Demographic characteristics

1. UNECE Training Workshop on Census Questionnaire Design for SPECA member countries (Dushanbe, 12-16 March 2007) Demographic characteristics Paolo Valente (UNECE)

2. Topics: • Sex (core topic) • Age (core topic) • Legal marital status (core topic) • De facto marital status (non-core topic) • Total no. of children born alive (non-core) • Total no. of surviving children

3. Age • Recommended approach: date of birth (day, month, year) • Provides most accurate information • Allows tabulating results by year of birth and by completed years of age • Alternative method not recommended: age at last birthday (no. of completed years of age) • Less accurate information • May be used when information on date of birth is not available (not even year of birth)

4. Marital status Q.: Why two topics, for 1) LEGAL marital status, and for 2) DE FACTO marital status?

5. Marital status Q.: Why two topics, for 1) LEGAL marital status, and for 2) DE FACTO marital status? A.: Because they are two different concepts!

6. Marital status 1) LEGAL marital status (core topic) Refers to the LEGAL conjugal status, with regard to official acts (marriage, divorce, etc.) regardless of actual living arrangements Recommended classification: 1. Never married 2. Married [“legally”, “registered”, “with certificate”] 3. Widowed and not remarried 4. Divorced and not remarried Possible add categories if there are legal provisions. Ex.: - Legally separated - Registered/legal partnership

7. Marital status 2) DE FACTO marital status (non-core topic) Refers to ACTUAL living arrangements within the household regardless of legal/official position • Particularly relevant in countries where consensual unions are a frequent living arrangement Recommended classification: 1. Person living in a consensual union 2. Person not living in a consensual union  Partners in consensual union: - Have usual residence in the same household - Are not married to each other - Have a marriage-like relationship to each other

8. Marital status How to collect information on DE FACTO m.s.?  Possible to derive information from: - question on Relationship to reference person, or - Household relationship matrix  Through a direct question IMPORTANT:  No inference should be made between LEGAL and DE FACTO marital status

9. Marital status Q.1: In your last (1999) census, did you collect information on LEGAL marital status?

10. Marital status Q.1: In your last (1999) census, did you collect information on LEGAL marital status? Q.2: In your last (1999) census, did you collect information on DE FACTO marital status?  If you did, how did you collect information? a) Derived from question on Relationship to reference person b) Through a direct question on Consensual unions c) From the question on LEGAL marital status

11. Marital status Q.: Can we collect information on LEGAL and DE FACTO marital status with the same question?

12. Marital status Q.: Can we collect information on LEGAL and DE FACTO marital status with the same question? A.: It is NOT a recommended approach, because: • It may create confusion between the two concepts, both during data collection and dissemination • This approach is usually based on inferences/assumptions between the two concepts, that in some cases are not correct  This approach may result in inaccurate or incomplete information

13. Marital status Example - Classification used in 2000 round in some CIS countries: 1. Never married 2. Registered married 3. Not registered married 4. Widowed 5. Divorced 6. Separated

14. Marital status Example - Classification used in 2000 round in some CIS countries: 1. Never married 2. Registered married 3. Not registered married 4. Widowed 5. Divorced 6. Separated Q.: Does it refer to LEGAL or DE FACTO m.s.?

15. Marital status Example - Classification used in 2000 round in some CIS countries: 1. Never married 2. Registered married 3. Not registered married 4. Widowed 5. Divorced 6. Separated Q.: Does it refer to LEGAL or DE FACTO m.s.? Q.: Do you see any problems? Have comments?

16. Marital status Example - Classification used in 2000 round in some CIS countries: 1. Never married 2. Registered married 3. Not registered married 4. Widowed 5. Divorced 6. Separated Q.: Does it refer to LEGAL or DE FACTO m.s.? Q.: Do you see any problems? Have comments? Q.: Does it provide COMPLETE information?

17. Marital status Example - Classification used in 2000 round in some CIS countries: 1. Never married 2. Registered married 3. Not registered married 4. Widowed 5. Divorced 6. Separated Q.: What is the LEGAL m.s. of 3. Not reg. married? Q.: Does 6. Separated refer to LEGAL separation?

18. Marital status – Conclusions: Recommendations: 1) Collect information on LEGAL marital status using the recommended classification: 1. Never married 2. Married [“legally”, “registered”, “with certificate”] 3. Widowed and not remarried 4. Divorced and not remarried 5. Legally separated and not remarried [if applicable] 2) Ask to persons who are NOT legally married if they live in consensual union [not registered marriage]:  Have a marriage-like relationship with other person having usual residence in the same household

19. Total no. of children born alive • Used to produce estimates of fertility • Number should include ALL live-born children: • Born of present, previous marriage, or outside marriage (consensual union or single mother) • Regardless of whether children are living or not, and where they are living • To be collected for all women (or at least 15 years) • Possibly collect separately for boys and girls

20. Total no. of surviving children • Used in conjunction with No. of children born alive • Allows producing estimates of infant and child mortality • Collect separately for boys and girls  For better reporting on both topics, collect separately numbers of: • Children living in the household at the time of census • Children living away at the time of the census • Children who have died before the time of the census  More details in UNSD Principles and Rec., Rev.2