1. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Expert Group Meeting to
Review Critical Issues Relevant to the Planning of
the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses
15-17 September 2004
New York
Non-statistical use of census enumeration By
Demographic Statistics Section
Demographic and Social Statistics Branch
United Nations Statistics Division

2. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Census enumeration is arguably the most critical part of all census related operations if conducted the traditional way
It is complex, costly, all-encompassing, nation-wide, simultaneous
As such, should the census enumeration be used for non-statistical purposes?

3. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Three concepts
Interviewer or
canvasser
Self-enumeration
Registration based

4. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Three major concerns
Maintaining the integrity of the census
Protecting privacy
Protecting confidentiality

5. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Privacy
Protecting own “personal space”
Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ”No one shall be subject to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence … Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference …”

6. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Privacy is crucial to the successful census enumeration
A violation or perceived violation of privacy compromises respondent’s cooperation

7. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Confidentiality
A key issue in contemporary statistical data collection exercises, especially censuses
Ensuring confidentiality enables more efficient census enumeration

8. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Procedures for protecting privacy and confidentiality in census enumeration
Enumerator’s identifiers
Criminal prosecution
Special envelopes

9. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in particular Principles 6:
Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation, whether they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential and used exclusively for statistical purposes

10. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Combining the census with any non-statistical information may compromise the integrity of the census
Yet, in some countries there were initiatives to combine the census enumeration with administrative operations under the justification of similarity of approaches and efficient use of resources

11. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
Two main areas:
Registration of voters
Establishing population registers

12. Non-statistical use of census enumeration
There is a need to review country practices and initiatives in non-statistical use of census enumeration and to prepare a set of principles and recommendations to guide national statistical services for the 2010 Round of Censuses.