1. Establishing a register-based statistical system Example: Population and housing censuses in Norway
Training workshop on censuses using administrative registers in Geneva 21 May 2012
Harald Utne, Statistics Norway

2. Norwegian Censuses 1960 - 2011 1960: Last fully traditional census
Census data used to establish CPR (in 1964)
1970 Census: Mainly traditional
Census used to
Check and update CPR
Establish Register of Education (in SN)
1980 Census: Questionnaires shortened and sent by mail
Registers used to rationalise data collection: Mail out – mail back
No enumerators
Demographic variables taken from CPR
First census 1769, first census with information on all persons: 1801

3. Norwegian Censuses 1960 – 2011 (2)
Register data on demography, education, income, geographical characteristics
Questionnaires for data on labour marked, households and housing
Sample survey
Labour market register used in estimation
2001 Census
All data on persons from registers
Data on families and households based on registers and questionnaires
Housing data based on questionnaires
Full coverage survey (all households)
2011 Census: Totally register-based
1990. Labour market register: Quality not good enough as a main data source, but was used as an additional sources (estimation)

4. Historical development, main trends:
Extensive use of census data in establishing registers
Use of “census data” for administrative purposes:
Multiple legal base for Census
2001 in Norway: Statistics Act, CPR, GAB
Step-by-step development
Developing a register-based census may take time!
Multiple legal base: The 2001 Census was not only a statistical operation, but legally also an administrative data collection. Information was given in the questionnaire.

5. Register-based population and housing census system
Other
registers
Education
Social
security
Unemployed
persons
Income P P P P P
Population
Reg. P
Job
registers B
Business
register A A
Addresses Buildings
Dwellings
P = Personal id number
B = Business id number
A = Numerical address
Units covered in base registers: Persons, dwellings/buildings and enterprises/establishment
Derived units: Families and households
Persons linked to
Dwellings
Workplaces (establishments) through job registers
To establish these statistical registers, more than 30 administrative registers are used.

6. Census data from registers – “tertiary use”
Adm. registers
Wages
Income
Emp-loyees
CPR
Statistical registers in Statistics Norway
Employment
Income
Education
Population
This is just an example. Number of registers is in reality much larger.
CENSUS
FILE
Census

7. Census data system before 2001
Other
registers
Education
Social
security
Unemployed
persons
Income P P P P P
Central
Population
Reg. P
Job
registers B
Business
register A A
Addresses Buildings
Dwellings
P = Personal id number
B = Business id number
A = Numerical address
No register on dwellings
No link person- dwelling, that is no household register

8. Norwegian 2001 Census Goals Produce Census statistics for 2001
Establish a basis for the 2011 register-based census
The Dwelling Address Project

9. The Dwelling Address Project
Major goals
Extend the Cadastre to comprise dwellings, not only buildings
Add dwelling number to street address
Main Street 8A, H0103
Establish a link between dwellings and resident persons (in CPR)
Using data from census forms
Main problem: Multi-dwelling buildings
Participants
Statistics Norway (Census 2001)
Tax Inspectorate (CPR)
Norwegian Mapping Authorities (Cadastre)
Use “census data” for administrative purposes
Multiple legal base for Census 2001

10. Multi-dwelling buildings before Census 2001?
H0102
H0103
H0101
H0104
Main street 8 A

11. Multi-dwelling buildings after Census 2001, goal
H0102
H0103
H0101
H0104
Main street 8 A H0101
BUT

12. Multi-dwelling buildings after Census 2001, result
H0102
H0103
H0101
H0104
Main street 8 A
Main street 8 A H0101
Only 55 % of persons in multi-dwelling houses linked to a
unique dwelling address. Following up necessary!

13. Following up on the Dwelling Address Project
Statistics Norway playing an active role – pushing forward
Quality monitoring
Situation by end of 2010: 95 % of population linked to a dwelling

14. Comparing register-based and traditional censuses
Advantages
Reduced response burden
Reduced costs
Specific census costs rather low
No need to hire and train a census staff every tenth year
Census statistics and subject matter statistics based on same sources
Comparability
Annual “census statistics”
Specific census cost low: Tertiary use

15. Comparing register-based and traditional censuses
Disadvantages
Only variables available in or derived from registers included
Some restrictions on definitions
Dwelling households, not housekeeping units
Legal place of residence, not usual place of residence
No collection tool for emerging needs
Sample surveys may be used, but not for small area statistics
Examples of emerging needs, 2001: Accessibility to dwelling for disabled persons
IT TIME: Discussion about dogs in 2001.

16. Register-based censuses – the process
Traditional
Costs
Response burden
Annual statistics ?
Relevant registers?
Linking?
Legal base?
Public approval?
Investigation
Relevance
Accuracy
Quality
Coverage
Timeliness
Partly register-based
Fully traditional
Traditional and
Sample surveys or
Yearly updates
Registers
and
Sample survey
Fully register-
based
Registers
and
Traditional
New technologies
Reg. and
ad hoc
Sample survey
Reg. and
existing
Sample
survey

17. Thank you for your attention !