(9) Marital status
Column (9): Marital Status
Ask the interviewee if he/she is single, married, widowed, or divorced.
(17) Marital status
Columns (17) to (21): These columns are only for persons older than 10 i.e. born before February 1982.
Column (17): Marital Status
Is considered married, each individual whose union was celebrated in a civil, religious, or customary rite. The census agent shall circle the codes according to the interviewee's answer.
Now we would like to ask for information on you and the persons habitually living in your household or currently residing in your home
Persons of 10 years or more of age
[Question 23 was asked of persons 10+ years old]
(23) Marital status
Column (23): Marital status
Column (23) only concerns residents of 10 and more years of age. For residents of less than 10, this column does not apply and the census agent shall leave it empty. (To this effect, verify with column 6 i.e. age).
The marital status is a person's situation in relation to marriage defined as the union between a man and a woman according to the laws and customs.
Ask the following question: "What is [the respondent]'s marital status?" and circle the code corresponding to the interviewee's declaration according to the following options.
25. Marital status
The question on marital status shall only be asked to men and women household residents age 10 or more.
For person younger than 10 years, leave columns 26, 27, 28, and 29 blank then skip to the person on the following line, if there is no other person, skip to question 30.
Marital status is defined as the existence or not of conjugal relations between two persons of the opposite sex. In light of existing laws and customs, one can distinguish:
Single: is considered single any person who has never been married;
Married: is married any person united by law, custom, or religion to another person of the opposite sex;
Monogamous marriage:
Polygamous marriage with 2, 3, 4, or more women:
Divorced: is divorced any person who has severed all ties [legal or customary] that linked them to their partner and who has not remarried; however, a man in polygamous marriage who divorces one of his spouses remains married.
Widower/widow: is a widower/widow any person whose partner has died and who has not remarried; however, a man in polygamous marriage whose wife dies remains married.
Separated: is separated a person who has been abandoned or is separated from their partner, legally or not, but whose divorce has not yet been pronounced; however, a man in polygamous marriage who is separated from one of his spouses remains married.
Free union: is considered living in a free union, any person living with another person of the opposite sex without having had a civil, customary, or religious marriage celebrated.
The modality codes of the variable marital status are:
Q: "Are you/is [the respondent] married?"
16. Marital status ____
Column sixteen - marital status:
This is the information concerning the marital status of residents of both sexes age 12 years or older.
Use the following abbreviations:
MA 1: man married to one woman;
MA 2: man married to two women;
MA 3: man married to three women;
MA 4: man married to four women;
MM: woman married to a monogamist;
MP: woman married to a polygamist;
VE: widowed (man or woman);
DS: divorced or separated (man or woman).
Marital status
P23. Does [person] live with one or more women (a man)?
[] 0. Single
[] 1. Married and monogamous
[] 2. Married to two women
[] 3. Married to three women
[] 4. Married to four or more women
[] 5. Widowed (man or woman)
[] 6. Divorced or separated (man or woman)
[] 7. Civil union
25) Marital status
[] 20 Married (woman)
[] 21 Man married to 1 woman
[] 22 Man married to 2 women
[] 23 Man married to 3 women
[] 24 Man married to 4 women
[] 25 Man married to 5 women
[] 26 Man married to 6 women
[] 27 Man married to 7 women
[] 28 Man married to 8 women
[] 29 Man married to 9+ women
[] 30 Widowed
[] 40 Divorced
Column 25: Marital status
Mark:
-M for a married woman
-M1 for a man married with 1 wife
-M2 for a man married with 2 wives, and so on
-V for a widow (person whose partner is deceased and who isn't remarried)
-D for a divorced person (person divorced from his/her partner and who isn't remarried) or separated from his/her spouse
In all cases you should consider statements from the concerned party: a married person is someone who declares himself/herself as such
The number of wives to mark for each married man is the number of current wives.
[Example omitted]
The fourth page of the questionnaire: to be filled out for each household.
N.B. These questions should be asked once per household. In cases where several sheets are used for the same household, only fill out the back of the first sheet and mark a line on the back of the extra sheets that are already filed on the inside of the first sheet once the household has been surveyed.
Events occurring in the household over the last 12 months.
These questions are meant to create an inventory of the births and deaths that occurred in the household over the course of the 12 months that came before the first day of surveying, meaning from April 9 1975 to April 8 1976.
Mark this period once in its reserved space, under the following form: "period from 4/9/75 to 4/8/76".
P24. Marital status ________
Column P24: Marital status
Write one of the following abbreviations as the case may be:
M1. For any man who has only one wife or any woman whose husband has only her as wife.
M2. For any man who has two wives or any woman whose husband has two wives.
M3. For any man who has three wives or any woman whose husband has three wives.
M4. For any man who has four or more wives or any woman whose husband has four or more wives.
V For any man whose wife is dead and he has not remarried or any woman whose husband is dead and she has not remarried (widower or widow)
D. For any divorced man or woman who has not remarried, or for any man or woman separated from his (her) spouse and who has not remarried.
NB. The number of wives to be taken into account is the number at the time of the census living with the husband or elsewhere (even out of Cameroon) provided that they are not divorced or separated.
Example:
M2 for the wives
M3 for each of the wives
In this last case and, in general, where one or more wives do not live with the husband, indicate the total number of wives and specify in the 'remarks' space that some of the wives live elsewhere to show that you have not made a mistake in filing in the questionnaire.
N.B. The question on marital status is only asked to men over the age of 15 and women over the age of 12.
Marital status is defined by the existence or not of a marital relationship between two people of opposite sex. Considering laws and customs in effect, we distinguish:
Single: all people who have never been married are considered single.
Married: all people joined by law, tradition, or religion to another person of opposite sex are considered married.
Separated: all people who were left by or separated from their spouse, legally or not, but for whom the divorce hasn't been declared are considered separated; nevertheless, a polygamous man separated from one of his spouses remains married.
Divorced: all people who broke all ties (legally or traditional) which joined them to a spouse and who did not remarry are considered divorced, nevertheless, a polygamist who divorced one of his wives remains married.
Widow: All people whose spouse is deceased, and who did not remarry are considered widows, nevertheless, a polygamist with a spouse who died remains married.
Cohabitation: all people who cohabitate with a person of the opposite sex without a civil, traditional, or religious marriage
The codes of the terms of the marital status variable are:
13. Marital status
[Question 13 was asked of males 18 years and over and females 16 and over.]
For male less than (18 years) and not married write "under age."
16. Number of current wives ____
8. Number of wives currently married to
This question is filled only for married men of all religions.
There is one square to write a number from (1) to (4) only, since it is logical that he doesn't have more than (4) wives for Muslims and not more than (1) for non-Muslims.
9. Marital status
[] 1 Woman married, or man married, 1 wife
[] 2 Married, 2 wives
[] 3 Married, 3 wives
[] 4 Married, 4 wives
[] 5 Married, 5 wives or more
[] 6 Widowed
[] 7 Divorced
P19 Marital status
[] 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
Residents of 12 years or more
[Questions P26 and P27 were asked of resident persons 12 years or more.]
P27. Marital status
For married males only
41. Number of wives legally under his protection ____
Marital status
P-17. What is [person's] marital status?
[] 2 Married monogamous
[] 3 Married polygamous
[] 4 Widowed
[] 5 Divorced
[] 6 Separated
[] 9 Unknown
26. Column P17: Marital status
(Is this person monogamously or polygamously married, widowed, divorced or separated, or never married?)
26.1 Persons who have never married including young children should be coded "1" (never married).
26.2 People who regard themselves as husband and wife should be coded "2" or "3" regardless of whether or not they have been through any civil, religious or customary ceremonies. The census is not trying to find out who is legally married and who is not. Accept the answer as it is given to you.
26.3 If a person is widowed at the time of the Census, he/she should be coded as "4", i.e. widowed. If a person has been widowed but has since remarried, he/she should be coded as married ("2" or "3" as the case may be).
26.4 If people think of themselves as divorced or separated, code them as such. It does not matter whether they have been to court or gone through other formalities. Accept the answer as it is given to you.
26.5 Accept what people say about their marital status. Do not embarrass yourself or the respondent by inquiring into the nature of marriage or divorce.
8. What is (the respondent's) marital status?
The first two columns must be completed before entries are made anywhere else in the questionnaire.
115. Column 8: Marital status
Please code according to list giving the present status; thus a person divorced and remarried is married.
A man who is married to one woman and a woman who has no cowives is monogamously married, irrespective of past status (Code 2). A man who is married to more than one woman or a woman who has cowives (whose husband is married to more than one woman) is polygamously married (Code 3).
6. What is (the respondent's) marital status?
76. Column 6. Marital status
23. Marital status
23. Marital Status
A person's marital status is his/her state with respect to marriage and in relation to the laws and customs of the country. It divides the population into: single, married, widowed or divorced. Ask household members aged 12 or more the following question about their marital status: "have you ever been married?"
Then write the following in column 23 according to the answer you receive:
- MA for married (a person who has been married at least once, and who is currently in at least one of the marriages). But you should indicate the following for MA:
Example: MA2 for a married man currently married to 2 wives
MA3 for a married man currently married to 3 wives
b. For women: the number of marriages already contracted, including the current one.
Example: MA1 for a woman who is in her first marriage
MA2 for a woman who is in her second marriage, etc.
- DIV for divorced (a person whose only and last existing marriage was dissolved by divorce)
[Page 36]
Marital status always refers to the individual's present status, or to his/her last status.
Special cases:
b. A man who was previously married to 2 wives but who lost one of them due to death should be recorded as married to one wife (MA1).
c. A man married to 3 wives but who has divorced one wife and whose other wife has died is recorded as married to one wife. [He is recorded as] MAR because there is still an existing marriage.
d. A married man with just one wife, whose wife recently died, is recorded as widowed: VEU.
For persons aged 12 years and above
[Questions 27-28]
27. Marital status
[] 1 Single
[] 2 Monogamous (man), first marriage (woman)
[] 3 Polygamous 2 women (man), second marriage (woman)
[] 4 Polygamous 3 women (man), third marriage (woman)
[] 5 Polygamous 4 women (man), fourth marriage (woman)
[] 6 Widowed
[] 7 Divorced or separated
1.2.3. Population aged 12 years and more
27. Column P27: Marital status
The marital status of a person is his or her current status with respect to marriage, given the laws and customs of his or her country. Its determination leads to the distribution of the population between: single (never married), married, widowed, divorced.
The question to be asked to the household members, aged 12 year or more, on their marital status is: "Have you ever been married?"
In Column P27, write down the number corresponding to the answer.
[] 2 Married man, one wife, or married woman, first marriage
[] 3 Married man, two wives (currently), or married woman, second marriage
[Page 32]
[] 5 Married man, four wives (currently), or married woman, fourth marriage
[] 6 Widowed person (person for whom the unique marriage or the last marriage was dissolved by the death of the spouse)
[] 7 Divorced or separated (person for whom the one marriage or the last marriage was dissolved by divorce)
N.B. Marital status always refers to the current status of the person [at time of census], equivalent to his or her last situation.
Particular cases:
b. A man who was married to two wives, who lost one of the two by death, must be written as "married to one wife", which corresponds to code (2).
c. A man who was married to three wives, who lost one first by divorce and another one by death, will be noted as married to one wife, and therefore will have code (2), since one marriage still exists.
d. A man who was married to only one wife, who died shortly before, will be noted as "widowed", which corresponds to code (6).
P29) Martial status
6.2.3.28 Marital status (Column P29)
The agent asks the following question: "What is (name)?s marital status?." Before asking, the agent already has an idea of marital status from the asked in questions in P2 (order) and P4 (relationship). Marital status is marriage vis-Ã -vis the laws and customs of the country. The agent records the code corresponding to the reported marital status.
Because marital status is marriage under the laws of his/her country, you may find specific situations for foreigners. The agent must enter the code closest to the reported status.
[7] What is the marital status of [the respondent]?
Column 7: what is the marital status of [the respondent]?
[Ask the person aged 10 years and above only]
At the time of enumeration of the question related to marital status of this column, ask the persons only 10 years and above. Circle the appropriate reference number of above 7 status to indicate a person's marital status.
Marriage refers to the male and female couple living together as husband and wife in a time period in their life through mutual understanding or social and religious custom or legal process. At the time of enumeration, if any person (male or female) has been living together as husband and wife (in same place or separate), such male and female are considered as married.
Marital status refers to the marriage status of a person aged 10 years and above among the reference numbers from 1-7 above, at the time of enumeration. In the present society, marital status has been stated in the reference from 1-7 above for the purpose of legal regulation and enumeration. Unmarried status of the reference 1 refers to the status that the person has not married yet in his or her life. Rest of the references from 2-7 are the status that a person has married once in his or her life and might have undergone with other status as well. These statuses has been described as follows:
1. Unmarried - If any male or female in their life has not lived together in a couple as husband and wife at any time till date or has never married in their life, this should be understood as unmarried. If any male or female is found with this status or unmarried, circle the reference number 1.
2. Single marriage - If any male or female has married only once in their life and the male is living with only one wife or the female is living with only one husband, this is single marriage status. If this status is found at the time of remuneration, circle the reference number 2.
[p. 50]
But if the male or female married earlier has left a previous husband or wife or any one of them died and married again with another male or female and now living with that single husband or wife, this is termed as remarriage. For the male or female with remarriage status, circle the reference number 4, but don not circle the reference number 2.
Note: Ask the person with single husband or wife that and be clear whether it is their first marriage or married again after the death of previous husband or wife or divorce with previous husband or wife and then only circle the reference 2 if it is first marriage and circle 4 if it is remarriage.
3. Multiple marriage: During the enumeration time, if a male has been living with more than one wife or a female has been living more than one husband at a place or separately place with mutual consent, this should be considered as multiple marriage. Both husband and wife might have such marital status. In other words, if any male or female has more than one wife or husband at the time of enumeration, this is the status of multiple marriages. Circle the reference number 3 to indicate the multiple marriage of enumerated male or female.
NB:
a. Even though a person under enumeration had a multiple marriage status at any time before the enumeration, but now he or she has a single wife or husband, consider this as single marriage and circle the reference 2. But if any male or female has married again after the death or divorce of their previous wife or husband, consider this as remarriage and circle the reference 4, do not circle the reference 3.
[Image are omitted]
b. If the male or female, who was already married and living with their previous wife or husband, again marry to another person, this is considered multiple marriage. In such status, circle the reference 3 to indicate the multiple marriage.
c. During the enumeration, the status of a male having more than one wife would be of multiple marriage status. But the status of each wife of such person, if they do not have another husband and it is their first marriage, would be single marriage status.
d. If the previous husband is dead or divorced or left for any reason and married to the present husband, this would be the remarriage status.
Ask the marital status of each male or female in detail and only being clear, circle the appropriate reference number.
4. Remarriage - If any male or female had married once already and left the previous wife or husband for any reason (e.g. death, divorce), and has married again and living with single husband or wife, then it is remarriage status. If there is remarriage status of any male or female, circle the reference 4 to indicate it.
[p. 51]
5. Widow/widower - If a woman who has married once before in her life and her husband was deceased already before the enumeration period, and she has not married again until date, then she is widow. Similarly, if a man has not married again until date after the death of his wife, then he is widower. Whether any male or female married once or remarried again before the enumeration time, but after the death of her or his last wife or husband if the person is not remarried again, the he/she still in the position of widower or widow. If any male or female is in widow or widower status at the time of enumeration, circle the reference 5.
But if any widower or widow has married again before the enumeration period and they are living together as husband and wife, then such status is remarried status. Hence, in the remarried status, circle the reference 4.
6. Divorced - At the time of enumeration, it is found that if a husband and wife got separated or living apart legally or according to social custom due to some differences or unable to continue their life together with ill feeling, this status should be considered divorced. Whatever was their status before the enumeration, but at the enumeration time if they are living separately by getting divorced legally or as per the social custom, their marital status should be considered as divorced. If such male or female is found in divorced status at the time of enumeration, circle the reference 6.
7. Separated - If any married couple (husband and wife) has decided to live separately due to some conflict or differences because they could not live together further, then their marital status should be considered as separated.
Until a husband and wife do not get divorced legally or socially and they are living separately due to some ill feeling, their marital status should be considered as separated for the purpose of the enumeration. If any male or female is in separated status at the time of enumeration, circle the reference 7.
P26. Marital status
Circle the code corresponding to one of the abbreviations provided at the bottom of the page, according to the declaration of the interviewee.
1. CEL = Single
2. UL = Free union
3. MM = Married, monogamy
4. HP = Married man, polygamy
5. MP1 = Married woman, first wife in a polygamous marriage
6. MP2 = Married woman, second wife in a polygamous marriage
7. MP3 = Married woman, wife in a polygamous marriage of rank 3 or more
8. D/S = Divorced or Separated
9. VE = Widowed
Questionnaire for all (P26)
These questions will be asked to persons who are of age 12 years and above, of either male or female sex.
[Questions P26-P30.]
P26: Marital status
One would like to know whether the enumerated person is married or single, that is his/her marital status. This concerns (only) persons aged 12 years or more.
For the persons who have not yet reached that age, one will not write anything in P26.
In this latter column, one will circle the number corresponding to the private situation of each person.
CEL: Single, or persons of either male or female sex who have never been married; unwed mothers who have children in the household but have never contracted a marriage are also considered as single.
UL: Young women or young men who live together on common law agreement. In this case husband and wife live together illegally.
MM: Man or woman living together in a monogamous union, and who are legally married.
HP: Man with several wives.
[p.49]
MP1: First wife of a polygamous husband.
MP2: Second wife of a polygamous husband.
MP3+: Third, fourth, and so forth wife of a polygamous husband.
D/S: A person who is definitely divorced from her spouse, by law, or a person who is temporarily separated while waiting for a legal decision.
VE: Man or women who has lost his/her spouse, and has not yet remarried.
Remark:
For any married man, it is useful to know the number of wives living with him, not taking into account the legal situation of the unions.
Divorce- final: This concerns a man or a woman who has divorced from his/her spouse by complying to a legal authority.
Divorce- temporary: This concerns a man or a woman who is temporarily divorced (is separated) while waiting for a legal decision on the final situation of their divorce.
[Questions 29-32 were asked of residents aged 12 years or older.]
30. How many spouses does the respondent have?
P30: Number of spouses
[This question is addressed to persons [male only] who have responded to P29 as married or separated person]
Ask: How many spouses [the person] has?
Write the current number of spouses in the provided box.
Example: If he has two spouses, record them in the box as follows: [picture omitted]
P15. Marital status
[] MONO: married, monogamous
[] POL 1: polygamous, first wife
[] POL 2: polygamous, second wife / polygamous 2 wives
[] POL 3+: polygamous, third wife / polygamous 3+ wives
[] CEL: single
[] VEUF: widowed
[] DI: divorced
[] AUT: other cases (free union, for instance)
B20. Marital status
[] 0 Married, monogamous
[] 1 Polygamous first wife
[] 2 Polygamous, second wife / polygamous 2 wives
[] 3 Polygamous, third wife / Polygamous 3+ wives
[] 4 Single
[] 5 Widowed
[] 6 Divorced
[] 7 Other cases
Population aged 10 years or older
[Question B41 and B42 were asked of persons aged 10 years or older.]
B41. Marital Status
B41: marital status
Only persons aged 10 years and older are concerned by this question.
P22. Marital status
What is the marital status of [the respondent]?
[] 2 Engaged
[] 3 Married monogamous
[] 4 Married polygamous
[] 5 Separated
[] 6 Divorced
[] 7 Widowed
[Questions P22 - P25: Persons age 10 or older]
P22 Marital status
What is the marital status of [the respondent]?
[] 2 Engaged
[] 3 Married, monogamous
[] 4 Married, polygamous
[] 5 Separated
[] 6 Divorced
[] 7 Widowed
10 years and above [Questions P25-P33]
P27. Marital status
Columns (P01) to (P20) -- These should provide particulars of all persons who slept in the household on census night. The questions therefore apply to all persons irrespective of age or sex, except P13 which applies to persons 5 years and above.
P27 -- Marital status (for persons 10 years and over)
148. This is a very sensitive issue and you must avoid going into arguments with respondents. Ask what is (name's) current marital status? The options for an answer are provided in the code list. If never married write '01', if engaged write '02', if married monogamous write '03', if married polygamous write '04' etc.
P-05. Marital status
1 = Married civil/religious
2 = Married traditional/customary
3 = Polygamous marriage
4 = Living together like married partners
5 = Never married
6 = Widower/widow
7 = Separated
8 = Divorced
If categories 5-8 go to (P-06).
Rules for marital status in relation to polygamy:
A. Women cannot have multiple husbands, and women can never have marital status 3 (polygamous).
B. In a polygamous marriage, the man declares his marital status as 3 (polygamous): each of his wives declares her marital status as either 1 (civil/religious marriage) or 2 (traditional/customary marriage). Note that wives in polygamous marriages cannot have marital status 4 (living together).
C. In a non-polygamous marriage, each partner can have marital status of 1 (civil/religious marriage) or 2 (traditional/customary marriage) or 4 (living together).
D. If a man has multiple wives, his marital status must be 3 (polygamous).
E. Each of a polygamous man's wives should make her spouse number person point to the man, and the man's spouse person number should point to the first of his wives.
F. It is possible to have a polygamous man with no spouses or with a single spouse in the household.
In the situation where there is a compound ("kraal") consisting of several huts, each of which has its own separate cooking and eating areas, the people in each of these huts would be enumerated as separate households.
For example, a man lives in his compound with his 3 wives and his son 's family (total of 4 huts). There would be 4 households here to enumerate, and 4 questionnaires filled out. The hut where the husband stayed on census night would have a head (him, marital status 3) and a spouse (the wife from that hut, marital status 1 or 2), and spouse person numbers pointing to each other; each of the other 2 wives' huts would just have a head (the wife, marital status 1 or 2) with spouse person number = 99 (spouse not present in the household), and other occupants (children, etc). The son 's family would also be its own household.
None of these questionnaires should be linked (via barcode on the last page), since they are all separate households. Questionnaires linking /continuation only occurs when a single household has more than 10 people (or 20, or 30, etc.).
When a man lives with his wives in the same household and they share the same cooking/eating facilities, then they would all be enumerated as one household, with one questionnaire. The man would have marital status 3; his spouse person number would point to the first wife. Each wife would have marital status 1 or 2, and her spouse person number would point to the man.
This caters for polygamy while still adhering to the definition of a household, which is not based on financial support.
For married men, the letter M (married) is followed by a figure indicating the number of spouses - enter the figure according to the indications of code number 3, 1, 2, and so on. Enter the number 6 for M6 and above.
For women (or men) if the letter M is recorded by itself, translate to M1.
(P24) Marital status
Column P24: Marital status
The column P24 only concerns resident persons aged 12 or more. For residents under 12 (those born after November 1998), put dashes on the dotted lines.
Marital status is the situation of a person in relation to marriage, which is defined as the union between a man and a woman following law and custom.
Pose the following question: "Is [the respondent] married?"
The possible responses are the following:
Example: Amévi declares being married to a man, and that their union is of the customary type. She tells you that she also is a co-spouse. You will record M2 on the dotted lines and 2 in the corresponding box.
If the union is neither customary, religious nor civil, this person is in a free union. Record:
UL on the dotted lines and code 8 in the box.
The possible responses are:
P22 Marital status What is name's marital status? (Write appropriate code) ___
Question P22: Marital Status
Ask, "What is (name's) marital status?"
168. For persons who have never been married, including children, write code 1 for "Never Married".
169. People living together as man and wife should be shown as married whether or not they have been through any civil or religious ceremonies. Accept the answer as it is given to you.
For persons aged 10 years and above
P26 What is [the respondent's] current marital status? (Refer to code list P26)