Preface
Periodically organized, the census allows us to make an assessment on the population of Benin in its diversity and evolution. It provides answers to various questions including:
How many are we?
What are our characteristics?
What are our living conditions?
Census agents are the foundational elements of the data collection apparatus.
The present document is conceived to give them information regarding the Third General Census of the Population and Habitation of Benin (RGPH3) and to help them with filling out the questionnaire and other documents. It is thus indispensable that they master the instructions given in this manual. Moreover, this manual must serve as a reference document for the duration of the formation and collection operation. It answers all essential questions that will arise on the field.
All efforts must be made to ensure that this operation of national sovereignty achieves great success. Its success largely depends on the precision of the collected information, and which the country greatly needs.

[Table of contents is omitted here]
Introduction
Benin has conducted two censuses, the first of which in March of 1979 and the second in February of 1992. They allowed determining a population of respectively 3,331,210 and 4,915,555 inhabitants. The statistical information available from these two census are today obsolete due to demographic changes and socio-economic and cultural mutations in populations. Additionally, to respect the United Nations' ten (10) year recommended periodicity, the Benin chose to conduct its third census in February 2002.
Since the second census, other national demographic surveys have taken place including the 1996 first edition Demographic and Health Surveys (EDS), with the second edition currently in preparation.
The dissemination of the results of the two previous operations was the topic of two national seminars that took place in December 1994 and June 1997. During the June 1997 seminar, planners and decision makers expressed the need for more recent, more detailed, and more reliable demographic data for a better consideration of demographic parameters in economic and social development plans and programs. Moreover, since January 1999, redistricting took place increasing the number of departments from six (6) to twelve (12) and the new decentralization policy recommended since 1998 accentuate the need for an actualization of the demographic data for better socio-economic planning.
The present manual contains five (5) chapters:

Chapter 1: Generalities

1.1 Definition and objectives of the census
1.1.1 Definition
A General Population and Habitation Census is a complete count, at a specified date, of the population of a given country, a city, or a region and an inventory of its habitation. It is about enumerating i.e. counting, without omission or repetition, the population of the Republic of Benin. The census is not only a population count but also a collection of the demographic, social, economic, cultural, and living characteristics of the population using an instrument called the questionnaire.
1.1.2 Objectives
The objectives of the third General Population and Habitation Census are:
In the immediate:

In the long term:

1.2 Legal provisions for the census
Through decree number 99-459 of September 22nd, 1999, the Government of Benin decided to organize the third General Population and Habitation Census. The Ministry for Governmental Action Coordination, Planning and Development (MCCAG-PD) is charged with the organization and execution of the General Population and Habitation Census (RGPH3). The National Institute for Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) of this ministry, through its Demographic Studies Administration (DED) is responsible for the technical execution of the operation under the supervision of the National Census Committee.
1.3 Organizational structure of the census
The Technical Administration for the preparation and execution of the census is the Demographic Studies Administration (D.E.D). This administration comprises three services including the Cartography, Polls and Surveys Services (S.C.M.S.E.), the State and Population Perspectives Service (S.E.P.P.) and the Population Movement Services (S.M.P). The DED is supported by two other administrations for the data treatment and administrative and financial management aspects. They are:
The Information Treatment and Publication Administration (D.T.I.P.) for the codification, capture, clearance, computer treatment of census data, and the creation of data bases;
The Administrative and Financial Administration (D.A.F.) for administrative and financial management of the census.
1.4 Data collection structure
The structure of the data collection personnel of the RGPH3 is the following:

1.5 [Data] collection method and statistical secret [privacy]
The data collection method is direct door to door interviewing. This method consists of going to each household, asking questions to the head of household and to all other members capable of answering them and to write down on the household questionnaire the information obtained. The success of the operation depends essentially on the manner in which the census agent will conduct his interview of the household.
The census agent is bound by professional and statistical [data] privacy. The information obtained is confidential. Any communication or misappropriation of the information obtained from the population is prohibited and punishable according to article 25 of law 99-011 of January 29th, 1999 on the creation, organization, and functioning of the National Statistics Council.

Chapter 2: Concepts and basic definitions

2.1- Administrative units
According to law number 97-028 of January 15th, 1999 on the organization of the territorial administration of the Republic of Benin, the country has been divided in a new manner augmenting the total number of departments from six (6) to twelve (12). Thus, the Republic of Benin is divided as follows:
Department
This is the largest administrative division of the national territory. Its political and administrative authority is the Prefect.
Township
Formally called sub-prefecture or urban district, the township is the principle division of a department. One must distinguish between township with a particular status, constituted of the cities of Cotonou, Porto-Novo, and Parakou. The rest of the townships constitute common law townships. The administrative authority is the mayor.
District
The district (formally rural or urban township) is the principle division of a township whose political and administrative authority is the head of the district.
Neighborhood
This is the smallest administrative unit of district of an urban character. The administrative authority is the head of neighborhood.
Village
This is the smallest administrative unit of a district of a rural character. The village falls under the responsibility of the village leader. A village can be, as in most cases, composed of several localities, the most important of which is the village's main locality which gives its name to the whole.

2.2 - Cartographic units

Locality
Every grouping of dwellings forming an entity, even if very small, is called a locality. It has a name or a status that is locally known. A hamlet with two houses could constitute a locality.
The terms village and locality will be used interchangeably when the village is constituted by only one locality.
Census zone (ZD)
This is a portion of the territory that typically contains 800 to 1500 inhabitants that the census agent must count correctly and entirely during the duration of the census.
In certain rural areas with a low population density (Alibori, Collines, Donga, Zou, Borgou, and Atacora), difficult access, and where the distance to travel is relatively long, the number to count may vary between 800 and 1200.
In dense territorial sectors (Departments of the Atlantic, of the Coast, of Couffo, of Plateau, of Oueme, of Mono, and the cities of Zou, Atacora, and Borgou), the size of the census population could be between 1200 and 1500 inhabitants.
Census sector (SD)
The census sector contains on average five (5) census zones. It could also comprise 3 to 7 census zones. The sector is placed under the responsibility of the Team Leader (CE).
Census township (CD)
In most cases, it is the same as the sub-prefecture or the urban district. It contains several census sectors and it is placed under the responsibility of a controller [supervisor]. In large urban districts such as those of Cotonou and Porto-Novo, several census districts (DD) can be counted.

2.3 - Demographic units

2-3.1 Building: A building is a single construction covered with a roof (of any type) and generally limited by outside walls (of any type). A building can be:

Several buildings can be situated, or not, in a closed [gated] space.
A concession is constituted of buildings grouped together, giving access or not, to a central courtyard. A concession can be gated or not.
Note that a building could be used to house one or several households, or none.
2-3.2 Dwelling Unit: A dwelling unit is an area (part of a building) or a collection of areas used for housing purposes by a household at the time of the census.
Note that dwelling units in the same building as other establishments such as a hospital, a hotel, etc., must be considered separately and counted as dwelling units. For example, a house, separated or not and independent or not, situated within the enclosure of a hospital
Or a school to be used by the director and his family must be considered a dwelling unit. Similarly, independent apartments in the same building as a hospital or a school must be considered dwelling units.
2-3.3 The household: The concept of the "household" is founded on the arrangements taken by persons, individually or collectively, to satisfy their vital needs.
There are two categories of households: the ordinary household and the collective household.
i) Ordinary Household: This is a grouping of persons, related or not, who recognize the authority of the same individual called "head of household," and whose resources and spending are communal. More than often, these persons live under the same roof, in the same courtyard, or the same concession.
Examples of ordinary households:

ii) Collective household: A collective household is defined as a group of persons, generally unrelated, who live together in an establishment for discipline, travel, health, education, or professional purposes.
Establishments in which collective households are found are: barracks, boarding schools, prisons, monasteries, convents and religious communities, orphanages, mental health institutions, hotels, temporary work site barracks.
If an ordinary household lives in one of the above-mentioned establishments (household of a prison director, hospital director), it shall be counted as an ordinary household. Such persons occupy accommodations relating to their function.
Family nucleus: is a group constituted by a couple with or without children, or an adult with at least one of his/her children. It is constituted by persons with marital and/or biological (fatherly or motherly) relations.

2.4 -- Other definitions
2-4-1- Residency situation:
The residency situation of an individual is defined in relation to the household in which he habitually lives. Thus, household members can be either residents or visitors.
Resident: Is considered "resident" each person having lived in the household for at least 6 months. However, a person having lived in the household for less than 6 months and who intends to stay for more than 6 months must be counted as "resident."
We distinguish two types of residents: present residents (RP) and absent residents (RA).
Present Resident (RP): a present resident is every individual who habitually resides in the household and who has spent the night preceding the census agent's visit in the household or is present in the household during the interview even if this person spent the night preceding the census agent's visit outside of the household.
A present resident may or may not attend the interview. This is the case of a peasant who, while a present resident (having spent the previous night), left very early to the field before the arrival of the census agent.
Absent resident (RA): an absent resident is every individual residing in the household who did not spend the night preceding the census agent's visit and who did not return before the census agent's visit.
Thus, the wife who left to go to the market the night before, did not spend the night preceding the household count, and did not return before the census agent's visit shall be counted as "absent resident" (RA).
Note: If the duration of absence of a household member is longer or equal to six (6) months, such person shall not be considered an absent resident. He/she shall not be included on the household's form.
Visitor (VIS): shall be counted as "visitor" (VIS) every person who does not habitually reside with the household, who stayed over the night preceding he interview, and who has not left the household prior to the census agent's visit.
Note: every person who has just arrived to the household, who had not spent the night preceding the census agent's visit and who has no intention of staying for a least six (6) months shall not be counted.

2.4.2: Economic activity
Employed: is employed, each person having worked, continuously or not, for at least a week during the three (3) months preceding the census.
Informal sector: This is a group of production units whose activity is informal.
Informal activity: This includes any activity not registered and/or deprived of any formal and written book-keeping, exercised as primary employment, by a person as employer or on his own.
Registration criteria
In the case of RGPH3, registration refers to registration at the National Institute of Statistics and Analysis (INSAE), the Register of Commerce, or the Beninese Office of Social Security (OBSS).
Non-registration is the most appropriate criteria to characterize the 'informality' of an activity in the sense that it indicates that the activity is not recognized by the administrative authorities.
Written book-keeping criteria
It is considered that written book-keeping exists if the company has a balance sheet and a general exploitation account. The balance sheet of a company is a table presenting the Assets and Usage [expenditures] of the company.
Assets include the resources of a company and "usage" is the usage of these resources.
Rentier (REN): This is a person who possesses a personal fortune allowing him/her to live without working. This is the case of rental house owners who do not work or of someone who has placed money i.e. a shareholder to whom this yields money for survival.
Retiree (RET): This is any person (man or woman) who stopped exercising an economic activity and who receives any form of retirement or disability pension. However, once a retiree exercises or has exercised an economic activity during the reference [census] period, he/she shall be considered employed even if he/she continues to receive his/her pension.
Other non-employed (AINA): is considered other non-employed any person deprived of an occupation, who does not exercise any economic activity, and who is not seeking employment.
Unemployed (CHO): is a person who has worked for at least once in his/her lifetime and who lost his/her employment before the reference [census] period but who is currently seeking new employment.
Housewife (MEN): is a woman who solely takes care of household duties and children without receiving any income in return.
Seeking 1st employment or first job (CT): Any person seeking his/her first employment.

2.4.3. Marital status
A married person: is any individual whose union has been celebrated in a civil ceremony, according to religious cult or customary rites.
A monogamous marriage is the union of a man and one single woman.
A polygamous marriage is a contracted union between one man and two or several women.
Divorced is any person whose marriage ended through divorce and who has not remarried.
Widowed is a person who married and lost his or her partner due to death and who has not yet remarried at the time of the census.
A separated person is a person initially married and who claims to be separated at the time of the census.
A person in a free union is a person living with a partner without any legal, religious, or customary marriage celebration.
Single is a person who was never married.

2.4.4. Family relation
Entrusted or placed children: An entrusted or placed child is a child placed by his parents or a third party (tutor, intermediary...) with other family of or strangers to the family and is taken care of by them. He is generally placed starting at age 6 (or less).
The placement falls under various modalities:

2.4.5 Type of handicap
A handicap is "a disadvantage causing an individual an infirmity or and incapacity that limits the individual from exercising a normal role, commensurate to his age, gender, and other social and cultural factors, or prohibits him from exercising such role.
Handicapped: is any person with a congenital (for example: malformations) deficiency or one acquired through accident or illnesses.
Visual handicap or visual deficiency: complete blindness is the total loss of vision. One also of blindness when visual acuity is significantly lower than 1/20. Amblyopia is the long-distance vision after a correction between 1/20 and 4/20. This corresponds to a very limited visual acuity and persons in this situation are called visually impaired. Thus, a visually impaired is a person who cannot see from long distances.
Associated handicaps or poly-handicaps: This corresponds to multiple handicaps. One speaks of a multi-handicapped. These persons have several handicaps at the same time such as motor handicaps, visual, auditory, mental, etc.

Chapter 3: Material and practical dispositions of the census agent
The practical dispositions to be taken by the census agent consist of ensuring the availability of work material, adopting an attitude that is favorable for the operation, and taking into account the recommendations made.

3-1-- Work documents
The work material of the census agent comprises documents that contribute to the completion of his work in addition to other small materials.
3-1-1 Household form
The first work document is the form "household" document RGPH3. It is a document on which the census agent (AR) must note the information given by the counted persons. The census agent must fill out one or more forms for each ordinary or collective household in his census zone.
3-1-2 Building and household form
This document is used as the census agent's visit notebook. This particularly important document will allow organizing the work, the order of visits, and the ranking order of the forms.
3-1-3 Instructions manual
This document here is an indispensable guide that must be mastered and consulted each time there is a problem. It contains useful information regarding filling out the questionnaire and conducting the fieldwork.
3-1-4 Census agent's identification card
This card with the agent's name allows him to prove to the interviewees that the census agent is officially designated to complete the census work. The document gives him the right to visit all the households in his census zone.
3-1-5 Census zone map
This map allows recognizing the limits of the census zone for which the census agent is responsible. The map also helps creating the census agent's itinerary, updating the census zone's information, and participating in the analysis and publication of the results.
This map could be: Either a detailed topographic map of the census zone or a map of the census zone in the case of a city.
Each of these maps shall contain, in the margin, specific indications on the census zone, notably the list of all localities and collective households.
3-1-6 Other material
3-2 Attitude and recommendations for the task
The census agent is tasked with the heavy responsibility of directly counting the population. He will be confronted with various problems which only his attitude would allow him to surmount.
As a census agent, you must know the concepts and definitions included in this manual and must follow, to the letter, the various directions.
3-2-1 Role of the census agent
During this operation, the role of the census agent consists of:

Identification of the census zone consists of:

Numbering of the buildings. It consists of numbering in an ascending order the buildings in the census zone according to a specific itinerary.
3-2-2 Contact with the population
The success of the census agent's task depends on how he is received by the population, his availability to answer questions, and the sincerity of his declarations. During the first contact, certain persons might manifest some distrust or reservations to providing the requested information. The census agent shall, first, seek to gain the trust of the population. He must reassure them that the information containing their names will remain confidential. Only the aggregate quantitative results are to be made public.
3-2-3 Conduct of the census agent
The census agent is asked to have an irreproachable conduct. He must:

In the course of conducting the work, the census agent must:

3-2-4 Obligations and prohibitions
The census agent must:

The census agent is strictly prohibited from:

3-2-5 Census agent's relationship to his hierarchical superior
The efficacy of the work of the census agent depends on his collaboration with his team leader. The latter observes, controls, and guides the work conducted. He helps the census agent in his task. He frequently and constantly supervises the evolution and quality of his [the census agent's] work. In case of difficulty during the operation, the census agent shall solicit the team leader for council. He must respect him [the leader] as well as his hierarchical superiors.
The census agent must return the completed forms to the team leader and indicate to him his needs in terms of work material.
3-2-6 General principles for filling out the questionnaire
The questionnaire must be filled out with the utmost care without losing sight of the following principles:

3-2-7 Beginning of the work
The census agent must verify that his work material (list in section 3.1) is complete in his bag before the beginning of the work. Once he arrives in his census zone, he must:

He must mark the numbers using white chalk (the chalk shall be given by the team leader). A number shall be marked on the outside of the main door if possible, sheltered from rain and out of scope of children. This number shall be preceded by the initials 'RPH' (initials of the third general census of the population and residency) to distinguish it from other potentially existing numbers.
The census agent must erase the old number 'RP' given to the building during the 1992 census if such number is still marked on the building. This is very important and must be done before marking the building with the new number in order to avoid any potential confusion.
Buildings used as lofts, educational establishments, churches, and garages shall be marked with "RPHX" but shall not be reported on the "Buildings and Households Form."


Chapter 4: Detailed instructions for filling out the household form

4-1 Presentation of the form and general instructions
The questionnaire RGPH 3 comprises:
- A cover page. This page comprises the geographic localization of the household, the summary table, the agricultural exploitation, the identification of the census agent and of the team leader.
- An inside page containing the socio-cultural, demographic, and economic characteristics of the interviewed persons.
- A page informing on the deaths that occurred since January 1st, 2001;
- A page on the characteristics of the household's dwelling unit.
If a household is comprised of more persons than there are lines on the inside page of the form, the census agent must use as many additional forms as necessary in order to count them all. He must transcribe all information on "localization" from the first form and then fill out the part on the "number of the form in the household" and "number of forms used for the household". Then, he must order the forms, according to the order number, inside the first form. He must however return to the first household form to fill out the section dwelling characteristics and deaths occurred since January 1st 2001.
The work of the census agent consists of asking questions to each member of the household and transcribing these answers onto the household form. The ideal would be to personally interview each household member; however, this is not always possible. The head of household shall answer at the stead of very young children who cannot answer or of persons with certain disabilities (deaf-mute), heavily ill, seniors, and absent residents.
The census agent shall require, from each person to be counted, an identification card (national identification card, birth certificate, passport, etc.) in order to quickly obtain answers to questions regarding first and last names, date of birth, etc.
However, if a person does not have any of these aforementioned documents, the census agent must nevertheless count him/her. And if he/she does not know his/her date of birth, he must use the historical calendar.
The census agent must follow the following instructions to fill out the form.

4-2 How to fill out the questionnaire

4-2-1 Cover page:
Localization: The census agent shall write clearly, using block letters, the elements of the household's geographic localization, and sometimes the corresponding codes in the boxes on the right side. These codes shall be communicated by the team leader.
Department: write down the name of the department in which the census agent is and leave the corresponding grids empty.
Township: write down the name of the township and leave the corresponding grids empty.
District: write down the name of the district to which the census agent's census zone belongs and leave the corresponding grids empty.
Census zone number: write down, in the grid, the census zone's number.
Village or city neighborhood: write down the name of the village/city neighborhood and leave the corresponding grids empty. Write down on the designated line the name given and cross out the information that does not apply.
Locality or hamlet: ask the head of household or the interviewee for the name of his locality or hamlet. Write down on the designated line the name given and leave the corresponding grids empty.
Building number: report this three-digit number that was marked on the main door of the head of household's building. This number shall be reported on three grids reserved to that effect.
Note: The questionnaires for all head of households living in the same building shall have the same building number.

Note: When the census agent enters the household, after presenting himself, the goal of his visit in the household, and the objectives of the census, he shall number the buildings occupied by the household beginning with the one used by the head of household.
Household number: report the household number in the designated grids. The numbering must be continuous within the census zone. Example: The number "002" must be reported as |0|0|2| and "356" as |3|5|6|.
Type of household: there are two types of households: the ordinary household and the collective household. The census agent shall circle '1' in the case of an ordinary household and '2' in the case of a collective household.
Important note: collective households are reported according to their directors [managers]. They can be a hotel director, a prison director, etc. The team leader will introduce the census agent to such establishments.
Head of household's or establishment's name: Write down on the designated line the last and first name of the head of household in the case of an ordinary household or the name of the establishment in the case of a collective household. Example: Cotonou jail as a collective household.
"Agricultural exploitation" table: The census agent shall ask the following question to the head of household: "Is there at least one family member who independently runs an agricultural exploitation?"
If yes, circle 1; if not, circle 2. If yes, specify the department, township, district, and the village/neighborhood where the exploitation is found without reporting the codes in the reserved grids. The census agent shall simply leave these grids empty. If the agricultural exploitation is situated outside of the national territory, cross out the code 1 for YES and circle code 2 for NO.
Summary table: At the end of the work day, the census agent shall review each "household" form and shall report the total number of present residents, absent residents, and the total of present and absent residents, visitors, and the total of persons counted by gender in the summary table.
Note: When filling out the summary table, the census agent must be very careful with the totals. When he is using several questionnaires for the same household, he must take into account all household members on the first page.
Table of seals:
Census agent seal: The census agent shall note his last and first name, the date of completion of the questionnaire in the household, as well as any observations of a problem that occurred in the household. This would be the date of the last visit in the household i.e. the date on which the census agent fully completed his information collection in the household.
Team leader seal: The team leader shall note his last and first name, the control date, as well as any observations related to the filling out of the questionnaire.
Form number in the household and number of household forms
The census agent shall take care in marking down the number of the forms in the household and the number of forms used for each household in the boxes reserved to that effect.

4-2-2 Inside page:
All persons on the national territory regardless of nationality must be counted at the location in which they are on the day of the census. Members of diplomatic missions and their affiliates, i.e. those who are covered by diplomatic immunity, shall not be counted.
For an ordinary household, the census agent shall, after estimating the total number of persons in the household, start with registering last and first names, family relations, and the gender of all household members (columns 1 and 2, and parts of columns 3 and 4) before asking for other information (starting with column 5), proceeding one by one and always starting with the head of household.
For a collective household, the census agent must not fill out column (3) "family relations," columns (12) to (27) and the deaths occurred since January 1st 2000. He must not fill out the section of the form on the characteristics of the dwelling unit.
If a collective household comprises more than 99 persons, truncate the household at the 99th person and create another fictitious household for the remaining members starting with the number 1.

i) Socio-demographic characteristics

Column (1): Order number
Attribute to each household member an order number according to the following:

Note: The respect of this ordering in registration will facilitate the identification of nuclear family units in column 3.

Column (2): Last and first names
Write down the last names (in capital letters) and first names (in lower case letters) of all household members in the previously indicated order (column 1), starting with the head of household.
Remember that the head of household is the person recognized as such by the other household members. It is the person responsible for the revenues of the household and who makes decisions in the name of the household. It can be a man or a woman.
Example: Tomaplekonou Alexandre A.
Notes:
1) For married women, widowed or divorced, their maiden name must be reported.
2)Titles or honorary designations shall not be reported in this column, such as: "sir," "madam," "el-hadj" [religious or seniority title], "comrad," "excellency," or leadership titles.
3) For newborns who have not yet received a name, the census agent shall mark down "baby" for first name preceded by the last name in the column "last and first name" column but will fill out the other corresponding columns.

Column (3): Family relations to the head of household, conjugal relation and nuclear unit number.
The determination of the family relation to the head of household and the conjugal relationship of the women requires asking a series of questions.
1) First, ask the following question: "What is the relation of [the respondent] to the head of household?" and report the corresponding code in the first box to the right;
The answers to this question are pre-coded and are as follows:

2) Then ask: "Does [the respondent] have his father and mother in the household?" If the answer is YES, write down on the line above the boxes son of a x b whereby a is the line number of the father and b the line number of the mother. If one of the parents is not part of the household, replace his/her number with 0.
3) For married household members, ask: "Does the partner of [the respondent] live with the household?" If yes, ask for his/her name and write down, above the boxes, EP [spouse] of d, whereby d is the line number of the partner in household.
Note: Registering information on the conjugal relations for married household members does not exclude registering family relations with the head of household.
Filling out the right-hand box in the column on nuclear family unit is reserved for the office. As a result, this box shall be left empty.

Column (4): Gender
This is one of the fundamental variables in demographics, just like age, and it is important to be reported with great care even if it is clearly apparent. Ask the following question: "What is the gender of [the respondent]?" and circle "1" for males and "2" for females. For children (babies and newborns), ask the parents for their gender. Do not base your choice on their appearance.

Column (5): Date of birth
Ask the following question: "In which month and year is [the respondent] born?" Report, in the grids, the number corresponding to the month and to the year declared. For the year of birth, write down the full year number.
Try to obtain as much specificity as possible. Identification cards are very helpful. If the interviewees have one, write down the date of birth figuring on the card in the appropriate grid.
The numbers corresponding to months are:

Example: For March 1982, write down in the grids |0|3| |1|9|8|2|. For a birth date of "around 1954," write down in the grid |9|8| |1|9|5|4|
In the case where the interviewee presents no identification documents, politely ask the following question: "In which month and year was [the respondent] born?" Write down the answer in the same manner in the designated grids. If the person has no information on his/her birthdate, leave the grids empty.

Column (6): Age
This is one of the most important questions of the interview because almost all data analyses are based on age. You must obtain the age in years elapsed, i.e. the age on the last birthday. You must report the age for each person and according to four different methods depending on the type of available information:

Remember that you must absolutely give an answer in column (6).
Notes: the census agent must keep in mind that:
The age of a father must be at least 15 years higher than his first child.
The age of a mother must be at least 12 years higher than her first child.
For persons, whose age is higher or equal to 98 years, write down 98.
[Age coherence table omitted. This is table that indicates age based on birth year and whether a person has celebrated his/her birthday in 2002 or not]
[Example table omitted]
[This page contains a table with filled out lines provided as an example for the census agent]

Column (7): Place of birth
Ask the following question: "where were you born?" or "where was [the respondent] born?" Report the department/township for persons born in the Republic of Benin. For persons born outside of Benin, report the country of birth.
Use the following abbreviations for departments:

Example: Mark down ATL/ZE for a person who claims to be born in the township of ZE in the Atlantic department, on the horizontal line reserved to that effect and leave the boxes empty.
For persons born outside of Benin (ex.: Togo, Belgium...), mark down the name of the country on the horizontal line and leave the boxes blank.

Column (8): Nationality or ethnicity
First, ask the question "What is the nationality of [the respondent]?" If the answer is "Beninese" ask then: "Of which ethnicity is [the respondent]?" and write down the declared ethnicity on the line. Report the declared ethnicity for persons with a Beninese nationality and the country for foreigners on the corresponding horizontal line and leave the boxes empty.
For the purposes of the RGPH3, ethnicity is the same as the sociolinguistic group to which the interviewee belongs.
Example:
For Beninese, a possible response is the following: Ditamari, Yoruba, Fon, Adja, Goun, Dendi, Yom, Nagot, Mahi, etc.
For foreigners,

Note: Mark "naturalized" for the Beninese by alliance or who acquired the Beninese nationality.

Column (9): Religion
The census agent shall ask each household member what religion he/she practices by asking the following question: "What religion does [the respondent] practice?" He shall circle the corresponding code according to the following:

Minors habitually have the same religion as their parents. However, it would be appropriate to ask this question to children.

Column (10): Type of handicap
Ask the following question: "Does (respondent) suffer from any infirmities?" If the answer is NO, report "0" in each of the three boxes and go to column (11). If you obtain YES for an answer, ask the following question: "Of what infirmities does [the respondent] suffer?"
Given the response obtained, write down in the corresponding box or boxes, the code or codes corresponding to the type or types of handicap declared according to the following:

Begin writing down the codes from the left.
If the interviewee suffers from one infirmity, write down the appropriate code in the first box, and "0" in the second and third boxes. Never leave an empty box in column (10).
If the interviewee suffers from two infirmities, write down the appropriate codes for the types of handicap in the first two boxes, and "0" in the last (third) box.
Note:
1) One can thus report at most three main declared handicaps for a person suffering from several infirmities. [2 examples omitted]
2) When a census agent encounter a case of hemiplegia (complete or incomplete paralysis of a lateral half of the body), he must use the code 7 corresponding to other handicap.
3) For a counted person suffering from one infirmity (example mental handicap), the registered answer shall be: 4|0|0|
4) For a counted person suffering from no infirmities, the registered answer shall be: 0|0|0|

Column (11): Residency status
Ask this question: "Does [the respondent] habitually reside in this household, i.e. since at least 6 months or have the intention to stay for at least 6 months?"
i) If the answer is Yes, ask the following question "is [the respondent] present or has he spent last night in the household?" If Yes, circle "1" for present resident (RP); if No, circle "2" corresponding to absent resident (RA) after having verified if the case of the absent can be considered present.
ii) If the answer to the first question is No, ask again: "is [the respondent] present or has he spent last night in the household?" If the answer is Yes, circle "3" corresponding to visitor (VIS). If the answer is No, this person is not a member of the household and should not be counted.
Notes:

Columns (12) and (15): Ask these questions only to residents.

Column (12): Duration of stay in current residency
Ask the interviewee for the duration since he settled down in the township (where he is counted) by asking the following question: "Since how long has [the respondent] continuously lived in this township?" Report the duration in elapsed years in the corresponding grids.
For persons who never left their township since birth, report 98 in the grids.
Example:

This column is not to be used for "visitors." The census agent shall not mark anything down in the grid.
48
Column (13): Place of previous residency
Ask the following question: "where did you live before moving into this township?" only to the household's present members and absent members.
Report the department/township if the place residency was in Benin, or the country for persons who were living outside of Benin on the corresponding horizontal line and leave the boxes empty. For those who never left their township of birth, write down on the line the name of the department/township of birth.

Columns (14) and (15): Status [word used is survival] of father and mother
Ask if the biological father and mother of [the respondent] are still alive. If the answer is NO, circle the code "5" for deceased. If the answer is yes, ask then if the parent of [the respondent] lives in the household? If "yes," circle the code "1" for present in the household "PRM". If NO, ask if the parent of [the respondent] lives in the township, elsewhere in Benin, or outside of Benin and circle the corresponding code according to the following:

ii) Schooling [education]
Columns 16 and 17 apply to residents aged 3 or higher. For children younger than 3, leave the columns blank. (Verify to that effect column 6 i.e. age).

Column (16): School attendance
Ask the following question: "Has [the respondent] attended, currently attends, or never attended school?" Circle the coded corresponding to the answer according to the options below.

Note: If the circled code is "3" never attended, go to column 18: Literacy.

Column (17): Last grade level attended
For those currently attending, indicate the current grade level, and for those having attended, report the last grade level completed on the corresponding horizontal line and leave the boxes empty.
The following abbreviations shall be used:
Preschool

Elementary education General middle school education Technical education Higher education

Note: Include conventional schools, which excludes bible and koranic schools, very short schooling programs such as dactylography or couture courses. However, technical or professional formations which follow a complete cycle such as mechanics courses, secretarial courses, etc. must be included.

iii) Literacy
Column 18 applies to residents aged 6 or higher. For children younger than 6, leave the column empty. (Verify to this effect column i.e. age).

Column (18): Literacy
A person is considered literate if she can read, write, and understand a simple text related to matters from her daily life (UNESCO definitions). Thus, literacy consists of teaching reading, writing, and comprehension in a given language. Ask the following question: "Can [the respondent] read, write, and fluently speak certain specific languages?" If yes, ask which languages? Circle the code corresponding to the declaration of the interviewed person according to the following options:

If NO, ask if [the respondent] can at least read in a national language? If yes, circle the code "2" corresponding to "can read in a national language (SLN)." If no, circle code "6" for "can neither read nor write (NLE)."

iv) Economic Characteristics
For all questions related to economic activity, the census agent shall refer to the 3-month periods preceding the interview.

Column (18): Occupation
For all questions related to occupation, the census agent shall refer to the 3-month period immediately preceding the interview.
Ask the following question to each person of 10 years or more of age: "Have you worked for at least one week in the last 3 months?"
The census agent shall then circle:
The code 1. OCC (employed) for each person who has worked during this period.
Included in this category, are:

Note: a retired person or an annuitant who has helped a family member in his/her work or has performed another activity that generated him/her money shall be classified under the rubric of "OCC" i.e. employed. This is the case of retired persons who work in commerce or agriculture.
This question does not apply to those below 10 years of age during the census. The census agent must not note anything in this section for these persons.
Note: Apprentices are "employed"

Column (19): Occupation status
As the following question to each person aged 6 or higher: "Does [the respondent] currently work or has worked continuously for at least one week during the last three months?"
If the answer is YES, the census agent shall ask "if [the respondent] works in the informal sector, public formal sector, or private formal sector" and shall circle the code corresponding to the interviewee's declaration according to the following:

Example: Is occupied each person having worked for at least one week during the reference period. Are included in this category:

If the answer is NO, the census agent shall ask the following question:
"Has [the respondent] worked during the reference period?" If the answer is Yes, circle the code 4 corresponding to unemployed. If the answer is no, ask:
"Is [the respondent] a housewife, elementary or middle school/high school/university student, retired, rentier?" If the answer is yes, circle the appropriate code according to the following options below:

If the answer is NO, ask: "Is [the respondent] seeking first employment?" If yes, circle 3. CT (Seeking 1st employment or 1st job); if no, circle 9. AINA: other unemployed.
Important:

Note: If the circled code corresponds to one of the following options, go to column 23 (marital status).

Column (20): Current profession
For persons currently active, ask the following question: "What is the current activity that most occupies [the respondent]?"
For the unemployed, as the following question" "What was the last activity that most occupied [the respondent]?"
Report the current profession that most occupied the interviewed person as well as the fruit of this activity during the reference period on the line and leave the boxes empty.
Example: tailor, cotton or corn cultivator, cattle or sheep stockbreeder, car or motorcycle mechanic, physician, loincloth, donut, or cola seller, truck or taxi driver, etc.
Notes:

Example

Column (21): Status within the profession
This is the status of an active person within his/her profession during the reference period. This question only applies to employed and unemployed individuals.
Case where the respondent is not the counted person.
Ask first: "Does or has [the respondent] have or had workers that he pays?" If yes, circle the code "0" corresponding to employer (EMP). If no, ask the question: "Does or has [the respondent] work or worked for his own alone, with apprentices, or family aid?" If yes, circle the code "1" for independent (IND). If NO, ask the following question: "What is or was [the respondent]'s status within your employment?" Circle the code according to the case:

Case where the respondent is the counted person.
Ask first: "Do you have workers that you pay?" If yes, circle the code "0" corresponding to employer (EMP). If no, ask the question: "Do you work for your own alone, with apprentices, or family aid?" If yes, circle the code "1" for independent (IND). If NO, ask the following question: "What is your status within your employment?" Circle the code according to the case.

Column (22): Branch of activity
Ask the question: "What is or was the principle activity that [the respondent]'s firm exercises or has exercised?" and write down legibly the type of activity or the name of the establishment on the horizontal line and leave the boxes empty.
Example:

.
Note: A person working or having worked at Sobebra [national brewery company] or in a brewery or in its repositories shall have as branch of activity "brewery," while a person selling in a repository that is not attached to the brewery shall be classified under the rubric "Beverage commerce."

v) Sociocultural characteristics

Column (23): Marital status
Column (23) only concerns residents of 10 and more years of age. For residents of less than 10, this column does not apply and the census agent shall leave it empty. (To this effect, verify with column 6 i.e. age).
The marital status is a person's situation in relation to marriage defined as the union between a man and a woman according to the laws and customs.
Ask the following question: "What is [the respondent]'s marital status?" and circle the code corresponding to the interviewee's declaration according to the following options.

vi) Fertility data
Columns (24) to (27) only apply to female residents of 10 years or more of age (To this effect, verify with column 4 for gender and 6 for age). For women younger than 10, and males, these columns do not apply. For these persons, the agent shall not report anything in the boxes.

Column (24): Total number of born alive children
A child born alive is a child who, at birth, manifested a sign of life (scream, breathing, heartbeat...) even if the child later expired.
The census agent shall ask the question: "How many children born alive has [the respondent] had?"
Report the total number of boys in in the grid marked with "M" for male and the number of girls in the grid marked with "F" for female.

Column (25): Total number of currently living children
The census agent shall ask the question: "Of these births, how many boys are still alive? And how many girls are still alive?" Report the total number of living boys in the grid marked with "M" for male and the number of living girls in the grid marked with "F" for female.
Example: For a resident female of 10 or more years of age who gave birth to 2 boys and 4 girls, write down the following in the boxes.
M= 0 2
F = 0 4

Columns (26) and (27): Births occurred since January 1st, 2001
Those are the living births to female residents of 10 years or more of age.

Column (26): Births occurred since January 1st, 2001
The census agent shall ask the following question: "How many living births has [the respondent] had since January 1st, 2001?" Write down the number by the infant's gender. If there have been no births during the reference period, write down "0" in the two (2) boxes then go to question 28 "Has there been any deaths in the household since January 1st, 2001?"
Example: For a resident female of 10 or more years of age who gave birth to a triplet of 2 boys and 1 girl, write down the following in the boxes:

Column (27): Survival of births occurred since January 1st, 2001
The census agent shall ask the following question: "How many of these living births had since January 1st, 2001 are still alive?" Report the number indicated by infant's gender in the appropriate box.

4-2-3- Page on deaths
This page only concerns deaths occurred in the household since January 1st, 2001.

Question [column] (28): Has there been any deaths in the household since January 1st, 2001?
If the answer to this question is no, go to column 40 (construction type) in the "household characteristics" section. If the answer is yes, go to column 29 i.e. the deaths order number.

Column (29): Order number
This is the column of the order number of deaths occurred in the household during the reference period (since January 1st, 2001). Begin reporting with the 1st death in the period until the last.

Column (30): Last and first name of the deceased
Write down the last and first names of the persons deceased during the reference period.

Column (31): Gender of the deceased
Ask "what is the gender of [the respondent]?", circle "1" for males and "2" for females.

Column (32): Date of birth
Ask for the date of birth of the deceased ad write down the month and the year of birth in the boxes reserved to that effect. If the month and year of birth are unknown, refer to the instructions in column 5 and 6 of the manual (you can estimate the date of birth using the date of death).

Column (33): Date of death
Ask the question: "In which month and year has [the respondent] died?" In the boxes reserved to that effect, write down the date of death (month, year).

Column (34): Age at death
In the boxes of column (34), report the age at death in days, months, or years elapsed. The census agent must get the information on the age at death. This column must absolutely be filled, according to the following options:
i) If the age at death is counted in days (i.e. less than a month), circle the code "1" for days and write down the number of days in the corresponding boxes.
ii) If the age at death is counted in months (i.e. less than a year), circle the code "2" for months and write down the number of months in the corresponding boxes.
iii) If the age at death is counted in years (i.e. for ages more than a year), circle the code "3" for years and write down the number of years in the corresponding boxes.
Example: Dossou's age at death is 28 days. 1 J |2|8|
Beatrice's age at death is 6 months and 15 days. 2 M |0|6|
Johnson's age at death is 35 years, 6 months, and 12 days. 3 A |3|5|

Column (35): Burial place
Ask the following question: "Where was [the respondent] buried?" The purpose is knowing whether the burial took place at the domicile (resided), at the cemetery, or elsewhere. Circle the code corresponding to the declared statement:

Domicile means place of residency.
Example: If the person died at Cotonou and was buried at the family concession in Ouidah, he is buried at the domicile and code 1 shall be circled.

Column (36): Marital status at death
Ask the following question: "At the time of death, what was [the respondent]'s marital status?" Circle the code corresponding to the declaration made (refer to column 23).

ii) Maternal mortality for women between the ages of 10 and 55
Columns (37) to (39) are for women who were between the ages of 10 and 55 at the time of death. They are used to determine maternal mortality rates.
For women who died at an age that is less than 10 or more than 55 and for men, these columns do not apply and should be left empty (to this effect, refer to columns 31 for gender and 34 for age at death).
In those cases, after filling out column 36, the census agent shall go to column 40 (construction type) in the rubric on dwelling unit characteristics.

Column (37): Woman died during pregnancy
Ask the question: "Did [the respondent] die due to problems related to pregnancy?" If the answer is yes, circle the code "1;" the census agent shall go to column 40 (construction type) in the rubric on dwelling unit characteristics. If the answer is no, circle the code "2" and go to the next column (column 38).

Column (38): Woman died during birth giving
Ask the question: "Did [the respondent] die while giving birth?" If the answer is yes, circle the code "1;" the census agent shall go to column 40 in the rubric on dwelling unit characteristics. If the answer is no, circle the code "2" and go to the column 39.

Column (39): Woman died within 42 days following birth giving
Ask the interviewee: "Did [the respondent] die due to giving birth within 42 days?" Circle the code corresponding to the declaration of the interviewee and go to dwelling unit characteristics.
Note relating to columns 37 to 39: The census agent must be tactful in trying to obtain the right answer to the questions in columns 37 to 39.
Example: If for question 37 (did she die due to problems related to pregnancy), the interviewee says no, the census agent must try to understand if the woman died due to some illness or due to complications related to birth giving within an interval of 42 days.

iii) Page on the dwelling unit characteristics

Column (40): Construction type
The census agent must examine the dwelling unit in which the household resides, determine its construction type, and circle the corresponding number according to the following.

Column (41): Concession
A concession is composed of buildings grouped together and giving access or not to a central courtyard. A concession could be gated or not.
The census agent must observe the type of construction that the household occupies to determine whether it is a concession or not and the circle the corresponding number according to the following options.

Column (42): Usage type
The census agent must observe the dwelling unit in which the household resides, determine the type of usage, and circle the corresponding number according to the following options.
1. For a building used exclusively for housing;
2. For a building used both for housing and other purposes (mixed)

Column (45) [the original document reads 45, however, it is clearly a mistake and it should be 43]: Occupancy status
Ask the following question: "Are you the owner of your dwelling unit?"

Column (44): Total number of occupied rooms
Rooms used for housing purposes must be counted: bedrooms, dining room, living room, servants' room.
Hallways, verandas, bathrooms, toilet room (W.C.), and other areas of a surface of less than 5 square meters are not considered rooms.
If a room is common to several households, assign it only to one of the households. Report the total number of rooms occupied by the household in the grid reserved to that effect.

Columns (45), (46), and (47): Nature [type] of roofs, walls, and floor
Observe the type of the roof, walls, and floor of the main building (head of household's building) of the dwelling unit and circle the numbers corresponding to the observed characteristics in the appropriate columns. The options are:

Column (45): Type of roof (principal construction)
Column (46): Type of walls (principal construction)

In all cases, mention the predominant material (i.e. the most used) in the case of buildings made with different materials.

Column (48): Lighting mode
The question to ask is the following: "In your household, what energy method do you primarily use for lighting?"
Do not trust the mere existence of electric outlets; several do not receive electricity. Circle, depending on the case, the corresponding number. Any other lighting method not previously mentioned shall be classified under the rubric "other." The options are:

Column (49): Water provisioning
Ask the following question: "What is the primary source of the water used by your household for drinking?" If the interviewee declares usage of SBEE [Benin's national electric and water company] water, ask: "Do you have running water at home?" If the answer is yes, circle the code 1 for running water at home and if no, circle the circle 2 corresponding to SBEE running water elsewhere. Otherwise, circle the code corresponding to the declaration if the interviewee:

Column (50): Sanitation type
Ask the following question: "What type of toilet do most members of the household use?" According to the answer, circle one of the following options:

Column (51): Evacuation of used water
The question to ask is the following: "Where do you usually dispose of your used water?" Circle the code corresponding to the interviewee's declaration according to the following options:

Column (52): Evacuation of household waste
The question to ask is the following: "Where do you usually dispose of your household waste?" According to the answer, circle the code corresponding to the interviewee's declaration. All other modes of household waste evacuation, not cited in the column, shall be classified under the rubric "other."

Column (53): Most used cooking method
The question to ask is the following: "In your household, what is the energy type do you mainly use for cooking?"
For cooking dinners, households use several types of energy. Circle the code corresponding to the one indicated by the interviewee. All other most used cooking methods, not cited in the column, shall be classified under the rubric "otherR."

Chapter 5: Detailed instructions for filling out the "buildings and households form"
The Buildings and household form is a document that allows the census agent to list all the buildings used for housing by households found in his census zone for the purposes of publishing the preliminary results of the census and for post-census surveys.
If, in a building, the census agent cannot count a household due to the absence of a person qualified to answer questions, he must assign to the household the same order number he would have, had he counted the household. The form shall be set aside and filled out later in future visits.

5-1 Cover page
5-1-1 Geographic localization
The census agent shall report the complete name of the department, township, district, as well as the codes corresponding to the different administrative entities. He shall mark down the capital letter identifying the census sector and the 3-digit number identifying the census zone in the corresponding boxes.
Note that the letter and number given to the census agent are determined cartographically and are noted on the zone map that he was given before the start of the operation.
After filling out the form, the census agent, the team leader, and the supervisor shall write down their first and last names followed by their signatures.
5-2 Inside page
These pages, all identical, are used to establish an exhaustive list of households and buildings used for housing to be counted in the census zone. Each page contains, in addition to the geographic localization of the census zone, a 15-column table. The page is identified with a number on the top right side.

Column (1): Building number
Report, in the column, the number marked with chalk on the head of household's building's main door. In the case where several households live in the same building, only report the number on the first household's line. In the case where several buildings are used by one household, report the number from the head of household's building.

Column (2) and (3): Building usage
Refer to column 42 of the household questionnaire and mark a cross in the appropriate column to specify the building's type of usage.

Column (4): Household number
The numbering of households shall be done continuously in the census zone.
The first household shall have the number 001, the second 002 even if it is in another building. The numbering shall continue in this fashion until the zone is fully covered.

Column (5): Number of questionnaires used for each household
Report in this column the number of questionnaires used for each household.

Column (6): Name of the head of household or name and type of the establishment

In the case of an ordinary household, write down the name of the head of household. In the case of a collective household, write down the name and add the type of the establishment. For example: Médji de Sékou High School: Educational establishment; Inmes: Educational establishment; La Croix du Sud: Hotel; Sheraton Hotel: Hotel, etc. ...
Example for filling out the first four columns:
The example below is used to illustrate the four previous paragraphs.
The first building in the census zone receives the number 001, it houses for example the Ina Babada household and is also used as a shop. This household shall have the number 001.
The building 002 is occupied by three households.
The first household Tata Ramanou shall have the number 002;
The second household Bossou Hervé shall have the number 003;
The third household Anani shall have the number 004;
The buildings 003, 004, and 005 are occupied by the collective household "Croix du Sud Hotel."
The building 006 is occupied by the Zossou Mathias household and has the number 005.
[A table from the original document is omitted here.]

Columns (7) to (15): Number of persons counted in the household
It is the number of present residents, absent residents, and visitors of both genders counted in each household. These numbers are reported in the summary table found on the cover page of the RGPH 3 household questionnaire.
N.B. At the end of the census, the census agent shall return the completed form to his team leader after calculating the totals per column according to the residency situation.

Forward with the third general census of the population and habitation