Comparability — Argentina [top]

The 2001 census question includes refrigerator/freezers, which are separately identified in the input data.

Comparability — Benin [top]

The 2013 census asked whether the household owns a fridge that is in functional condition.

Comparability — Botswana [top]

The 2011 asked whether any member of the household had a refrigerator in working condition.

Comparability — Brazil [top]

The censuses for 1960 and 1980 explicitly excluded containers that merely hold ice for the purposes of refrigeration (for example, Styrofoam iceboxes).

The 1991 census covers only electric refrigerators. For example, units powered by gas or kerosene were excluded, in contrast to the 2000 and 2010 censuses, where fuel-powered refrigerators were explicitly included.

The question for the 2000 census asked whether the household had either a refrigerator or a freezer. In 2000, enumerators were instructed to include only those units currently in usable condition.

Comparability — Burkina Faso [top]

The data are derived from a question on the number of functional refrigerators in the household. The question was asked of all households.

Comparability — Cambodia [top]

Both 2013 and 2019 census asked about the number of refrigerators owned by the household -- detail that is retained in the unharmonized source variables.

Comparability — Canada [top]

The census question asked whether there was an electric or gas unit in the living quarters.

Comparability — Chile [top]

All censuses asked simply whether the household had a refrigerator with no further qualifications.

Comparability — Colombia [top]

The data include ice boxes -- non-powered units.

Comparability — Costa Rica [top]

The 1963 and 1984 censuses explicitly note that a refrigeration device powered by any type of fuel was to be considered. The other censuses give more general instructions.

Comparability — Côte d'Ivoire [top]

The 1988 sample asked about refrigerators whereas a combination of refrigerator and freezer are asked in 1998 sample. The census question in 1988 and 1998 requires the item to be in working condition.

Comparability — Dominican Republic [top]

The 1981 questionnaire asks whether the household has an electric or non-electric refrigerator; both are included in the "yes" category but can be separated using the unharmonized source variable.
The 2002 and 2010 questionnaires ask whether the household has a refrigerator; these samples are comparable.

Comparability — Egypt [top]

The 1986 sample asks separately for electric refrigerators and deep freezers; deep freezers were not included in this harmonized variable. The 1996 census question specified an electric refrigerator. The 2006 sample recorded the number of refrigerators in the household which is retained in the unharmonized data, and counts refrigerators in use or set aside for future use. The instructions of 1986 and 1996 specify that the purpose of tenure of this appliance must be for use and not commerce.

Comparability — El Salvador [top]

The 2007 census is explicit about ownership of the refrigerator, whereas the 1992 sample does not specify.

Comparability — Fiji [top]

The 1996 census is explicit about ownership of the refrigerator. The data for 2007 and 2014 are derived from a question on the number of refrigerators/freezers owned by the household.

Comparability — Haiti [top]

The census recorded the number of refrigerators that are used in the household.

Comparability — Honduras [top]

In 2001, the census question includes the refrigerator even if it is found in poor working condition awaiting repair. The 1961 and 1988 samples do not clarify whether it needs to be in working condition.

The 1961 sample only has information for households consisting of a head.

Comparability — Indonesia [top]

The 1976 sample asks if the household possesses a refrigerator but does not specify access versus ownership. The 2005 sample is explicit that the question is specifically interested in ownership and not usage. In addition, if the refrigerator was broken or not in use, it was still to be counted.

Comparability — Kenya [top]

The census asked about ownership of the refrigerator by any household member.

Comparability — Laos [top]

In 2015, the census question does not differentiate between refrigerator and freezer, and the appliance had to be in working order.

Comparability — Lesotho [top]

In 2006, the census question specifies that the refrigerator had to be in working condition over the previous month.

Comparability — Malawi [top]

The question asks whether the household has a refrigerator or deep freezer in working condition.

Comparability — Malaysia [top]

The variable is comparable across samples.

Comparability — Mexico [top]

The census instructions for Mexico 2000, 2015, and 2020 indicate that broken refrigerators should be counted if the household has the intention to repair them. For 2000, 2010, 2015, and 2020, appliances belonging to an employer should not be counted.

Comparability — Nepal [top]

In 2011, the question asks whether the household has a refrigerator in working condition or that can be easily repaired; enumerators were indicated to count appliances either for household or business use.

Comparability — Nicaragua [top]

The data in both samples refer to ownership. The 2005 census specified that refrigerators in poor condition were included.

Comparability — Palestine [top]

The 1997 questionnaire asks whether the household has an electric refrigerator. The 2007 question pertains to availability of a refrigerator.

Comparability — Panama [top]

The variable is comparable across samples. The instructions explicitly include electric and fuel-powered units and exclude ice boxes.

Comparability — Paraguay [top]

The variable is comparable over time, with only slight changes in the universe.

Comparability — Peru [top]

The census question in 1993 refers only to refrigerators, while in 2007 and 2017 it includes both refrigerator or freezer. In 2007 and 2017, enumerators were explicitly instructed to include broken appliances if the household intended to repair them soon.

Comparability — Philippines [top]

The 2010 census combines refrigerators and freezers; units out of working condition for six months or longer were to be excluded.

Comparability — Puerto Rico [top]

The 1970 census distinguishes between iceboxes and mechanical refrigerators; both are included in refrigerators but can be separated using the unharmonized source variable.

Comparability — Rwanda [top]

The 2012 census combines refrigerators and freezers, and the census question requires these to be in functioning condition.

Comparability — Senegal [top]

The census questionnaires in 1988, 2002, and 2013 asked whether the household had either a refrigerator or a freezer. In 1988, the questionnaire records a count of refrigerators or freezers in the household. In 2002, questions were asked separately about appliances used for personal use and appliances used as means of production. This variable includes refrigerators or freezers used for either purpose. More information in both years is retained in the unharmonized source variables. In 2013, the questionnaire simply asks whether the households owned either a fridge or a freezer, even if it is not in working condition.

Comparability — Sierra Leone [top]

The 2004 questionnaire records ownership of a refrigerator if it is in working condition. The 2015 question refers to ownership of a refrigerator or freezer. The data are reported in REFRIG, but not in FREEZER, on the assumption that refrigerators are the more common appliance.

Comparability — South Africa [top]

The variable is comparable across 2001, 2007 and 2011 and asks for the ownership of a refrigerator. In 2016, the questionnaire asks about the ownership of a fridge or freezer. In 2001-2016, the enumeration documents explicitly state that the refrigerator must be in working condition.

Comparability — South Sudan [top]

The 2008 census is explicit about ownership of the refrigerator by any household member.

Comparability — Sudan [top]

The 2008 census is explicit about ownership of the refrigerator by any household member.

Comparability — Suriname [top]

The 2012 census asks whether a refrigerator is at the household's disposal and in working condition.

Comparability — Tanzania [top]

The 2012 sample asks about the ownership of a fridge or freezer.

Comparability — Thailand [top]

The 1970 and 1980 censuses include any refrigerator in the household regardless of ownership and as long as it is working or scheduled for repair. In 1990 and 2000, enumerators recorded the number of refrigerators in the household -- detail that is retained in the unharmonized source variables. The number of households without a refrigerator is lower than would be expected in the 1970 sample indicating a sampling effect.

Comparability — Togo [top]

The 2010 sample asks whether the household possesses a refrigerator or freezer.

Comparability — Trinidad and Tobago [top]

The 1990 and 2000 samples ask only about refrigerators. The question in the 2011 census combines refrigerators and freezers.

Comparability — United States [top]

The 2010, 2015 and 2020 census samples ask whether the household has a refrigerator.

Comparability — Uruguay [top]

The samples are explicit about ownership versus access to a refrigerator. The data for 1996 are derived from two questions for simple refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. The separated data are available through the unharmonized source variables.

The 2011 questionnaire asks whether the household had either a refrigerator or a freezer.

Comparability — Venezuela [top]

Each census simply asked whether the household had a working refrigerator. The 2001 census specified electricity or kerosene fuel.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

The 2009 and 2019 samples identify whether the household is using a refrigerator, regardless of ownership.

Comparability — Zambia [top]

The 2000 questionnaire asks if there is a refrigerator in the household. The 2010 questionnaire asks if there is a refrigerator or freezer in the household.