1. ECE Work Session on Population Censuses
Geneva, November 2004
Review of national practices in the 2000 round of housing censuses in the ECE region
Paolo Valente
Social and Demographic Statistics Section
UN Economic Commission for Europe - Statistical Division

2. The 2000 round of housing censuses in the ECE region
Information on housing collected in virtually all countries where a population census was taken In most countries, information was collected at the time of the population census, using census forms Information compiled exclusively from registers in Denmark and Finland In 4 countries, information from registers was complemented with additional information from sample surveys or with traditional census forms

3. Core topics covered by ECE countries in the 2000 round
Core topics sorted by number of countries
Countries
NUMBER OF ROOMS 42
TYPE OF OWNERSHIP 41
LOCATION OF LIVING QUARTERS 40
TYPE OF LIVING QUARTERS 35
TYPE OF HEATING
NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS 34
BATHING FACILITIES 33
PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION (buildings)
TOILET FACILITIES 31
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 30
KITCHEN 21
OCCUPANCY STATUS 20
TYPE OF BUILDING (buildings) 23

4. Non-core topics covered by ECE countries in the 2000 round
Non-core topics sorted by number of countries
Countries
Useful and/or living floor space 34
Type of sewage disposal system 28
Main type of energy used for heating
Hot water 21
Electricity
Piped gas 18
Material of which specific parts of the building are constructed (buildings) 17
Cooking Facilities 15
Position of dwelling in the building 13
Number of floors (buildings)
Lift (buildings) 10
Occupancy by one or more households 6
State of repair (buildings) 4
Type of vacancy 2

5. Core-topic “Occupancy status” In the 2000 recommendations:
1.0 Dwellings which are the usual residence of at least one person at the time of the census (occupied dwellings) Dwellings reserved for seasonal or secondary use but fit for habitation all the year round (regardless of whether or not they are occupied at the time of the census) Vacant dwellings (i.e. dwellings which have no usual residents at the time of the census but are available to become the usual residence of at least one person)

6. Core-topic “Occupancy status” Practices followed by countries in 2000
In almost all countries, occupied dwellings (category 1.0) have been defined following the recommendations Several countries adopted the term “main residence” Category 2.0 “Dwelling reserved for seasonal or secondary use” is also considered by most countries, but no reference to the requirement “to be fit for habitation all the year round” Many countries considered various reasons for vacancy

7. Core-topic “Occupancy status”
An example: Portugal

8. Core-topic “Type of building” In the 2000 recommendations:
1.0 Dwellings in residential buildings In one-dwelling houses Dwellings in ground-oriented houses Dwellings in other houses In two-dwelling houses Dwellings in ground-oriented houses Dwellings in other houses In three-or-more dwelling houses Dwellings in ground-oriented houses Dwellings in other houses Dwellings in non-residential buildings and in buildings consisting mainly of living quarters other than housing units (e.g. hotels) Dwellings in non-residential buildings Dwellings in buildings consisting mainly of living quarters other than housing units

9. Core-topic “Type of building” Practices followed by countries in 2000
In most countries a different classification was adopted, or it was followed with the categories in different order and with other terms than “ground-oriented houses” In the majority of countries, a classification was used like...

10. Core-topic “Type of building” In the 2000 recommendations:

11. Conclusions
1) Presentation by Mr. Lujanen 2) Cooperation with housing statistics experts and users is urgently needed!