Comparability — Armenia [top]

The data include the total area of the dwelling occupied by the household, including non-sleeping space such as kitchens, bathrooms, corridors and balconies. The sample has a separate variable that restricts the area measurement to living space only. The 2011 sample reports the total area of the floor space of the dwelling in square meters. For dwellings 130 square meters and larger, the data are reported in intervals of ten ("130 to 139" is coded to "130", and so on). These intervals differ from those used in the 2001 sample.

Comparability — Austria [top]

All samples report the total useful floor space of the dwelling, excluding space rented to boarders or used for commercial purposes. The data were reported in intervals, but intervals vary across samples. All samples are top-coded at 150 square meters.

Comparability — Belarus [top]

The data for Belarus in 1999 gives the useful space inhabited by the household, essentially including all interior heated space except staircases. In 2009, it includes the floor space for all habitable and utility rooms, plus attics, verandahs, terraces, and similar areas.

Comparability — France [top]

In 2011 sample area of the dwelling was defined as the surface area in square meter. The instruction requires enumerators to count all rooms, including the hallway, kitchen, bathroom, WC, etc. Do not count balconies, patios, cellars, attics, garages, and rooms with exclusively professional uses.

Comparability — Germany [top]

The top codes vary between samples. The data for 1987 are reported in 10-meter intervals starting at 190.

The samples include all the area inhabited by the household, including commercially used rooms. Attics and basements are excluded.

The 1971 and 1981 data are calculated by combining data from 3 separate input variables.

Comparability — Greece [top]

The Greek censuses asked simply for the total surface area of dwellings.

Comparability — Hungary [top]

The censuses asked essentially about the total area of living rooms. The data are top-coded at 260 in 2001 and at 301 in 2011; there is also a bottom-code at 11 in 2011.

Comparability — Indonesia [top]

Floor area includes all spaces used for daily living needs. Under this definition, spaces used for commercial purposes are not included. The 1985 and 1995 samples also offer separate variables on the plot area occupied by the household, which can be found in the unharmonized source variables. Data are available in the source variable for the 2010 sample on values greater than 998 square meters (4-digit).

Comparability — Iran [top]

The data are recoded from 9 broad intervals. Floor area includes all enclosed space under the roof except common areas in apartment buildings.

Comparability — Italy [top]

The total area includes bathrooms and kitchens for both the 2001 and 2011 samples.

Comparability — Kyrgyzstan [top]

The 1999 census asked for the total area of inhabited rooms, including kitchens but excluding closets, hallways, etc. The 2009 census includes all habitable room, excluding kitchens, closets, etc. A separate unharmonized source variable in 2009 records the total habitable space, but the more restrictive variable is included in LIVEAREA because it is more consistent with 1999.

Comparability — Laos [top]

In the 1995, 2005, and 2015 samples, the living area comprises rooms plus kitchen, including all dwellings and all stories occupied by the same household; it is not equal to the total building area. Respondents were requested to provide an estimate if the exact living area is not known.

The 1995 sample is top-coded at 240 square meters; the 2005 sample is bottom-coded at 3 square meters and top-coded at 200 square meters.

Comparability — Mongolia [top]

The 1989 data indicates the total living area of the dwelling in which the household lives, including corridors, kitchens, and bathrooms. The first household listed in a multi-household dwelling was to record the total living area of the entire dwelling. Subsequent households recorded only the living area that they occupied.

The 2000 sample includes the total area of living room, bedroom and working rooms. It excludes the kitchen.

Comparability — Philippines [top]

The census question refers to the estimated floor area of the housing unit and it is reported only in intervals.

Comparability — Poland [top]

The 1978 and 1988 sample asked for total usable floor space, whereas the 2002 sample asked for floor space excluding rooms used for business purposes. In 2002 the sample is top-coded at 200 square meters.

Comparability — Romania [top]

All censuses asked for the total area of inhabited rooms, including kitchens but excluding closets, hallways, etc. The 1977 census specified that only rooms at least 4 square meters in size were to be included in the total. The 2011 sample specified that the rooms be used for residential purposes only (as opposed to professional commercial purposes).

The 2002 sample is top-coded at 221+. The 2011 sample is top-coded at 500+.

Comparability — Slovenia [top]

The census includes all useful area in the dwelling, including closets and other utility spaces.

Comparability — Spain [top]

The Spanish data record the total floor space usable for habitation. In 1991, the data are reported only in intervals, where the lowest interval is coded to "1" in LIVEAREA. In 2001, the data are reported in intervals of 100 square meters for dwellings 300 square meters and larger, ("300 to 399" is coded to "300", and so on). In 2011, the data are reported in intervals of 100 square meters for dwellings 400 square meters and larger. Both samples are top-coded at 900 square meters.

Comparability — Switzerland [top]

Living area was defined as the area of kitchen, kitchenette, bathroom, toilette storage, hallways, veranda, etc. The minimum living area was 10 square meters in all censuses, coded to "1" in LIVEAREA.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

Living area was defined as the area of bedrooms, dining room, guestrooms, study rooms, etc. in 1989-1999, but it was defined more vaguely as "floor space" in 2009 and 2019.