United Nations Statistics Division Overview of the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses with Emphasis on Innovations Srdjan Mrkić United Nations Statistics Division

- The seventh such programme since the inception of the United Nations General overview 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses - The seventh such programme since the inception of the United Nations - As of October 2014, out of 235 countries or areas - 216 already conducted a population and housing census - 19 did not plan nor conduct/schedule a census, compared to 26 countries or areas in the 2000 round

General overview – 1990 round of censuses

General overview – 2000 round of censuses

General overview – 2010 round of censuses

General overview – 2010 round Number of countries/areas that conducted, plan to conduct and did not schedule a population and housing census in the 2010 round, by year

2010 round findings Main census methodology - Full field enumeration (85 % of surveyed countries) - Administrative registers (10 %)

Main census methodology – Rolling census - Combination of full enumeration for certain areas and sampling surveys in other - Initiated by a number of factors, including concerns regarding the different periodicity and costs - In France, since 2004 - The concept dates back to 1960’s – became feasible for large statistical exercises in the 1990’s due to theoretical and technological development

Main census methodology – Rolling census France consists of 36,682 municipalities (communes) Half of the population resides in around 36 thousand small communes with population less than 10,000 The other half resides in less than one thousand large communes with the population well over 10,000

Full and complete enumeration once in a five year period Main census methodology – Rolling census All small communes are distributed in five groups for each arrondissment (large region, 22 in total) based on age groups, sex and type of dwelling Full and complete enumeration once in a five year period

Main census methodology – Rolling census As for large communes, the sample is based on an inventory of buildings/addresses Addresses are distributed in five groups, as in the case of small communes Each year, 40% of one group is enumerated In a five year period, identical sample of each group is enumerated

Main census methodology – Rolling census - As a result, the rolling census covers 14% percent of the population each year – one-fifth of all the small communes is enumerated each year, which represent approximately 10% of the total population and around 8% of the large communes, which is approximately 4% of the total population - After five years, the total of the enumerated persons amounts to approximately 70% of the total population, allowing for extrapolation and interpolation for small areas

Main census methodology – Rolling census Issues: Simultaneity Double enumeration Universality Advantages: Once set in motion, generates annual, up-to-date small area statistics Less costly

Main census methodology – Combination Replacing the long form with a rolling survey American Community Survey In the United States, full enumeration on just 10 questions and is conducted once every ten years For all the other population and housing census topics, a rolling survey

Main census methodology – Combination Four stages of development: Design stage – 1990-1993 Development stage – 1994-1999 Demonstration stage – 2000 – 2004 Full implementation – 2005 onwards, around 3 million housing units are sampled each year

Main census methodology – Combination Moving averages for smallest geographical areas – census tracts – became available after five-year data gathering After that, data are available on annual basis Introduced over a long period of time Required institutional and methodological re- engineering

2010 round findings Enumeration methods used in 2010 round Total countries Percent Total 126 100 Face-to-face interview, paper questionnaire 94 75 Face-to-face interview, electronic questionnaire 14 11 Telephone Self-enumeration, paper questionnaire, collected by enumerators 30 24 Self-enumeration, paper questionnaire, return by mail 18 Self-enumeration, internet 33 26 Register-based enumeration Pre-existing administrative records 8 6 Other 2 * Note that the sum of the categories exceeds 100% as countries were asked to provide answers as to all the methods they applied.

2010 round findings Type of technology used in 2010 round Total countries Percent Total 121 100 Internet 50 43 Laptop computers 31 27 Hand-held/Pocket computers 10 9 Tablet computers 4 3 Geographical information systems (GIS) 75 64 Computer-assisted coding 57 48 Optical mark recognition 38 33 Optical character reading 49 42 Other imaging techniques and scanning devices 44 Other 25 21 None of the above 6 5 * Note that the sum of the categories exceeds 100% as countries were asked to provide answers as to all the technologies they applied.

2010 round findings Dissemination tools used in 2010 round

Looking ahead to the 2020 round Focusing on five points Use of administrative registers Role of social media Use of tablet computers Role of the internet Dissemination of micro data