UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Regional Working Group on
Recommendations for the 2000 Round of Population and Housing Censuses in Africa 22-26 January 1996
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Distr.:
LIMITED
ECA/STAT/WG/PHC/95/17 9 November 1995
ENGLISH Original: FRENCH
CONCEPTS, CLASSIFICATION AND TABULATION IN HOUSING CENSUSES IN AFRICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. SITUATION OF HOUSING CENSUSES IN AFRICA III CONCEPTS AND CLASSIFICATIONS
IN HOUSING CENSUSES
IV TABULATION, ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION OF DATA ON HOUSING
V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ANNEX
1 - 7- 11 -
26-
29- 6 10
25
28
30
1
3 3-6
7
7
I. INTRODUCTION
1 A housing census is defined as the total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating analysing and publishing or otherwise disseminating statistical data pertaining, at a specified time to all living quarters and occupants thereof in a country or in a well-delimited part ot a country Population and housing censuses are generally taken concurrently in view of the interdependent relationships between population and housing characteristics, and also because it makes it possible to save time and resources by combtmng these two operations.
It has been observed, and justifiably so, that priority is given to the study of demographic
phenomena in population and housing censuses.
2 In the principles and recommendations of the United Nations concerning population and housing censuses, it is indicated that any census must provide information on housing Thus all the African countries which carried out their population censuses dunngthe period
1985 to 1994 had, at various degrees, dealt with housing issues in these operations.
Generally speaking, they carried out a population cum housing/or housing census.
3 Population and housing census constitutes an important source of data on living quarters These daMtcan be used, not only to describe housing situation, but also to formulate housing programmes. Population data, particularly the structure and composition of households, are also elements necessary for the formulation of such programmes.
4 The choice and number of topics, as well as the degree of data details depend on the
needs expressed and the resources made available to the census takers. Housing crisis is a
serious problem in the major African cities, more particularly in the capitals Notwithstanding the precariousness of the resources available for the execution of population and housing censuses, it is necessary that issues pertaining to housing be examined in population and housing censuses and even focus solely on these areas.
5 Housing data obtained during a population census can be supplemented by subsequent surveys such as post censal survev or a specific survey on living quarters.
6 This report will focus on the situation of housing censuses between the period 1985 and 1994 the topics selected and the concer. and classifications used. Housing data tabulation! analysis and publication will also be examined. Lastly, a few recommendations
will be made.
II SITUATION OF HOUSING fTNISHSFS IN AFRICA
7 During the period 1985/1994 the number of African countries that had carried out population and housing census was 40 out of a total number of 42, compared to 29 out o a total of 42 for the period 1975/1994. The percentage of countries which earned out population and housing census consequently increased between the two periods, even if the number of these countries has decreased between the two rounds. No independent housing census was taken by any African country. The combination of the two censuses makes it possible to achieve a double objective: facilitate the counting exercise on the basis of the living quarters enumerated and obtain integrated data which help to evaluate the living
conditions of people and households.
8 There are two stages in housing census : during the first stage the census takers identify the buildings and living quarters they deem useful for an exhaustive enumeration.
In the second stage the census takers fill housing questionnaires.
9 In most African countries, the identification and enumeration of living quarters, vacant or otherwise, or meant for other uses, were carried out prior to the date set for the population count. Generally, these exercises have made it possible to fill such document as census taker's note book {cahier de tournee de I'agent recenseur) which is vital for his
progress in the enumeration zones.
10 Information contained in the note book (cahier de tournee de I'agent recenseur) or anv similar document may be analysed in order to obtain therefrom summary data on
housing and the characteristics of the occupants, pending the census data processing proper.
IH CONCEPTS AND C\ ASSIF1CATIONS IN HOUSING CENSUS
III. 1 Topics selected
11 There are two fundamental considerations that underlie the choice of topics to be included in housing census, namely the use of national data and international comparab.hty of data In view of the impact of the number of topics on the enumeration period, the human'resources needed and the processing of data, the financial and material resources available to the census office will be a determining factor in the selection of the topics.
11 It is important to associate potential users of housing data during the preparation of
the' census especially the private sector which may need these data when formulating
housing programmes adapted tot he household structure. This involvement can also facilitate the formulation of definitions and classifications, as well as data analysis.4
13. Topics related to housing are classified into the following three categories:
Characteristics of the buiiding in which living quarters are located;
Living quarters characteristics and facilities;
Occupants of living quarters, number and characteristics.
14 The different topics as well as the international and ECA recommendations are contained in table 1. The ECA recommendations and the last recommendation for the African region were formulated by the Working Group on the Recommendations on Population and Housing Censuses of the 80 Round in Africa. These recommendations were not revised for the 90 round of census.
15 The data contained in the table, and which concern 19 countries, show that the regional recommendation were generally followed by African countries, as evidenced by the types of questions asked. Topics recommended but least considered are:
The location of the buildings. The address, ie the place where the buildings are located, the name of the area as well as the type of population, urban or rural, are elements which, according to the United Nations recommendations, define the location of living quarters. Non-compliance with this pre-requisite is understandable, especially as the systems of numbering or naming streets are quasi-inexistent in several African towns or regions.
Year or period of construction/age of the building. Problems raised by this element may be compared to those relating to the determination of the age of persons enumerated during population counts. The collection of data on the date or period of events poses serious problems due to illiteracy among a large portion of the population, lack of memory and non-availability of information to occupants who are not owners of the quarters they live in.
Water supply system and Cooking facilities.
16 Despite the foreseeable difficulties in obtaining answers to some of the questions, efforts should be made by African countries to collect data on the topics recommended. For example the old method used in determining the age of persons enumerated can be recommended to determine the year or period of constructions of a building.
17. The topics recommended for the African region and which are contained in table 1 can once again be recommended for the 2000 round of census. It would be advisable to
include:
the type of building that may be considered as basic data on housing and
the year/period of construction or age of the building : the data on this variable duringsubsequent censuses or compared to data from other sources make it possible, among other things, to monitor the trend in the building sector.
Table n°l; Topics on housing included in the 1990 round population and housing censuses in Africa and in the global and the ECA recommandations.
1. 1
Topic
RniiHintx in which living quarters are locate^
Tvne of building
Construction material of outer walls Construction material of roof Construction material of floors Year nr neriod of construction
Characterises anp* facilities of living quarters Location
Tvne of living quarters Occupancy status Number of rooms Tvne of lighting Toilet facilities Water sudoIv svstem Tvne of ownership Bathing facilities Cooking facilities Tvne of cooking fuel TTse of living auarters
Nnmher and characteristics of occupants of living
auarters
Conjugal familv nucleus
Age of head of household or reference person Sex of head of household or
Tvtw of activity of head of household or ....
Occupation of head of household or
Number of countries
1 16 16 16 3
0 11 17 12 15 18 18 0 3 8 11
3
*>
18 18 18 18
Recommendations ||
Global
X X
X
X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X
ECA 1
J
X
X |
X
J
X
J
X X X X X X
X X X
X X
I
Recommendations
Number of countries Household 18
Occupants Tenure
Duration of occu Rental
Household equipment/appliances
18. Other topics can be recommended by the Working Group in the light of the needs
expressed at national and international levels.
HI - 2 Concepts and classifications
III - 2 . a Concepts
19 For purposes of comparison of data at regional and international levels, the concepts to be formulated in regard to censuses should be adaptations, in each country, of concepts recommended world wide. Local specificities can and should be described without compromising this comparability. Illustrations should be given as much as possible to
enhance the quality of the data.
->0 Non-availability of instruction manuals to census takers in a large number of countries or analytical reports constitutes an impediment to an exhaustive analysis of the definitions used during these censuses. However, the classification used show that serious efforts will have to be made to improve the concepts. Government or private services dealing with housing problems should be closeiy associated with the formulation of these definitions.
21. The following definitions and classifications are recommended with respect to some
topics given:
Building • A building is any independent structure comprising one or more rooms and other spaces, covered by a roof and usually enclosed within external walls or dividing walls which
extend from the foundations to the roof.
The following characteristics are recommended:
a) Buildings coextensive with a single housing unit:
detached attached
b) Buildings containing more than one housing unit: for example apartment
buildings.
c) Buildings for persons living in institutions : hospitals, prisons, military
establishments...
d) All others.
I iving quarters and type : Living quarters are separate and independent places of abode.
They are classified into two major categories namely housing units and collective
living quarters. The first category comprises:
Conventional dwellings
t
Mobile housing units Marginal housing units.
The second category, ie collective living quarters, include:
Hotels
Institution Camps Others.
Orrnpancv status: The occupancy status determines whether the dwelling is occupied or
vacant at the time of the census.
Tenure : Tenure can be defined as arrangements under which a household occupies a
dwelling. , .
The categories selected in regard to this variable are : owner, tenant, subtenant, other.
Ml. 2 . 6 Classifications
22 Table two contains some classifications used during data collection. These classifications show the situation peculiar to each country. Thus, with regard to living
quarters, one comes across such terms as rugo in Burundi, iolwapa in Botswana, muzigo in Uganda, Kraal in Namibia...
?3 Discrepancies exist in these classifications. Indeed, some variables, the concepts of which are different, comprise identical categories: this concerns the type of building or
living quarters, the occupancy status and tenure.
24 Regarding the comparability of data, it would be advisable that countries with similar types of dwelling or dwelling structures consult among themselves with a view to adopting the same definitions and classifications. Such would be the case for the word compound for example, a term used in most countries of the West African subregion.
25 Classifications at the time of tabulation should provide the distribution of household heads or households, based on certain characteristics and the main categories selected. The relatively long periods of census data processing and non-availability of tables in respect ot a large number of countries limit the data analysis in this respect. It should be pointed out, however that greater attention should be given during the preparation of the census to classifications. There is need for proper characterization of the variables if a good analysis of data on housing is to be obtained.
Table n°2: Selected classifications used for housing data collection in the 1990 round population
and housing censuses in Africa.
Type of building
—
Construction material of outer wall
Construction material of roof
Construction material of floor
Seleted categories
Compound, detached building, block of flats, collective, other
Type of living quarters/type of housing unit
Occupancy sattus
Type of lighting
—
Toilet facilities
,^——-^—
Water supply system
_^
Type of cooking fuel
Cement bricks, mud bricks, straw, wood, pise, mud/cement, sheet metal, stone, zinc, stick, branches, concrete, rush-mat, rush, other
Concrete, sheet-metal, tiles, branches, rush-mat, zinc, wood, slate, thatch, mud, other
Cement, clay, mud, wood, tile, sand, earth other
Detached house, block of quarters, block of flats, rugo, flat, villa, traditional house,, modern house, individual house, hut, tent, lolwape, kraal, muzigo, other
Owned, rented, rent-free, sub-lessee, rented by employer, rented by government, other
Independent, common, flush, latrines, modern WC, without toilet facilities, cesspool, public
convenience, other, no response
Piped water inside, piped water outside, well inside, well outside, stream/river, lake, public fountain, cistern, purchase, others
Gas, charcoal, firewood, electricity, kerosene, jaraffin. peat, others
7
IV TAR[JLATIONr ANALYSIS. PURIICATION OF HOUSING DATA
^6 In order to enlist the interest of the public in housing data, census officials should
prepare a list of priority tables. These tables would be analysed and published at the same time as those proauced for the preliminary analysis of the results of the census.-V It is an established fact that the list of tables to be produced depends on the analysis envisaged. Financial and material constraints can limit the production of the necessary tables, and therefore the scope of the analysis.
28 The shortcomings noted in regard to the analysis and production of census data are equally valid for the analysis and publications of data on housing. These shortcomings are even more pronounced in view of the little importance attached to housing census.
V CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
?9 African countries have made some efforts in the collection of housing data. On the whole, the regional recommendations were followed, as evidenced by the inclusion ot
topics deemed "priority topics" in many censuses.
30. As part of the implementation of the 2000 round of the census programme, participants are invited to put forward recommendations on:
topics they consider priority topics for the African region in the light of new
developments in the area of housing;
the possibility of processing documents such as the census taker's note book
(cahier de tournee des agents recenseurs);
tabulation, analysis and publication of data and in this connection, complete the list of priority tables on the basis of the international recommendations on
population and housing censuses;
co-operation between census offices and government services responsible for the formulation of housing programmes, as well as the private sector.
Annex 1 List of priority tabulations
Tl. Households by broad types of living quarters and number of homeless households T2. Households occupying housing units by type of housing unit
T3. Households in housing units by type of housing unit, crsoo-classified by type of household T4. Households by type of living quarters, cross-classified by sex and age of head of household T5 Conventional dwellings by year ( period ) of construction of building (in which dwelling is
located ), cross-classified by type of building and construction material of outer walls
T6. Housing units by number of rooms, cross-classified by type'of housing unit and number of
occupants per housing unit
T7. Households in housing units by type of housing unit occupied, cross-classified by number of households and number of rooms per housing unit
T8. Living quarters by type, cross-classified by water supply system
T9. Occupied living quarters by type, cross-classified by type of toilet facilities T10. Occupied housing units by type, cross-classified by type of lighting
Til. Occupied housing units by type, cross-classified by availability and type of cooking facilities T12. Occupied housing units by type, cross-classified by availability of bathing facilities
T13. Households in housing units by type of housing unit, cross-classified by tenure of household and, for tenant households, ownership of housing unit occupied
T14 Renting households, classified by whether space occupied is furnished or unfurnished and amount of rent paid monthly by the household, cross-classified by type of housing unit and number of households in the housing unit
T15 Rented housing units, classified by furnished or unfurnished and amount of rent paid monthly for the housing unit, cross-classified by availability of piped water and toilet facilities
