Abstract

In October 2001, South Africans were enumerated to collect information on persons and households throughout the country, using a uniform methodology. Household data collected included data on each household and each person present in the household on Census night, as well as data on services available to the household. Data on household residents, and residents of hostels and the other types of collective living quarters was also captured, as well as data on individuals who spent census night in institutions and hotels.

Geographic coverage

The South African Census 2001 has national coverage.

Analysis unit

The units of analysis for the South Africa Census 2001 were households and individuals

Universe

The South African Census 2001 covered every person present in South Africa on Census Night, 9-10 October 2001 including all de jure household members and residents of institutions.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

The data in the South African Census 2001 dataset is a 10% unit level sample drawn from Census 2001 as follows: 1) Households: • A 10% sample of households in housing units, and • A 10% sample of collective living quarters (both institutional and non-institutional) and the homeless.

2) Persons: • A sample consisting of all persons in the households and collective living quarters, and the homeless, drawn for the samples described above

3) Mortality: • A sample consisting of all mortality information for the households in housing units drawn in the 10% sample of households.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three questionnaires were administered for the South African Census 2001, questionnaire A (for persons in households), questionnaire B (for persons in institutions) and questionnaire C (for institutions). The Household questionnaire covered household characteristics, such as dwellling type, home ownership, household assets, access to services and energy sources. A component of the questionnaire captures fertility data. Both the household and persons in institutions questionnaires collected data on individuals' characteristics, including age, population group, language, religion, citizenship, migration, mortality and disability, as well as means of travel. Economic characteristics of individuals included employment activities and data on unemployment.

Cleaning operations

The following publication can be consulted for a detailed account of the editing undertaken for the South African Census 2001: Computer editing specifications / Statistics South Africa. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa, 2003 369p. [Report No. 03-02-43 (2001)]. ISBN 0-621-34566-0.

Data appraisal

As part of the quality check for Census 2001, a Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) was conducted in November 2001, approximately one month after the census. Fieldworkers re-visited a scientifically selected sample of almost 1% of the census enumeration areas, to do an independent recount. The published census results are adjusted for undercount according to the findings of the PES. In addition to the check on coverage, the PES also involved an independent re-measurement of the basic characteristics of the population. Details on this process are available in the publication:

Statistics South Africa. 2004. Census 2001: post-enumeration survey: results and methodology. Report no. 03-02-17 (2001).