11. What is ____ marital status?
(Codes must be encircled according to the marital status of the person)
Only for persons aged 10 years and above
[] 1 Never married (skip to column 15)
[] 2 Once married/single spouse
[] 3 Married/multiple spouse
[] 4 Re-married
[] 5 Widow/widower
[] 6 Divorced
[] 7 Separated
Column 11: What is ____ marital status?
(Only for persons aged 10 years and above)
[] 1. Never married
[] 2. Once married / single spouse
[] 3. Married / multiple spouse
[] 4. Re-married
[] 5. Widow/widower
[] 6. Divorced
[] 7. Separated
A marital relation between any woman or man at any time of his/her life cycle by marriage law or by social or ritual norms of the country or by understanding is called marriage. If the married couple are living together with marital relation (same place or in different place with understanding) in the time of enumeration, then it is said to be marriage. The answer category 1 mentioned above is the never married in the lifetime. But codes 2 through 7 are the status of once married and also are the different marital statuses of the marriage.
Marital status refers the marital status category 1 through 7 mentioned above of persons aged 10 years and above at the time of enumeration.
Marital status is categorized from category 1 through 7 on the basis of marital status in the current society and legal provision for the purpose of enumeration. These marital statuses are defined as follows.
Never Married: A person who is not married in any way (legally, religiously or socially), or who has not lived as husband or wife even once at the time of the census is known as a person who has never married. If man and woman have this marital status at the time of enumeration, then encircle code 1.
Married: If a person who has not lived as husband and wife even once in their life time by consensus or by their social, religious, customs norms is known as a person who has never married. If any person (male or female) has this marital status then encircle code "1" to denote never married.
Living with One Spouse: Those persons that are living with only a single spouse at the time of census enumeration are recorded in this category. Even though wife and husband are living separately with consensus and have only a single spouse, they are categorized as "living with one spouse". Even if a person is used to have more than single spouses in the past, but she/he is currently living with only single spouse due to divorce or separation or death of other spouses, then the person is included in this category of marital status. However, a person married again after a divorce or separation or death of a previous spouse/s is not included in this category though s/he is currently living with a single spouse at the time of enumeration. Such person is to be included in the remarriage category. For example, a widowed person marries with a never married person and is living with single spouse at the time of enumeration; they will not be kept in the same category. The married widowed person is categorized as "remarriage" and the other in "living with one spouse" categories.
Note: For those persons having one spouse in the time of enumeration, it should be asked and confirmed that this was the first marriage or if it was the remarriage after the death of spouse, divorce etc... If it was the first marriage, then encircle code "2"; and if it is the remarriage, then encircle code "4".
Living with more than one spouse (multiple marriages): Any person living with more than one spouse at the time of census enumeration is categorized in this group of marital status. Those spouses may live in different places with consensus and all spouses are not bound to live in the same place and to eat in the same kitchen. In this way, this category includes all polyandry (a woman has currently more than one husband) and polygamy (a husband has currently several wives) cases at the time of census enumeration, then encircle code "3" to denote the multiple marriage of the enumerated male and female.
Note:
A. Even if a person used to have more than a single spouse in the past, but she/he is currently living with only single spouse due to divorce or separation or death of another spouse, then code 2 should be encircled to denote living with one spouse. But if after the divorce or separation or death of spouse she/he married again with another spouse, then encircle code 4 to denote the remarriage; code "3" should not be encircled. If any person living with the spouse of earlier marriage and also married again with another spouse then this is the status of the multiple marriage; to denote it encircle code "3".
B. If any male has more than one wife at the time of census then the marital status of male should be multiple marriages. But the marital status of his wife should be once married if they have no other husband at the time of enumeration. The marital status of each male and female should be asked clearly and encircled appropriate status of the marriage.
Remarried: This refers to currently married person who is married more than once and is currently living with only a single spouse. If a divorced or separated or widowed person marries again with another person of any marital status, then the person is included in this "remarried" category. If a person has the marital status of remarriage at the time of enumeration, then encircle code "4".
Widow/widower: If the wife is dead at the time of the census, the person is known as a widower. If the wife loses her husband on account of his death she is known as a widow. In the case of such persons, if they have not remarried at the time of census they are known as widower or widow. To specify the marital status of such male or female encircle code "5". But if they are remarried they are considered to be married again.
Divorced: The married person who has broken the marital status legally or by any means is known as divorced. If the husband and wife continue to live separately for ever they are considered to be divorced. If the wife has chosen another husband but if the husband has not yet remarried at the time of the census, the husband is considered divorced. To specify the marital status of such male or female, encircle code "6". But once the husband and wife have divorced and live separately and after sometime both remarry other people, they are considered to be married.
Separated: A person who has not broken the marital union legally or by any means but living separately from his/her husband or wife without any relationship to each other is considered separated. To specify the marital status of such male or female at the time of census, encircle code "7" to denote the separated.