XVII.8), 2008.

[available in English, Arabic, Russian]

The french population census

Jan Beise — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:48:00 GMT

By INSEE, France, 2009.

63 186 117 inhabitants: that is the official population figure of France as of 1 January 2006. For the first time, INSEE has published population figures for each of the 36 681 communes in France drawn from the new census. The new census method, based on annual census surveys and rotating samples, allows to update the population figurs every year at all geographical levels. This method, world wide unique, guarantees moreover the best quality monitoring of the produced data.

Paper presented at the 57th Session of the International Statistical Institute (ISI), Durban (South Africa), August 2009.

[In French only]

American Community Survey - Design and Methodology

Jan Beise — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:56:00 GMT

This paper by the US Census Bureau provides a comprehensive description of the methods and procedures currently used in the American Community Survey (ACS). The paper contains a wide variety of topics ranging from sample design, content development, data collection and processing, data products and dissemination to user assistance. The purpose of this paper is to provide data users and other interested individuals with documentation of the final methods planned for the ACS. Citations are provided that cover critical background documentation for those with an interest in greater detail. It also includes a glossary of terms, list of acronyms, and several tables and appendices.

Validation of census data in France

Jan Beise — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:49:00 GMT

Paper by National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, France

This document describes the procedures developed by the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies for the validation of census data in France. It sets out the method adopted for calculating the population of a given district, followed by the validation procedures applied to all the data sources used in calculating the population of a district.

Paper presented at the Joint UNECE/Eurostat Meeting on Population and Housing Censuses, Geneva, 13-15 May 2008.

[Paper also available in French and Russian]

The French new rolling census

Jan Beise — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:46:00 GMT

To answer the increasing demand for fresher data and spread the burden of conducting the census over a longer period, the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies has conducted a large program to redesign the census, based on the “rolling census concept” proposed by L. KISH. In this rolling census, every commune below the 10 000 inhabitants threshold will be surveyed once within a five year period ; larger communes will be splitted off into five rotation groups of addresses, each rotation group being surveyed in one of the five years. This paper by Jean-Michel Durr (INSEE, France) presents the principles and the methodology of this operation and the situation at the end of 2004.

Paper presented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Seminar on New Methods for Population Censuses, Geneva, 22 November 2004.

The population census in France - "les populations légales des communes" within the framework of the new census

Jan Beise — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:24:00 GMT

This press document by the French statistical office (INSEE) explains the method of calculating the population of municipalities within the framework of the new rolling census in France. The paper describes the legal aspects and gives examples of the calculation modus for the years 2008 and 2009.

[in French only]

On the relationship between quality frameworks and alternative census methodologies

Jan Beise — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:10:00 GMT

In this paper Gilberto Calvillo and Victor A. Bustos of the Mexican National Statistical Office (INEGI) present their view on the relations among census characteristics, quality dimensions and a number of census methodologies. They argue that not all dimensions are equally favoured by adherence to each census characteristic. It is claimed that empirical models jointly fitted to short form data together with census data, be they simultaneously collected or not, may also result in census-equivalent aggregates and consider such an approach together with better established options.

Paper presented at the Satellite Meeting on Innovative Methodologies for Censuses in the New Millennium of the 56th Session of the ISI, Lisboa, 31 August - 2 September 2007.

The American Community Survey the MAF/TIGER Enhancements Program - The Short Form Only 2010 Census

Jan Beise — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:43:00 GMT

This paper by the United States Census Bureau describes the reengineered 2010 Census consisting of three highly integrated activities designed to dramatically improve upon what was a very good census in 2000. This will be accomplished by taking advantage of opportunities for innovation – made possible through the expanded use of technology – in order to: 1) increase the coverage, accuracy, and quality of census data; 2) reduce operational risk; 3) increase the relevance and timeliness of census long form data; and 4) contain costs. The three highly integrated activities we have embarked upon to meet these goals are: 1) the American Community Survey (ACS); 2) the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Enhancements Program; and 3) a multi-year program of comprehensive planning, development, and testing for a short form only 2010 Census.

Paper presented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Seminar on New Methods for Population Censuses, Geneva, 22 November 2004.

Quality management in the French census

Jan Beise — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:28:00 GMT

This paper by the Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (INSEE) deals with the redesigned census (rolling census) in France. The redesigned census is based on a five-year cycle rolling data collection and use of sample surveys in municipalities with 10000 inhabitants or more. The paper describes how quality for each of the operations of the census is assessed and operationally managed both at the level of the municipality and also by the national statistical institute.

Paper presented at the Joint UNECE-Eurostat Expert Group Meeting on the Implementation of the CES Census Recommendations for Register-Based Censuses Astana (Kazakhstan), 7-8 June 2007.

[available also in Russian]

The population census in France: from general census to “rolling census”

Jan Beise — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:17:00 GMT

This paper by the Institut National de la Statistiqueet des Études Économiques (INSEE) describes the transition in the French census methodology from a traditional census to a rolling census. It summarizes the new methodology and the motives for the reform, discusses the essential features of censuses how defined by the UN in the light of the rolling census methodology and evaluates the results of the rolling census half-way through the first cycle.

Paper presented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Conference of European Statisticians (CES) in Paris (13-15 June 2006).

(available also in French and Russian)

The new French population census

Jan Beise — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:06:00 GMT

This paper by the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), France, is describing the setting up a new census in France. A law describing the principles of this census was passed in February 2002. It will be a "rotating" Census, with annual collections and recourse to a sample survey. The first wave of collection will take place in January-February 2004. As from 2008, it will provide data on the legal population and annual statistical results.

Paper presented at the Joint ECE-EUROSTAT Work Session on Population and Housing Censuses (Ohrid, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 21-23 May 2003).

[available also in French]

Alternative Census Designs: An Overview of Issues

Jan Beise — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:31:00 GMT

This paper by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) presents general features of the traditional and some selected alternative census designs giving reasons for their adoption. Reviews are made, through examples, of the following approaches: the traditional census approach (which is briefly explored here in order to provide a context and contrast); register-based census approach; censuses based solely on sample surveys; registers/administrative records combined with sample survey; and the traditional census supplemented by annual sample surveys.

Paper for the expert Group Meeting to Review Critical Issues Relevant to the Planning of the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses, New York, 2004.

New approaches to population censuses: the Brazilian case

Jan Beise — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:52:00 GMT

This paper by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) describes the efforts the IBGE in finding new approaches for the Brazilian Census. These activities are in response to the increasing demand for specific, detailed and opportune information by at the same time imposed budget constraints. The paper identifies as conditions for new approaches the need to satisfy the demands of users and, at the same time, the reduction in the cost of producing the Census.

Paper presented at the 2006 plenary session of the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) in Paris (13-15 June 2006).