Resident population aged 12 years and above
[Question P19 was asked of persons aged 12 years and above.]
P19 Marital status
[] 0 Single (never married)
[] 1 Married, with 1 wife
[] 2 Married, with 2 wives
[] 3 Married, with 3 wives
[] 4 Married, with 4 wives
[] 5 Married, with 5 wives
[] 6 Common law union/free union
[] 7 Divorced
[] 8 Separated
[] 9 Widowed
Column P19: Marital Status
The marital status of an individual is his/her status with respect to marriage. By marriage is understood any union established between a man and a woman before the state, the Church, an Imam, or concluded according to customary or traditional rules.
Thus any person declaring that he/she is married must be considered as such.
[p. 54]
For this variable, the National Census Bureau (BNR) distinguishes 6 basic modalities: single, married, co-habiting, divorced, separated and widowed.
1) A single person is anyone who has never entered into a marriage contract or a conjugal union. He/she has no spouse at the date of the census. Record this as "J Ma ____ 0."
2) A married person is any person who has been married at least once in his/her life and who, at the date of the census, has a spouse or, in the case of men, one or several spouses. Record this as "Mar_ _ _ /_ _ _/." In the box across from "Mar" indicate the number of spouses he presently has if it's a man, and if it's a woman indicate her rank in the number of spouses (i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd spouse of her husband).
3) Cohabitation is a consensual union in which neither party claims that they are bound by marriage. They declare themselves to be in such an arrangement.
4) A divorced person is anyone who was previously married and whose marriage was dissolved by reasons other than the death of the spouse, and who is presently without a spouse.
5) Separation is when 2 people who are bound by marriage no longer live together because of disagreement caused by a variety of reasons. It is not yet a question of divorce, properly speaking, but of a stage in married life which most often ends in divorce. Anyone in this situation is considered as separated.
6) A widow or widower, is any person who was previously married and whose marriage was dissolved following the death of the spouse, and who is currently alone without a spouse.
Please note: a polygamous man who has lost one of his wives, either through divorce or death, is still married. What changes is the number of spouses, which has decreased by one.
Ask the following question of all residents of the household aged 12 or more:
"Have you ever been married?"
a) If the answer is no, you are dealing with the case of a single person, a person who has never been married -- "J Ma--0." Circle the code "0."
b) If the answer is yes, ask for confirmation of the marriage or marriages.
"Are you still married?"
If the answer is yes, ask:
a) For men: "How many wives do you currently have?"
b) For women: "Are you the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd . . . spouse of your current husband?
Write the number indicated in the box located across from "Mar," if the number is less than or equal to 5. If it is more than 5, write 5.
[p. 55]
If the answer is no, the person is no longer married and does not have a spouse. Ask him/her if he/she is widowed, divorced or separated and circle the number of the appropriate code.