United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Sources of gender statistics Angela Me UNECE Statistics Division

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2 What Statistical Sources are relevant for Gender statistics? All sources where data on individuals are collected are in principle relevant for gender statistics Including sources used preliminary for other purposes (economic for example)

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 3 What Statistical Sources are relevant for Gender statistics?  Census  Surveys  Administrative Records  Published data  Other sources (surveillance systems, associations)

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 4 Population and Housing Census Complete Count of the people and the housing units and the collection of a number of their characteristics in a territory of a country

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 5 Population and Housing Census  Identify each member of the population  Collect certain basic data about them  age, sex, education, employment, etc.  Modules to collect data on specific topics may be added  Normally about every 10 years  Provide the benchmarking for population, sampling frames and other population characteristics

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 6 Population and Housing Census  Advantage Excellent coverage  Disadvantage May be inaccurate due to infrequency Limited data collected Lag before data produced

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 7 Sample Surveys Sampling techniques are used to select a small proportion of the population that is believed to be representative of the population at large. A survey is then conducted using this sample population to gain estimates for the total population. The sample design and the sample size determine the quality and the representativeness of the data

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 8 The “Miracle” of the selected sample: how a limited number of people can provide data for the whole population? How many people is sufficient to sample in order to know the sex composition of the population? Any sample of 1 will give the sex composition

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 9 The “Miracle” of the selected sample How many people is sufficient to sample in order to know the sex composition of the population? A “good” sample of 2 will give the sex composition

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 10 The “Miracle” of the selected sample The sample of 3 could cover the all composition BUT A good sample of 4 gives the right proportions

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 11 Sample  A good sample depends on: Size (not percentage over the total population) Design

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 12 Sample Surveys  Good vehicle for collecting data from a subset of the population  Subset: Save money and resources Reduce time to collect data Reduce time to analyze Topics can be investigated in more details

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 13 Sample Surveys As long as The sample is properly selected:  Updated frame  Proper size (depending from the topic under investigation –its variability- and NOT on the percentage over the population)  Proper design Usually a sample of households is drawn and data collected for each member of the household

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 14 Sample Surveys Limitations  Sample size determines if results are generalizable to entire population (larger samples and better designs can produce better data and reliable for sub- populations/geographical localities)  Data on small sub-populations may not be reliable  Information on small geographic areas may not be available

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 15 Sample Surveys Data for Gender analysis  Usually household surveys focus on socio-economic issues.  Surveys that should be carried out REGULALRY: Income and Expenditures (Household Budget Survey) Employment (Labour Force Surveys) Health  Examples of ad-hoc Surveys/Modules: Time-Use Survey Violence against women Employment (occupations, status in employment, industry)

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 16 International Programmes of Sample Surveys  Multi-indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Children malnutrition Education (children and women – attendance) Reproductive health of women Children health Health status of children and women (HIV) Disability of children Infant and child mortality  Demographic Health Survey (DHS) Same as above Violence against women

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 17 International Programmes of Sample Surveys  Living Standards Measurement Surveys (LSMS) Household income and expenditures Health Education Employment Accessibility to services ……..

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 18 Administrative (or routine) data sources  Generated as a byproduct of events and processes and data collected by a variety of organizations (hospitals, schools, …)  Primary purpose is management of processes  Event triggers data production  Summary and/or dissemination occurs later (but usually within one or two years)

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 19 Administrative (or routine) data sources Examples relevant for gender analysis  Vital registration Births, deaths, marriages  Health system Diseases, services provided  Education system Enrollment, teachers  Employment  Business registration  Voting registers

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 20 Administrative (or routine) data sources Advantages Less expensive than surveys and censuses Relatively up to date (usually available within one to two years after event) If properly maintained, full coverage Often produced by agencies who are stakeholders in the policy process, e.g., health providers, schools, industry bodies, so incentive to participate Routine collection of sub-population identifiers

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 21 Administrative (or routine) data sources Disadvantages Require large efforts by Governments and People to properly maintain them Coverage may be insufficient or biased Limited set of information collected Some data may depend upon uptake of services May measure service provision rather than demand, and uptake rather than impact Numbers may be inflated in some areas Primary purpose is NOT data collection

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 22 Census and Surveys: initiated by the statistical authorities

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 23 Administrative Records: initiated by the individual

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 24 Data Sources Data for Gender analysis  For data where women and men do not have a benefit or do not see the advantage of reporting the event Household Surveys or Census are better sources

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 25 Demographic Surveillance Systems Data for Gender analysis  Longitudinal monitoring of sentinel populations  Can provide detailed information on the sentinel population but not representative of the population

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 26 Other Sources Data for Gender analysis  Professional Organizations Business Journalists Lawyers

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 27 Data sources compared Characteristic AdminSurveyCensus Inclusion criterion All ‘noticed’ events Designated unitsAll units Coverage Variable, depending upon system % coverage specified ~100% coverage Gender Bias May be biasedDesigned to minimize bias Lack of coverage may lead to some bias

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 28 Data sources compared CharacteristicAdminSurveyCensus CostCheapMediumExpensive Time Ongoing, years for reporting 3-5 years + 1 year for reporting 10 years + 1 year for reporting Potential for Gender analysis V good, but limited info, and problem if coverage poor Good, but only for medium to long term Good for long term and as input with other data

UNECE Statistical Division Slide 29 Messages Look for all potential Sources Use the sources at the best for gender analysis understanding their strengthens and limitations