1. 1 Survey data quality for persons over 79 years Survey data quality for persons over 79 years Odd Frank Vaage Statistics Norway Q2014, Vienna 2-5 June 2014 1

2. Background: Traditionally we have experienced low response rate in our surveys among persons older than 79 years: Lack of interest Not in a health condition to answer the questions New surveydata about older people show : They take more active part in social life Have more time for leasure activities Have more money Have better health 2

3. Gross sample, non response and net sample in the Norwegian media use survey represented by persons 67-79 years, 1991-2013. Per cent Gross sampleNon responseNet sample 1991122010 1995121910 200011169 2005121411 2010121012 201112913 201211912 2013121113 3

4. Response rate for different age groups in the surveys on living conditions 1997-2013. Per cent 16-19 years 20-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-66 years 67-74 years 75-79 years 80-84 years 85-89 years 90 years or older Total: 16 years or older 199774,070,973,972,769,366,862,157,651,151,737,968,9 200169,064,567,572,169,166,366,255,553,959,424,066,9 200469,367,069,074,572,668,465,260,451,656,340.069,1 200776,261,865,768,965,768,665,960,648,657,850,066,3 201158,045,847,952,655,956,960,151,853,738,618,753,1 201358,550,044,850,752,656,459,353,545,334,022,051,7 4

5. Response rate for different age groups in the surveys on living conditions 1997, 2004, 2011 and 2013. Per cent 5

6. Response rate for different age groups by gender, in the surveys on living conditions 1997, 2004, 2011 and 2013. Per cent 67-74 years75-79 years80-84 years85-89 years 90 years or older Total: 16 years or older 1997 Men70,462,956,959,150,068,6 Women54,453,547,747,431,669,2 2004 Men68,267,555,741,733,369,4 Women62,455,348,759,645,568,7 2011 Men63,358,658,740,833,355,5 Women56,846,850,337,513,050,7 2013 Men59,754,542,630,325,951,1 Women60,053,948,837,222,553,2 6

7. Percentage of people aged 67-89 taking part in different sports activities last 12 months, by age groups, 2013. 67-74 years 75-79 years 80-84 years 85-89 years Total: 16 years or older Jogging1686140 Sycling30168845 Swimming201511826 Strength training1798339 Golf43214 Cross country skiing29136340 Numbers584210141666100 7

8. Percentage of people aged 67-89 taking part in sports activities, by age groups. 2013. 67-74 years 75-79 years 80-84 years 85-89 years Total: 16 years or older Never 81318206 Not more than 2 times a month 10912911 1-2 times a week3226232533 3-4 times a week2427171529 Approximately daily262430 21 Respondents584210141666100 8

9. Conclusion: Traditionally persons more than 79 years have not been included in the Norwegian social surveys, due to low response rate. In recent years we see that older people take more active part in sosial life. Data also show that they take a relatively more active part in our surveys. These facts lead to the conclusion that i may be time to include also persons more than 79 years in our surveys and let them be a part of our official survey statistics. 9