Non-statistical use of census enumeration Expert Group Meeting to Review Critical Issues Relevant to the Planning of the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses 15-17 September 2004 New York Non-statistical use of census enumeration By Demographic Statistics Section Demographic and Social Statistics Branch United Nations Statistics Division

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Census enumeration is arguably the most critical part of all census related operations if conducted the traditional way It is complex, costly, all-encompassing, nation-wide, simultaneous As such, should the census enumeration be used for non-statistical purposes?

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Three concepts Interviewer or canvasser Self-enumeration Registration based

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Three major concerns Maintaining the integrity of the census Protecting privacy Protecting confidentiality

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Privacy Protecting own “personal space” Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ”No one shall be subject to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence … Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference …”

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Privacy is crucial to the successful census enumeration A violation or perceived violation of privacy compromises respondent’s cooperation

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Confidentiality A key issue in contemporary statistical data collection exercises, especially censuses Ensuring confidentiality enables more efficient census enumeration

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Procedures for protecting privacy and confidentiality in census enumeration Enumerator’s identifiers Criminal prosecution Special envelopes

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in particular Principles 6: Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation, whether they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential and used exclusively for statistical purposes

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Combining the census with any non-statistical information may compromise the integrity of the census Yet, in some countries there were initiatives to combine the census enumeration with administrative operations under the justification of similarity of approaches and efficient use of resources

Non-statistical use of census enumeration Two main areas: Registration of voters Establishing population registers

Non-statistical use of census enumeration There is a need to review country practices and initiatives in non-statistical use of census enumeration and to prepare a set of principles and recommendations to guide national statistical services for the 2010 Round of Censuses.