1. Recommended Population and Housing Census Topics
Malawi National Statistical Office
Presented by
Medson Makwemba
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2020 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses: International Standards and Contemporary Technologies
Lusaka, Zambia March 2017

2. Introduction
National Statistical office is mandated to conduct population and housing census every 10 years
It has conducted 5 population censuses since 1966:
1966, 1977, 1987, 1998 and 2008
It is planning to conduct Population and Housing Census in which is within the 2020 round of Population and Housing Census
The topics that will be included in the census have been agreed upon by stakeholders
NSO background to be given by Isaac

3. Factors for the choice of the topics
Topics for 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census have been determined by the following considerations:
The needs of data users in the country at both the national and local area level
International comparability, both within the region and worldwide
The willingness and ability of the public to give accurate information on the topics

4. Factors for the choice of the topics
Resources available
Alternative data sources
Regard to the usefulness of historical continuity, which provides the opportunity for comparison of changes over a period of time

5. List of the topics for 2018 population and housing census

6. 1.Geographic and Internal migration
Place of usual residence
Place where present at time of census
Place of birth
Duration of residence
Place of previous residence
Place of residence at a specified date in the past
Locality (Traditional Authority/ward; village/place)
Urban and rural

7. 2. International Migration
Country of birth
Country of citizenship
Country of destination
Year of departure
Activity abroad
Remittances

8. 3. Household and family characteristics
Relationship to head of household
Household and family composition

9. 4. Demographic and social characteristics
Sex
Age
Marital status
Religion
Tribe/ethnicity
Disability status
Birth certificate
National ID
On disability status we have added a question on abinism

10. 5. Fertility and mortality
Children ever born alive
Children living
Date of birth of last child born alive
Birth in the past 12 months
Deaths among children born past 12 months
Age at first marriage
Household deaths in the past 12 months
Maternal or paternal orphan-hood

11. 6. Educational characteristics
Literacy
School attendance
Education attainment (class/grade)
Educational qualification
Vocation training

12. 7. Economic characteristics
Labour force status
Status in employment
Occupation
Industry

13. 8. Housing (1/2) Type of dwelling unit Location of dwelling unit
Tenure of dwelling unit
Construction material of the roof
Construction material of the outer walls
Construction material of the floor

14. 8. Housing (2/2) Number of rooms Number of room used for sleeping
Number of occupants
Drinking water – main source
Type of toilet facility (sharing)
Source of energy used for lighting
Source or energy used for cooking
Assets (ICT devices, durable)
Access to the Internet from home

15. Challenges
Not be able to accommodate all topics/questions suggested by stakeholders
Computer assisted coding: occupation and industry
Interviewer manual : paper/softcopy

16. Opportunities South-South collaboration
Principles and recommendations for Population and Housing Census
Use of CAPI offers flexibility in terms of adding and removing some of questions
Capacity building – US Bureau of Census

17. Recommended population and housing topics
Geographic and Internal migration
International migration
Household and family
Demographic and social
Fertility and mortality
Education
Economic characteristics
Housing
Agriculture
NSO is still discussing with the Ministry of Agriculture on the type and number of questions to add to the census