Comparability — Benin [top]

In 2013, information about motorcycles is asked separately and it is not included in this variable. The census question considers only cars in functional condition.

Comparability — Botswana [top]

In 2001 and 2011, census questions were asked of all households who own a van, car, or tractor, which are in good working order. These variables are combined in the AUTOS harmonized variable.

Comparability — Brazil [top]

All Brazil samples except 1970 and 2010 explicitly include passenger pickups and vans. The 1970 sample does not specify vehicle types, and it explicitly excludes automobiles for professional use. The 1980 and 1991 samples separate vehicles for work and vehicles for personal use -- the former is excluded in the integrated variable. The 2000 and 2010 samples specify that vehicles for work use can be counted if they are also used for private leisure or transportation uses.

The 1991 and 2000 samples give a count of the number of vehicles. The maximum value is 3 or more in 1991 and 7 or more in 2000.

Comparability — Burkina Faso [top]

The 2006 census asked for the number of working cars in the household. The variable is top-coded at 5 or more vehicles.

Comparability — Cambodia [top]

The 2008, 2013, and 2019 census questions specify the ownership of cars or vans by the household; these samples include information about tractors in the unharmonized source variables. The 2013 sample is top-coded at 3+ cars.

Comparability — Chile [top]

The 1970 census asked only about vehicles available for use by the household. Later censuses stipulated that the vehicles had to be for the exclusive private use of the household; responses that indicated having a vehicle for work use only are excluded in the 1992 census.

Comparability — Colombia [top]

The census question specified ownership of a car for personal use.

Comparability — Costa Rica [top]

In all censuses, vehicles only counted if they were for private use -- not for work. In 2011, information about motorcycles for private use is asked separately and it is not included in this variable.

Comparability — Dominican Republic [top]

In 1981, the number of non-electric vehicles was recorded. In 2002 the question asked whether or not the household had a private automobile. The 2010 census asked whether or not the household owned a car, so the concept of private ownership is also implied.

Comparability — Egypt [top]

The 1986 and 1996 census questions specified whether a car is owned. The 2006 census question was asked only of private households and asked about the number of cars owned, top-coded at 5 or more; vehicles used for commercial purposes regardless of ownership are excluded.

Comparability — El Salvador [top]

Both samples ask about automobiles, but neither sample specifies whether or not this includes trucks or vans. The 1992 question asks if there are automobiles in the household, but does not specify if this means that a household owns an automobile or if an automobile was at the disposal of a household. The 2007 question, however, explicitly states that the automobile belongs to the household.

Comparability — Fiji [top]

In the 1996 census, this variable indicates whether a car or carrier/truck were available for use by members of the household. If cars and vans were provided by employers, this was categorized as available for household members.

The 2007 and 2014 census questions provided information on number of cars and number of carriers, trucks, or tractors. This variable indicates the total number of such vehicles owned by a household, top-coded at 4 vehicles in 2007 and at 2 vehicles in 2014.

Comparability — France [top]

The French samples do not specify whether pickup trucks and vans were to be included; the enumeration forms use the term voiture. The 2006-2011 samples specifically exclude cars or vans exclusively for professional use.

Samples from 1975 through 1999 give separate codes for households with one vehicle or with two or more, and the 2006-2011 samples includes codes for one, two, and three or more cars.

The 2006 and 2011 samples asked separately about the number of two-wheeled vehicles in the household, only of overseas departments. This information is not included in this variable.

Comparability — Greece [top]

In 2011, the question asked all households whether they had cars. The number of cars available for use by the household is top-coded at 6+.

Comparability — Guatemala [top]

The 1981 census asked about the ownership of an automobile, without specifying the number.

Comparability — Haiti [top]

The 2003 census question asked whether an automobile was used by the housing unit. The variable is top-coded at 4 or more automobiles.

Comparability — Honduras [top]

The 2001 census question specifies that the car should be for personal or family use, excluding vehicles for commercial or work use. This sample is top-coded at 1 or more vehicles.

Comparability — Indonesia [top]

The data apply to household ownership of a car and not simply access to one. The question changes over time across the samples. The 1976 question asks only about cars, the 1990 and 1995 samples include boats, and the 2005 question asks about cars and trucks.

Comparability — Iran [top]

The census question asks for ownership of a "light automobile" such as a car or pick-up, not of a minibus, bus, or similar vehicles. Vehicles are counted as long as they are not exclusively for professional use.

Comparability — Ireland [top]

The samples are comparable, apart from the top-code being 4 or more cars in 1986, 2006, 2011 and 2016, and 5 or more in 2002. In 1986, 2002 and 2006, the variable is defined as the availability of cars for personal use, including company cars if available for private use. In 2011 and 2016, the variable is defined as the number of cars or vans owned or available for use by the household.

Comparability — Israel [top]

In all years, the census question indicates having use of a vehicle but not necessarily owning the vehicle. The specific vehicle differs across samples.

The 1972 sample indicates access to any car and the related unharmonized source variable distinguishes between owning a car and having use of it.

The 1983, 1995, and 2008 samples distinguish between one and multiple cars (i.e. they are top-coded at 2+.)

Comparability — Italy [top]

The 2011 census indicates that the automobile should be owned and of exclusive use by a family member. This sample is top-coded at 2 or more vehicles.

Comparability — Jordan [top]

The census question specifies pick-up trucks and private cars.

Comparability — Kenya [top]

The 2009 sample indicates whether the household owned a car, truck, lorry, tractor or bus.

Comparability — Laos [top]

In 2015, the census question asked about ownership of a car or van, that had to be in working order, excluding those owned by the government.

Comparability — Lesotho [top]

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

Comparability — Malawi [top]

The 1987 census question asks for the number of motor vehicles belonging to any member of only the first dwelling within the household. Unharmonized source variables give vehicle availability for second and higher order dwellings in the sample. The 2008 census question asks whether the household has a car or truck in working condition.

Comparability — Malaysia [top]

The top-code is 1 or more in 1970, 4 or more in 1980, and 3 or more in 1991-2001. Vehicles only for business use were not counted. The 1980-2000 samples explicitly include vans and land rovers in the count of vehicles. The 1980 sample had separate responses for vans and rovers, but they are combined in AUTOS.

Comparability — Mexico [top]

In 2000, 2010, 2015, and 2020 enumeration instructions indicate that a vehicle not in working condition should be counted if the household is intending to repair it. All censuses exclude vehicles borrowed from a household member's the firm or institution of employment.

Comparability — Morocco [top]

The 2014 variable is constructed from the information on trucks, cars and tractors. The number of vehicles is top-coded at 2+. The 2014 sample also records information on motorcycles, which is not harmonized into AUTOS.

Comparability — Mozambique [top]

The car had to be in working condition. In 2007, information about motorcycles is asked separately and it is not included in this variable.

Comparability — Myanmar [top]

The 2014 census question asked whether the household had any car, truck or van, or tractors. Motorcycles and bikes are asked about separately and are not included in this variable.

Comparability — Nepal [top]

In 2011, this variable indicates whether a motor vehicle were available for use by members of the household and it is in working condition, including those provided by the employer of any household member (as long as it is available for their transportation purposes.) Information about motorcycles and other (non-motorized) vehicles is asked separately and it is not included in this variable.

Comparability — Nicaragua [top]

The census question asked whether or not a household has a car for exclusive private use. The data explicitly exclude vehicles used for work or a business, such a taxi service or hauling.

Comparability — Palestine [top]

Both samples asked about the availability of a private car for use by the household; there are slight differences in the question universes.

Comparability — Panama [top]

The 2010 census question asked whether the household had an automobile, defined as a motor vehicle that usually has four wheels, intended for individual or family transportation over land. Motorbikes and vehicles used exclusively for business purposes are explicitly excluded. The variable is top-coded at 5 or more automobiles.

Comparability — Paraguay [top]

The Paraguay 1992-2002 samples indicate the availability of a car or light truck in the household. For these samples, information about motorcycles is asked separately and it is not included in this variable. In 2002, the vehicle had to be in working condition.

Comparability — Peru [top]

The 1993 data reports the presence of a car or light truck for personal use (separate unharmonized source variables identify those for work use). In 2017, the census question asked whether the household has a car or truck, which has to be in working condition or close to being repaired.

Comparability — Philippines [top]

The census question in 2010 refers to a car, jeep, or van in working condition, excluding those that are used only for business purposes.

Comparability — Puerto Rico [top]

The 1970 sample indicates the number of passenger cars owned or used regularly by household members. The top-code is 2 or more automobiles.

The 1980 census enumerated automobiles and trucks/vans separately, each with the top-code of 3 or more. This top code was preserved for the combined value.

The 1990-2020 samples indicate the number of automobiles, vans or trucks kept at home for use by household members.

The 2005-2020 samples indicate to exclude vehicles used for business purposes and those permanently out of order.

The 1990 top-code is 4 or more; the 2000-2010 top- code is 6 or more.

Comparability — Rwanda [top]

In 2002, the census question specified ownership of the vehicles. The question refers to "motor vehicles" excluding motorcycles. The 2002 sample is top-coded at 3 or more, and the 2012 sample is top-coded at 4 or more.

Comparability — Senegal [top]

The 2002 and 2013 samples ask whether household owns a car. Motorcycles, bikes, carts and boats-canoes are asked about separately and are not included in this variable.

Comparability — Sierra Leone [top]

The 2004 census question asked whether the household owns a car or truck. The 2015 had two separate questions recording whether anyone in the household owned a car or a truck; an affirmative response to either question is coded as "yes" in AUTOS. Both the 2004 and 2015 samples counted only vehicles in working condition.

Comparability — South Africa [top]

The 2011 and 2016 samples specify whether the household had access to any motor vehicle in a working condition.

Comparability — South Sudan [top]

The 2008 census question asked whether any member of the household owns a motor vehicle. No further definition of motor vehicle is given, but motorcycles, motor rickshaws, and tractors are asked about separately and not included in this variable.

Comparability — Spain [top]

The census question asked about cars or mini-vans used mainly for personal transportation.

Comparability — Sudan [top]

The census question asks whether any member of the household owns a motor vehicle.

Comparability — Suriname [top]

The 2012 variable combines information about passenger cars, minibuses, and trucks. The census has information about other means of transportation (moped, motorcycle, etc.) that is not harmonized into AUTOS but is available as unharmonized source variables

Comparability — Tanzania [top]

In 2012, the vehicle should be in working condition.

Comparability — Thailand [top]

The 1970 and 1980 samples specify possession of an automobile for private use. The 1990 and 2000 samples ask for the number of automobiles without reference to private use, although this may have been implied. The 1990-2000 data are top-coded at 7 or more automobiles.

The universe for the 1970 sample is urban private non-mobile households, whereas the later samples include all private households.

Comparability — Togo [top]

This variable indicates whether a car was possessed by any household member. Information about motorcycles is asked separately and it is not included in this variable.

Comparability — Trinidad and Tobago [top]

In 2000 the census question asked whether the household had a motor vehicle, but in 2011 the question referred to vehicles used for private purposes. In 2000, this questions was asked to households that completed the questionnaire, while in 2011 this question was asked to private occupied household.

Comparability — Uganda [top]

The sample provides information on the number of motor vehicles.

Comparability — United Kingdom [top]

The 1971, 1991, and 2001 samples identify the number of cars and vans owned or normally available for use by a household member, even if it was provided by an employer. The 1971 and 1991 samples indicate to exclude vans used only for carrying goods. The 1991 and 2001 samples are top-coded at 3 or more cars, and the 1971 sample at 2 or more.

Comparability — United States [top]

For 1960-1970 the variable includes only automobiles; thereafter, pickup trucks and vans are included.

The 1990-2020 samples indicate the number of automobiles, vans or trucks of one-ton capacity or less kept at home for use by household members.

The 2015-2020 samples indicate to exclude vehicles used for business purposes and those permanently out of order.

The 1960-1980 samples are top-coded at 3 or more vehicles. The 1980 census enumerated automobiles and trucks/vans separately, each with the top-code of 3 or more. This top code was preserved for the combined quantity in the variable.

Comparability — Uruguay [top]

The census asked if a household owns a car or truck for exclusive personal or family use and does not include vehicles used for commercial purposes. In 1996, the variable is top-coded at two or more vehicles. In 2011, the variable is top-coded at 6 or more vehicles.

Comparability — Venezuela [top]

All censuses state that the vehicles were for the private use of the household, not for work. The 1981 sample gives the number of vehicles available to a maximum of 4 or more; the 1991 and 2001 samples do not provide the number of vehicles.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

The 2019 sample identifies whether the household has a car, regardless of ownership.