Comparability — Argentina [top]

A bedroom is a space defined by walls or dividers with sufficient surface to place at least an adult-size bed. If the dwelling has only one room in which they also cook, one bedroom was to be reported.

Comparability — Bolivia [top]

In the 1976, 2001, and 2012 samples, only the rooms used exclusively for sleeping were counted, but "one" was the minimum response in 2001. The 1992 sample included any room used for sleeping even if it was used for other activities as well.

Note: there are a large number of "zero" responses in 1976, and it is not clear how to interpret them.

Comparability — Brazil [top]

For 1960-1980, 2000 and 2010, enumerators were instructed to include rooms outside the building that were regularly used by members of the household for sleeping.

Comparability — Canada [top]

The 2011 census question records the number of bedrooms, including rooms designed for sleeping but used for other purposes, in addition to basement bedrooms.

Comparability — Chile [top]

The 2017 census counts only rooms used exclusively as a bedroom, not as a kitchen, dining room, or living room. The 2017 sample is top-coded at 6 bedrooms.

Comparability — Colombia [top]

In both samples, bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping even if other functions like cooking were carried out in them.

Comparability — Costa Rica [top]

In 2011 census questionnaire bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping. Exclude bathrooms and kitchen. Include garage if some member of the household are living in them

Comparability — Cuba [top]

The 2002 and 2012 censuses asked two questions about rooms used for sleeping. This variable counts any rooms used for sleeping, including those rooms also used for other purposes. See CU2002A_0030 and CU2012A_0038 for information about rooms used exclusively for sleeping in the 2002 and 2012 samples, respectively.

The 2002 sample is top-coded at 4 bedrooms, while the 2012 sample is top-coded at 8. The distribution of the data is inconsistent across samples.

Comparability — Côte d'Ivoire [top]

The 1998 sample is top-coded at 19+ bedrooms.

Comparability — Dominican Republic [top]

The definition of "bedroom" varies across samples. In 1981, bedrooms were counted if they were used for sleeping, even if they were used for another purpose during the day. In later samples, bedrooms were defined as rooms used exclusively for sleeping. The 2010 sample includes a "0" category to be used for houses with no dividing walls.

The 1981 and 2010 data are top-coded at 9 bedrooms. The 2002 data are top-coded at 10 bedrooms.

Comparability — Ecuador [top]

The data apply to rooms used exclusively for sleeping.

Comparability — El Salvador [top]

Any rooms that are used exclusively or partially as bedrooms are considered bedrooms.

Comparability — Ghana [top]

In the 2000 sample, bedrooms are described as a space in the housing unit or other living quarters enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof covering, or at least to a height of 2 meters, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult, that is, at least 4 square meters. In the 2010 sample, bedrooms are defined as any space used for sleeping, even if it is used for other purposes. However, bathrooms, passageways, verandas and lobbies are not to be counted.

Comparability — Guatemala [top]

The Guatemala samples define a bedroom as a room normally used for sleeping.

The 2002 data are top-coded at 12+ bedrooms.

Comparability — Honduras [top]

Bedrooms were to include all rooms used principally for sleeping. All samples are top-coded at 8 bedrooms.

Comparability — Iraq [top]

Bedrooms were to include all rooms used for sleeping even if they had another purpose.

Comparability — Jamaica [top]

Bedrooms are rooms that are intended for sleeping or being used for sleeping on a regular basis (regardless original intention of the room); a "0" response may indicate the sleeping room for members was already enumerated for another household in the dwelling.

Comparability — Malawi [top]

Bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping.

Comparability — Mexico [top]

Bedrooms are rooms used for sleeping, excluding hallways and bathrooms. In 1995, enumerators were instructed to not include those rooms that are used occasionally for sleeping and are not meant for it. In addition, in the 1995 sample were included wine cellar, granaries, shops, and other spaces that were used habitually for sleeping.

In 2000, enumerators were instructed to count rooms outside the building -- rooms that otherwise would not have been included among the household's total number of rooms -- if they were regularly used for sleeping. Examples include storerooms, granaries, commercial areas, stores, and garages. In general, all samples included rooms used regularly for sleep although they had other uses.

The data are top-coded in 2015 at 15 bedrooms and in 2020 at 14 bedrooms.

Comparability — Mozambique [top]

All samples (1997 and 2007) defined bedrooms as the room used for sleeping. In 1997 bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping, even if some are not sleeping quarters such as dining room, living room etc.

In 2007 the bathrooms and kitchen were excluded.

Comparability — Nicaragua [top]

The definition is restrictive and only counts bedrooms that are used only for sleeping.

Comparability — Panama [top]

The 1980 instructions defined a bedroom as a room used principally for sleeping; in 1990-2010 it was one used exclusively for sleeping.

Comparability — Paraguay [top]

The commonalities among all samples are that, they all described bedrooms simply as rooms used for sleeping.

Instructions for counting bedrooms are consistent across years (1996, 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2002), they defined number of sleeping rooms as the number of rooms that are used specifically as bedrooms and those that, not being bedrooms, are normally arranged and used for sleeping.

Comparability — Poland [top]

The bedroom definition excludes rooms used for business purposes only. The data are top-coded in 2002 at 5 bedrooms.

Comparability — Puerto Rico [top]

In 1970, 1980, 2010, 2015, and 2020 this variable records the number of rooms used for sleeping even if also used for other purposes. From 1990 through 2005, the definition of bedroom is more restrictive and includes the number of rooms that would be counted as bedrooms if the dwelling were listed for sale or rent. The 2000 sample has an unusually high number of households coded as having 0 bedrooms.

Comparability — Rwanda [top]

The census question records the number of rooms used for sleeping. The 2012 sample is top-coded at 9 bedrooms.

Comparability — Saint Lucia [top]

Bedrooms are those rooms used mainly for sleeping, including unused spare rooms designed for sleeping. Makeshift spaces not intended for sleeping were not counted as bedrooms.

Comparability — South Africa [top]

In 2011 census questionnaire bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping. Exclude bathrooms and kitchen. Include garage if some member of the household are living in them

Comparability — South Sudan [top]

The variable records all indoor rooms used for sleeping in the main building or outside the building in the compound.

Comparability — Sudan [top]

The variable records all indoor rooms used for sleeping in the main building or outside the building in the compound.

Comparability — Tanzania [top]

The 2002 and 2012 samples record the number of rooms used for sleeping. The 1988 census does not include the number of bedrooms, but records the number of rooms used for living. The data are top-coded at 30 bedrooms in 2002, and at 12 bedrooms in 2012.

Comparability — Thailand [top]

In 1970 and 1980, the variable records the number of rooms intended as bedrooms even if no one was sleeping in them at the time of the census. Additional rooms intended for other purposes but also used for sleeping are recorded in separate variables (TH1970A_0050 and TH1980A_0050).

In 1990, the variable records all rooms used for sleeping, and all households must be enumerated as having at least 1 room for sleeping.

Comparability — Trinidad and Tobago [top]

The variable indicates the number of rooms used exclusively for sleeping. In 1980 and 1990 samples, are excluded makeshift and temporary sleeping quarters. In 2011 sample, the definition states that rooms should have at least a surface of 4 square meters and equipped with a bed. All the Trinidad and Tobago samples are top-coded at 5 or more bedrooms.

Comparability — Uganda [top]

Bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping in 2002 and 2014. The 2002 sample is top-coded at 6 bedrooms, while the 2014 sample is top-coded at 9.

Comparability — United States [top]

In 1980, 1990, 2015 and 2020, one-room units were classified as not having a bedroom; in other years, this issue was not addressed explicitly. In 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010, the question asked the number of bedrooms that would be listed if the property were to be rented or sold.

The universe for 1960 is much more restrictive than other years because only 20% of households received the questionnaire containing the bedroom question.

Comparability — Uruguay [top]

Bedrooms are counted if they are used for sleeping, even if they have a different use during the day.

Comparability — Venezuela [top]

Bedrooms are described simply as rooms used for sleeping.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

A separate bedroom is a room that is fully partitioned or occluded, creating a separated space from other rooms with fixed walls and partitions, having walls at least 2.1 meters high and a minimum floor space of 4 square meters, used to sleep. Spaces that are occluded or partitioned using portable or adjustable screens or furniture, used for sleeping, do not count as bedrooms.

Comparability — Zambia [top]

The instructions for counting bedrooms are consistent across years, but ambiguous as to how rooms that are used for both sleeping and other purposes should be counted. The 2000 and 2010 instructions explicitly state that "bedsitters" are to be counted as bedrooms rather than living rooms.

The 1981 data are not top-coded. The 2000 data are top-coded at 9 bedrooms. The 2010 data are top-coded at 12 bedrooms.