The United Republic of Tanzania
Clarifications of 2012 Population and Housing Census Questions
[Enumerator's Manual]
April, 2012
Prepared by:-
National Bureau of Statistics
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance
[1.0] Foreword
[2.0] Introduction
[3.0] General description of census questions
[4.0] Explanations/clarifications of questions
[2.0] Introduction
[3.0] General description of census questions
[4.0] Explanations/clarifications of questions
The clarifications of the 2012 population and housing census questions have been prepared to educate the supervisor or the facilitator on important information about questions that will be asked during census. The questions contained here are the same questions found in the questionnaires that will be used by the census enumerators in interviews.
This enumerators' manual explains step by step all the questions that will be asked during census. Clarifications provided in this manual provide explanations why a particular question is asked and what types of answers are expected from each question asked.
Explanation of these questions will help the government follow-up and evaluate National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty [NSGRP] and Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty [ZSGRP], National Development Vision of 2025 for Tanzania mainland and 2020 for Tanzania Zanzibar, the five year Development Plans [2011/12-2015/2016] and the Millennium Development Goals for 2015.
For further clarifications, contact;
Dr. Albina Chuwa
Director General
Office of National Bureau of Statistics
Dar es Salaam
Hajjat Amina Mrisho Said
Census Commissioner
Mohamed Hafidh Rajab
Director General
Office of Director General, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar
Mwalim Haji Ameir
Census Commissioner
This enumerators' manual explains step by step all the questions that will be asked during census. Clarifications provided in this manual provide explanations why a particular question is asked and what types of answers are expected from each question asked.
Explanation of these questions will help the government follow-up and evaluate National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty [NSGRP] and Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty [ZSGRP], National Development Vision of 2025 for Tanzania mainland and 2020 for Tanzania Zanzibar, the five year Development Plans [2011/12-2015/2016] and the Millennium Development Goals for 2015.
For further clarifications, contact;
Dr. Albina Chuwa
Director General
Office of National Bureau of Statistics
Dar es Salaam
Hajjat Amina Mrisho Said
Census Commissioner
Mohamed Hafidh Rajab
Director General
Office of Director General, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar
Mwalim Haji Ameir
Census Commissioner
2.0 Introduction
Population and housing census will take place on 26th August, 2012, which will be ten years after the last census was conducted in 2002. Other censuses were conducted in 1967, 1978, and 1988. The exercise of counting people in this census will be carried out within a period not exceeding seven days.
This census has questions not exceeding 62 compared to the 2002 census which had 37 questions; questions included focus on agriculture, Tanzanians living in foreign countries, and more. The objective of these questions is to collect more information which will provide the status of Tanzanians demographically, economically, and socially. There are important questions which are normally asked in every census, and new questions, depending on current and future information needs.
Therefore, in order to ensure that all the citizens understand fully these questions, it is appropriate to print this 2012 population and housing census questionnaire manual. This manual is part of efforts put in place to educate the public about the need to fully participate in the census exercise.
We believe that there will be no challenges in answering questions during census if clarifications provided here are well understood by citizens, and thus we will get more accurate information. Clarifications of these questions also understand the importance of removing fear or doubts amongst some citizens, who due to their cultures, traditions, or other reasons have a different perception towards the population and housing census, a perception that is different from that of the nation, which is to collect information for development purposes of the nation.
This census has questions not exceeding 62 compared to the 2002 census which had 37 questions; questions included focus on agriculture, Tanzanians living in foreign countries, and more. The objective of these questions is to collect more information which will provide the status of Tanzanians demographically, economically, and socially. There are important questions which are normally asked in every census, and new questions, depending on current and future information needs.
Therefore, in order to ensure that all the citizens understand fully these questions, it is appropriate to print this 2012 population and housing census questionnaire manual. This manual is part of efforts put in place to educate the public about the need to fully participate in the census exercise.
We believe that there will be no challenges in answering questions during census if clarifications provided here are well understood by citizens, and thus we will get more accurate information. Clarifications of these questions also understand the importance of removing fear or doubts amongst some citizens, who due to their cultures, traditions, or other reasons have a different perception towards the population and housing census, a perception that is different from that of the nation, which is to collect information for development purposes of the nation.
3.0 General explanations of census questions
In the 2012 population and housing census, there will be three types of questionnaires which will comprise questions based on the information required to be collected. There will be a community questionnaire with five major sections which will be used in all the areas where census is taking place and will be filled in by the census enumerator three days before census day. The community questionnaire will collect information on community services such as schools, hospitals, health centers, markets, financial services, cattle dip [places for washing livestock], sources of water, environment, and events/incidences that occurred in communities in the past one year that were troublesome/disturbing, and catastrophic events that took place in the past five years.
The short questionnaire will have 37 questions and the long questionnaire will have 62 questions. In areas where the short questionnaire will be use, the long questionnaire will not be used, and in places where the long questionnaire will be used, the short questionnaire will not be used. 70 percent of the census areas will use a short questionnaire and the remaining percentage will use the long questionnaire. All the questions found in the short questionnaire are also found in the long questionnaire; therefore, these questions will be answered by everyone wherever either questionnaire is used. These questions will ask about the name of the head of the household; names of all the people who slept in the respective house the night before August 26th, 2012, and the relationships of these people to the head of the household.
Other questions that follow ask about sex, age, disability status, marital status, citizenship and place of residence, place where the household member spends most of his/her time, and whether or not the household member has a birth certificate. Other questions will focus on general and reproduction-related death in the household; agricultural questions; number of livestock and fish keeping; education for people with ages of four and above; getting the number of households with at least one household member who has social security fund membership; and Tanzanians who live in foreign countries.
For those who will be asked questions from the long questionnaire, they'll be required to answer extra questions which will ask about the following; place of birth, place lived in 2011, whether or not parents are alive, economic activities for people who are five years and above, child-bearing status for women aged 12 and above, and on house characteristics and asset/property ownership.
All these questions aim at meeting the various current and future needs of the nation for planning and implementation purposes of various development programs. Therefore, we ask that everyone needs to understand and pay attention to all the questions so that they can answer them correctly.
The short questionnaire will have 37 questions and the long questionnaire will have 62 questions. In areas where the short questionnaire will be use, the long questionnaire will not be used, and in places where the long questionnaire will be used, the short questionnaire will not be used. 70 percent of the census areas will use a short questionnaire and the remaining percentage will use the long questionnaire. All the questions found in the short questionnaire are also found in the long questionnaire; therefore, these questions will be answered by everyone wherever either questionnaire is used. These questions will ask about the name of the head of the household; names of all the people who slept in the respective house the night before August 26th, 2012, and the relationships of these people to the head of the household.
Other questions that follow ask about sex, age, disability status, marital status, citizenship and place of residence, place where the household member spends most of his/her time, and whether or not the household member has a birth certificate. Other questions will focus on general and reproduction-related death in the household; agricultural questions; number of livestock and fish keeping; education for people with ages of four and above; getting the number of households with at least one household member who has social security fund membership; and Tanzanians who live in foreign countries.
For those who will be asked questions from the long questionnaire, they'll be required to answer extra questions which will ask about the following; place of birth, place lived in 2011, whether or not parents are alive, economic activities for people who are five years and above, child-bearing status for women aged 12 and above, and on house characteristics and asset/property ownership.
All these questions aim at meeting the various current and future needs of the nation for planning and implementation purposes of various development programs. Therefore, we ask that everyone needs to understand and pay attention to all the questions so that they can answer them correctly.
It is possible that the night before census day a visitor slept in the house but left before the census enumerator arrived. For the purpose of census taking procedures, such person should be counted in the household where he/she slept a night before census and not where he/she is found after census taking began. For this reason, it is important that the head of the household gets all the answers to all the questions that will be asked before the visitor leaves so that he/she is able to answer all the census questions on behalf of the visitor. The census enumerator will arrive in the area where census will be taking place three days before census day to become familiar with the area as well as prepare residents of the respective area.
4.0 Clarifications of questions
Question 2: Please tell me the names of persons who spent the census night [that is, the night before Sunday 26 August, 2012] in your household, starting with the name of the head of household.
For the purposes of census, a household include persons who normally live and eat together [that is, they cooperate in order to meet their daily needs].
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question wants to know the list of all the people who slept in the respective house on the night before census day?that is, the night of 25th before 26th August 2012, starting with the head of the household.
The head of household is a person responsible for a particular household or a person recognized as the leader by other household members in a particular household.
Answers to this question will enable us get the total number of persons from the whole country, average number of persons in households and the level of poverty in the country.
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question wants to know the list of all the people who slept in the respective house on the night before census day?that is, the night of 25th before 26th August 2012, starting with the head of the household.
The head of household is a person responsible for a particular household or a person recognized as the leader by other household members in a particular household.
Answers to this question will enable us get the total number of persons from the whole country, average number of persons in households and the level of poverty in the country.
Question 3: What is the relationship of [the respondent] to the head of the household?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question asks about the relationship of other household members to the head of the household. Relationship can be wife/husband, biological son/daughter, biological father/mother, grandson/daughter, other relative, or other [none related]
Answers to this question will enable the nation to get information which will provide an understanding of the real situation in terms of the level of dependency within households, households headed by females and children, for the purpose of planning development programs and formulation of good policies.
Answers to this question will enable the nation to get information which will provide an understanding of the real situation in terms of the level of dependency within households, households headed by females and children, for the purpose of planning development programs and formulation of good policies.
Question 4: Is [the respondent] a male or a female?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to know the sex of every household member.
Answers to this question will facilitate the understanding of population of males and females in every household, village/street, ward/shehia, district, region, and nation.
Answers to this question will facilitate the understanding of population of males and females in every household, village/street, ward/shehia, district, region, and nation.
Question 5: How old are you? How old is [the respondent]?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to get the exact age of a household member. For example, a child who has not yet attained the age of 1 year, will be given "00" years.
Answers to this question will help in planning of development programs. Age is very important information in statistics of people in any nation on this earth. Knowing the correct ages of people enables the nation to develop strategies for improving services such as health, education, water, community development, and many others.
Answers to this question will help in planning of development programs. Age is very important information in statistics of people in any nation on this earth. Knowing the correct ages of people enables the nation to develop strategies for improving services such as health, education, water, community development, and many others.
Questions 6 to 11 aim to get information on the disability status of people in the communities.
Is [the respondent] an albino, or has difficulty seeing, hearing, walking or climbing stairs, remembering or concentrating, caring for him/herself such as washing or dressing, has a cleft palate, has spinal befida, has spinal cord injuries, mental illness, or psoriasis?
Questions description
These questions aim to obtain information about disability status in the communities.
Answers on these questions will enable the nation understand how many people have disabilities and types of disabilities, and thus allow the nation develop sustainable programs for this special group in the community.
These questions aim to obtain information about disability status in the communities.
Answers on these questions will enable the nation understand how many people have disabilities and types of disabilities, and thus allow the nation develop sustainable programs for this special group in the community.
Question 12: Is [the respondent] currently married, living together, divorced, separated, or spouse died?
For the purposes of census, marriage is when two individuals of opposite sex live together as husband and wife, whether married traditionally, in religious or civil settings.
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question asks about the marital status of every household member; the question wants to know the marital status of household member depending on marriage laws and traditions in Tanzania.
Answers to this question will enable the nation to understand the number of people in the communities who are married and those who are not in order to plan for their special needs. The answers will also help understand at what age people get married for the first time [Age at First Marriage].
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question asks about the marital status of every household member; the question wants to know the marital status of household member depending on marriage laws and traditions in Tanzania.
Answers to this question will enable the nation to understand the number of people in the communities who are married and those who are not in order to plan for their special needs. The answers will also help understand at what age people get married for the first time [Age at First Marriage].
Question 13: [the respondent] is a citizen of which country?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to understand the nationality of every person in the community, whether it is by birth or registration.
Answers to this question will enable the nation understand the exact number of citizens of Tanzania, citizens of other countries present on the night before census, and those with two nationalities. The nation will understand the distribution of nationalities in the country.
Answers to this question will enable the nation understand the exact number of citizens of Tanzania, citizens of other countries present on the night before census, and those with two nationalities. The nation will understand the distribution of nationalities in the country.
Questions 14, 16, 17, and 18 asks about household member's place of birth, current place of residence, place lived in 2011, and weather the household member has a birth certificate or birth documentation.
Explanation/clarification of the question: These questions aim to understand how people migrate from one place to another and how towns/cities grow.
Answers to these questions will help the nation understand the amount of people moving from one place to another. Also, these questions will enable the understanding of the amount of growth of towns/cities, and how many people have birth certificates or birth documentations
Answers to these questions will help the nation understand the amount of people moving from one place to another. Also, these questions will enable the understanding of the amount of growth of towns/cities, and how many people have birth certificates or birth documentations
Question 15: Where do you, does [the respondent] normally spend his/her time during the day?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to understand where the household member spends most of his/her time during the day. Some people normally live in one place, but works or spends most of their time in another place due to various reasons.
Answers to this question will help the nation improve services provided in towns/cities especially during the day. Answers to this question will also help get the population of people found in towns/cities during the day [day time population].
Answers to this question will help the nation improve services provided in towns/cities especially during the day. Answers to this question will also help get the population of people found in towns/cities during the day [day time population].
Question 19: Is [the respondent]'s father alive? Is [the respondent] mother alive?
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to get information about whether or not the biological parents of a household member are alive.
Answers to this question will help the nation get the population of orphans, as a result, facilitate development of programs and improve policies on orphans.
Answers to this question will help the nation get the population of orphans, as a result, facilitate development of programs and improve policies on orphans.
Questions 20 to 22 ask about education for any person aged 4 years and above.
These questions aim to understand whether the household member can read and write, current or level of education reached, and whether he/she is currently in school or dropped out of school.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Answers to these questions will enable the nation understand the number of people who can read and write, distribution of education levels, and number of people who completed and those who dropped out of school.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Answers to these questions will enable the nation understand the number of people who can read and write, distribution of education levels, and number of people who completed and those who dropped out of school.
Questions 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 ask about economic activities in the past 24 months and past one week, employments status, work, and main activities at work place [industry] for individuals aged 5 years and above.
For census purposes, a job is any economic activity, whether you get paid, make profit, do barter trade, or for domestic paid jobs.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Questions on economic activities will enable the nation understand the level of employment in various economic sectors, types of employment, scarcity of employment, amount of available labor force, and areas of employment.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Questions on economic activities will enable the nation understand the level of employment in various economic sectors, types of employment, scarcity of employment, amount of available labor force, and areas of employment.
Question 28 to 32 aims to understand the fertility trends in our communities, including child born alive but died [i.e., stillbirth and neonatal or perinatal deaths], and children born alive in the past twelve months and whether they're still alive.
Explanation/clarification of the question: The purpose of these questions is to get the fertility rate in the country.
Questions 33 to 40 ask about death and death that resulted from child bearing in the past 12 months. These questions are asked and answered by the head of the household or another person who will respond to these questions on behalf of the household head.
Explanation/clarification of the question: All these questions aim to get death rate, causes of death, including those related to child bearing. The questions will further enable the nation understand the average age of death [life expectancy].
The answers to these questions will enable the nation understand whether there was any death within a household during the period specified.
The answers to these questions will enable the nation understand whether there was any death within a household during the period specified.
Questions 41 to 52 ask about the house characteristics and ownership of assets/properties and they are answered by the head of the household.
These questions ask about types of home ownership and materials used for construction of the house household members live in. Also, these questions aim to understand services available in the house, for example, water, toilets, energy source for cooking and lighting the house.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Answers to these questions will enable the nation understand the level of poverty in the households.
Explanation/clarification of the question: Answers to these questions will enable the nation understand the level of poverty in the households.
Questions 53 to 57 ask about food crops, livestock, and fish keeping.
Question: Is there any member from this household who engaged [or currently] him/herself in farming corn/maize, cassava, banana, or rice during 2011/12 agricultural year, keeping of cows, goats, sheep, chickens, or fish up to the night before census?
Explanation/clarification of the question: These questions aim to know types of major crops grown and number of livestock kept in order to understand the level of food security in the households; to improve agricultural and livestock policies, and to develop a foundation for research in the respective sectors.
Questions 58 to 61 ask about Tanzanians who live in foreign countries.
These questions aim to understand the number of Tanzanians who live in foreign countries and the level of their contribution to the economy of their families in Tanzania and the nation at large during the past twelve months.
Explanation/clarification of the question: The answers to these questions will help steer the discussions on dual citizenship in the right direction during preparation of a new constitution.
Explanation/clarification of the question: The answers to these questions will help steer the discussions on dual citizenship in the right direction during preparation of a new constitution.
Question 62 asks about social security funds for communities.
Is there a person in this household who is a member of any of the following social security funds? National Social Security Fund [NSSF], Zanzibar Social Security Fund [ZSSF], Parastatal Pension Fund [PPF], Public Service Pension Fund [PSPF], Government Employee Provident Fund [GEPF], Local Authority Pension Fund [LAPF], and National Health Insurance Fund/Community Health Fund [NHIF/CHF].
Explanation/clarification of the question: This question aims to know the number of households that have at least one member with social security funds.
Answers to this question will help understand the numbers of households with at least one household member who is a member of social security funds. This information will enable social security funds to expand provision of their services and improve the economies at household level, and consequently reduce poverty.
Answers to this question will help understand the numbers of households with at least one household member who is a member of social security funds. This information will enable social security funds to expand provision of their services and improve the economies at household level, and consequently reduce poverty.