Comparability — Argentina [top]

Each room with the capacity for an adult-sized bed is considered a room. Kitchens and bathrooms are excluded. Laundry room, storage areas, garages and the rooms used for industrial and commercial purpose are also excluded, except when used for sleeping.

The 1991 sample excludes rooms used in common between households, and identifies households sharing a single room.

Comparability — Armenia [top]

In 2001, shared rooms were not included, but were recorded in a separate variable (AM2001A_0037). In 2011, rooms shared between households were counted in the room totals for each household unless a household used only part of a room. In both years, attics, balconies and other verandas equipped for living during the whole year were considered to be rooms, while kitchens, halls, bathrooms and cellars were excluded.

Comparability — Austria [top]

The samples consistently exclude kitchens, bathrooms, and rooms used for business. The 1991 sample required that each room counted by at least four square meters in area. The 2011 sample is a register based census; the precise source of information about rooms is unknown.

Comparability — Belarus [top]

There is a separate response for households living in part of a room. Kitchens, halls, corridors, bathrooms, storerooms, wardrobes are excluded from the number of rooms. The data are top-coded at 8 rooms in 1999 and 7 rooms in 2009.

Comparability — Benin [top]

All samples exclude hallways, verandas, bathrooms, toilet room (W.C.), and other areas of a surface of less than 5 square meters. The 1979 sample is top-coded at 20, while the 1992, 2002, and 2013 samples are top-coded at 23.

Comparability — Bolivia [top]

A room is any interior space large enough to accommodate an adult-sized cot or bed. All samples exclude kitchens, bathrooms, halls, corridors or storage rooms.

The 1992 sample is top-coded at 20 and more, while the 2012 sample is top-coded at 8 and more rooms.

Comparability — Botswana [top]

The 1991, 2001, and 2011 samples exclude kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, garages, and stores. However, these spaces were included if they were also used for living or sleeping accommodation.

If more than one household shares one living room, it was counted only once for one of the households. In the 2011 sample, responses indicating "no rooms" are grouped together with unknown. The data are top-coded at 10 rooms in 1991 and 2001, and 13 rooms in 2011.

Comparability — Brazil [top]

The Brazilian censuses included kitchens and bathrooms, as well as rooms not connected to the main building, provided that such rooms were an integral part of the domicile. Rooms used for non-household or non-residential purposes were excluded, even if they were directly connected to the dwelling (for example, workshops, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, laboratories, studios, garages, sheds, storehouses, or warehouses).

The 1990 census excluded kitchens or bathrooms common to multiple households.

The variable excludes collective and improvised dwellings.

Comparability — Burkina Faso [top]

For both samples, only living rooms and bedrooms were to be included.

Comparability — Cambodia [top]

Kitchens, bathrooms, store rooms, and any shared rooms are excluded.
The 1998, 2008, and 2019 samples are top-coded at 8+ rooms, while the 2004 and 2013 at 7+ rooms.

Comparability — Cameroon [top]

The variable excludes hallways, verandas, vestibules, bathrooms, and outhouses.

Comparability — Canada [top]

The samples include kitchen, bedrooms, finished rooms in attic or basement, etc. They exclude bathrooms, halls, vestibules, and rooms used solely for business purposes. The 2011 sample specifies that half rooms are to be counted as a whole number rounding up or down depending on the room. Rooms that are partitioned by a fixed or movable feature should be counted as two rooms. The data are top-coded at 10 rooms in 1981, 1991, and 2001, and 11 rooms in 2011.

Comparability — Chile [top]

The 1960 sample is a sample of individuals, not households. Only heads of households have most household-level information.

Bathrooms are always excluded; kitchens are included in 1992 and 2002.

Comparability — Colombia [top]

The Colombian censuses excluded kitchens and bathrooms.

The 1973 census included rooms used for either residential or commercial purposes (stores, workshops, professional offices, warehouses, garages). The 1985 census explicitly excluded garages. The 1993 census included garages, except if the garage served no purpose other than housing automobiles. The 2005 census excluded kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and rooms used exclusively for business.

Comparability — Costa Rica [top]

Bathrooms, hallways, storage rooms, and verandas were excluded in all years; kitchens were always included.

Comparability — Cuba [top]

Bathrooms, closets, sanitation systems, corridors, terraces, balconies and open rooms are not included.

The 2002 sample is top-coded at 14 and more, while the 2012 sample is top-coded at 16 and more.

Comparability — Côte d'Ivoire [top]

The 1998 sample excludes kitchens and bathrooms. The data are top-coded at 30 rooms in 1988 and 23 rooms in 1998.

Comparability — Dominican Republic [top]

Samples differ with respect to the definition of a room and the inclusion of all rooms used by the household or all rooms in the dwelling. Top codes also vary across samples. In the 1981 sample, this variable indicates the number of rooms occupied by the household, and excludes baths and rooms used in common with another household. A separate variable documents the number of rooms in the dwelling.

In the 2002 and 2010 samples, this variable indicates the number of rooms in the dwelling, excluding bathrooms, kitchen, corridors and garage.

The data are top-coded at 9 rooms in 1981, 10 rooms in 2002, and 14 rooms in 2010.

Comparability — Ecuador [top]

The 1962 sample is a sample of individuals, not households. Only heads of households have most household-level information.

Kitchens and bathrooms are excluded in all years.

Comparability — Egypt [top]

In the 1986 and 1996 samples, kitchens, bathroom, and corridors are excluded, and hallways are included; the 2006 census offers no definition.

Comparability — El Salvador [top]

Rooms occupied for exclusively commercial purposes are excluded. Garages are also excluded unless used as a dwelling space.

Comparability — Ethiopia [top]

In all years, kitchens were included in the count of rooms, but bathrooms, hallways and porches or verandas were not.

Comparability — Fiji [top]

For the 1986-2007 samples, the variable does not include toilets, bathrooms, passageways or verandahs. No definition is available in the 2014 sample.

The 1986 and 1996 samples are top-coded at 9+, 2007 at 12+, and 2014 at 10+ rooms.

Comparability — Finland [top]

A room is a space with one or more windows that has a floor area of at least 7 square meters and an average height of at least 2 meters. Halls, porches, bed recess, kitchen are not counted as rooms.

Comparability — France [top]

All samples exclude entryways, hallways, bathrooms, closets, alcoves, toilets, laundry areas, and rooms used only for professional purposes. Kitchens are excluded from the count of rooms from 1962-1982 but included if more than 12 square meters from 1999-2011; the 1990 census offers no instructions on counting kitchens. They also differ in top-coding of the number of rooms, and slightly in the universes.

Comparability — Germany [top]

The 1971 sample (East Ger.) requires a room get direct daylight and includes vacant and commercially-used rooms. The 1987 sample (West Ger.) requires a room be at least 6 square meters. Both samples exclude bathrooms and kitchens.

Comparability — Ghana [top]

Kitchens and bathrooms are excluded in all samples.

Comparability — Greece [top]

Kitchens and bathrooms are excluded in all samples. The data are top-coded at 12 rooms in 2001 and 11 rooms in 2011.

Comparability — Guatemala [top]

The 1964, 1981, and 2002 samples define a room as a space large enough to fit an adult-size bed, with a minimum height that is superior to approximately two meters, and that is used for human habitation.

The census questions for 1964, 1981, 1994, and 2002 explicitly exclude certain spaces not to be counted as rooms: bathrooms, hallways or corridors, garages, and rooms used exclusively for commercial, industrial, or professional purposes. A kitchen may be considered as a room in the 1964 sample if it follows the previous definition; while the 1981, 1994, and 2002 samples exclude kitchen from the number of rooms.

The 1994 sample is top-coded at 20+ and the 2002 sample is top-coded at 17+ rooms.

Comparability — Guinea [top]

Both samples include kitchens large enough to sleep in. The 1983 sample also includes storage rooms large enough for sleeping.

Comparability — Haiti [top]

The variable includes all types of rooms except the bathroom. Rooms detached from the main house are also counted.

Comparability — Honduras [top]

The census enumeration instructions in 1961 and 1988 indicate that bathrooms, vestibules, and hallways are excluded from all samples. In 2001, a room is defined as a space in the dwelling with walls to the ceiling or walls at least two meters high, which is used for human habitation.

The 1961 sample is top-coded at 7 rooms, the 1988 sample is top-coded at 12 rooms, and the 2001 sample is top-coded at 14 rooms.

Comparability — Hungary [top]

In 1970 and 1980, only the numbers of rooms of at least 13 square meters were reported; in 1990, 2001, and 2011 were reported rooms with a floor space of at least 4 square meters with door and window and used for daily residence or sleeping. In 1970-1990, the data only include the number of rooms. In 2001 and 2011, the data includes information about the number of rooms considering the availability of kitchen. The data are top-coded at 6 rooms in 2001 and 2011.

Comparability — Indonesia [top]

The variable is only available for the 1971 sample. Rooms are defined as having enough space for two adults to sleep in. Kitchens, warehouses and garages are included, but bathrooms are not.

Comparability — Iran [top]

Rooms must be closed spaces with an area of 4+ square meters and a height of 2+ meters. Kitchens and storage rooms are included, but garages and bathrooms are excluded.

The data represent the number of rooms used by the household, not the total rooms in the dwelling. A separate variable documents the number of rooms in the housing unit, which may be higher for dwellings that contain multiple households.

Comparability — Iraq [top]

Kitchens are included in the count; bathrooms and hallways are excluded. Households that claimed zero rooms are coded to "part of a room."

Comparability — Ireland [top]

The data represent the rooms occupied by the household, not the total rooms in the dwelling, including kitchens and excluding bathrooms, utility rooms, rooms for storage and commercial spaces. Samples are comparable except that the 1986 sample includes non-permanent dwellings. The 2011 and 2016 samples are both top-coded at 9 and more rooms.

Comparability — Israel [top]

The Israel samples recorded "half rooms" under 6 square meters. These are interpreted as complete rooms in this variable for purposes of international comparability. For example, 6.5 rooms is coded as 7 rooms. The unharmonized source variables preserve the original information.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and rooms used only for business were not included. The 1995 and 2008 samples are both top-coded at 5 and more rooms.

Comparability — Italy [top]

Rooms must be large enough to accommodate a bed with space to move around. Bathrooms, kitchens, and service areas are excluded. Rooms used for professional purposes are included.

The 2001 sample is top-coded at 4 rooms, and the 2011 sample is top-coded at 21 rooms.

Comparability — Jamaica [top]

The data represent the rooms occupied by the household, not the total rooms in the dwelling, including commercial spaces and excluding kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. Samples are comparable, except that the 2001 sample allows some "0" responses, which indicate that the space occupied had been previously enumerated as rooms for another household.

Comparability — Kenya [top]

The Kenyan census counted only "habitable" rooms used mainly for residential purposes and excluded stores, granaries, offices, and garages. Kitchens were excluded unless the household also used the kitchen for other purposes, such as eating, sleeping, or entertaining guests.

Comparability — Kyrgyzstan [top]

The sample excludes kitchens, bathrooms, corridors, etc. It was possible to respond "part of a room" in the 1999 sample.

Comparability — Lesotho [top]

Bathroom and toilet are excluded. If the household had more than one house, all rooms were counted, except those used for agricultural purposes.

In 2006, the number of rooms combines responses from the separate counts for each of the structure types included in the enumeration form.

The 1996 is top-coded at 12 rooms, and the 2006 sample is top-coded at 3 rooms.

Comparability — Malawi [top]

In all samples, kitchens/commercial spaces are included and bathrooms/garages/store rooms are excluded. The top-codes vary by sample. For the 1987 and 1998 samples, rooms are only counted in the first dwelling that the household occupies.

Comparability — Mali [top]

For all censuses, a room is defined as a living space surrounded by walls and large enough to fit an adult sized bed. Kitchens and entryways are not typically included unless regularly used as living space. Balconies, hallways, and bathrooms are also not defined as rooms.

Comparability — Mexico [top]

Kitchens were excluded in 1960-1970 and included in 1990-2020 (implicitly in 1990, explicitly in 1995-2020). Bathrooms were excluded in all years. In 1960, rooms used mainly for non-residential purposes were excluded. The 2000-2020 censuses contained similar instructions, thus excluding hallways, storerooms, granaries, commercial areas, and garages, unless such rooms were also used regularly for sleeping, in which case they were to be included.

The 1960 Mexican sample is a sample of individuals, not households. Only heads of households have most household-level information.

Comparability — Mongolia [top]

The universe for the census question does not include households living in gers in either census. The 2000 sample specified that kitchens and bathrooms were to be excluded from the count.

In 1989, the first household listed in a multi-household dwelling reported the total number of rooms in the dwelling. Subsequent households in the dwelling recorded only the number of rooms they used.

Comparability — Morocco [top]

The census question asks for the number of rooms occupied by the households. Rooms exclude kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and balconies. The samples differ in the top codes: 18+ in 1994, 20+ in 2004, and 17+ rooms in 2014

Comparability — Mozambique [top]

In 1997 and 2007, the total number of divisions in the house was recorded, excluding kitchens and bathrooms. 

Comparability — Nicaragua [top]

Rooms are classified as being at least 2 meters high and 4 square meters in floor area. Bathrooms and rooms for commercial purposes are excluded.

Comparability — Pakistan [top]

A room is a residential place with walls from floor to roof, not including kitchens, bath rooms, corridors, balconies or garages. However, corridors that have been intentionally closed off for use as rooms are counted as rooms.

Comparability — Palestine [top]

Samples are comparable except for slight differences in the question universes, and a room must be 4+ square meters; inclusion of bathrooms and kitchens is unspecified.

Comparability — Panama [top]

All samples exclude kitchens, bathrooms, halls, and rooms used exclusively for commercial purposes.

Comparability — Papua New Guinea [top]

The 1990 sample is top-coded at 6 and the 2000 sample is top-coded at 8. All samples exclude bathrooms, toilets, hallways, verandahs, and storerooms.

Comparability — Paraguay [top]

In all samples, a room was defined as a space enclosed by walls elevated from floor to roof with an area large enough to fit at least a bed for an adult. Attics that fit the definition and were at least 2 meters high were considered rooms. Kitchens, bathrooms and rooms used for commercial or industrial purposes were not included in the count of rooms.

Comparability — Poland [top]

For all samples, a room is considered if it has a floor space of at least 4 square meters with direct lighting, and it is separated from other rooms with walls. Kitchens are included if they meet these requirements. Halls, bathrooms, porches, vestibules, pantries, chambers, and sheds are not considered rooms.

In 2011, the number of rooms is derived from a person level variable reported only for individuals living in a family.

Data are top-coded at 13 rooms in 1988, 17 rooms in 2002, and 30 rooms in 2011.

Comparability — Portugal [top]

In all years, rooms were defined as being at least 4 square meters in area and 2 meters high. Kitchen, bathrooms, commercial areas and utility spaces were excluded.

Comparability — Puerto Rico [top]

In all years, rooms include bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. In 1970, only bathrooms are explicitly excluded. 1980 through 2005 and 2020 census instructions say that bathrooms, balconies, foyers and halls should not be considered rooms. Instructions from 2000 and 2005 also say that half-rooms should not be included.

Comparability — Romania [top]

In 1977-2002 samples, rooms were defined as being at least 4 square meters in area, having at least 2 meters high (1.80 meters only in 1977) over the majority of the surface, and receiving the day light. Kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, verandahs, vestibules passageways, glass porches, parlors, non-habitable lobbies, corridors, passages, offices, food storage larders, lumber box-rooms, lodges, boxes are not considered as rooms.

Data are top-coded at 12 rooms in 2002 and 16 rooms in 2011.

Comparability — Rwanda [top]

The definition of room in 1991 is unknown. The 2002 sample excluded kitchens, bathrooms, storage, and similar areas. The 2012 sample included bathrooms, toilets, kitchen, and store rooms.

The 2002 sample is top-coded at 12, and the 2012 sample is top-coded at 15.

Comparability — Saint Lucia [top]

The 1991 instructions state not to include bathrooms, porches, or kitchens. In 1980, single-room dwellings appear to be included among "unknown."

Comparability — Senegal [top]

Kitchens, bathrooms, and storage rooms are not counted as rooms unless they are used for sleeping. The enumeration instructions for the 1988, 2002, and 2013 census years indicate that rooms occupied by more than one household in common should be attributed to only one household.

Comparability — Sierra Leone [top]

The data are top-coded at 15 or more rooms in 2004 and 20 or more in 2015.

Comparability — Slovenia [top]

Only rooms at least 6 square meters in area were counted. There were no other restrictions. The data are top-coded at 6 or more rooms.

Comparability — South Africa [top]

Kitchens were explicitly included in the count of rooms in the censuses of 1996, 2001 and 2007. For the same years bathrooms, sheds, and garages were excluded from the count unless members of the household were "living" in them. In 2011, bathrooms and kitchens were explicitly excluded and garages were included only if some members of the household were living in them. In 1996, bathrooms and toilets are explicitly excluded from the count of rooms.

The 2001 sample includes institutions and records many dwellings with large numbers of rooms.

Comparability — Spain [top]

In all years, rooms were classified as being at least 2 meters high and 4 square meters in floor area, including kitchens. Bathrooms, changing rooms, hallways and open terraces were not classified as rooms.

Households with 7 to 9 rooms are coded as "7" in 1991 Spain.

Comparability — Suriname [top]

Bathrooms, sheds, hallways and balconies are excluded. The 2012 sample is top-coded at 11 and more rooms.

Comparability — Switzerland [top]

In all years, the general guidelines for counting rooms are similar and state that rooms such as kitchens, half-rooms, bathrooms, and corridors are not to be counted as rooms.

Comparability — Tanzania [top]

The 1988 census records the number of rooms used for living. The 2002 and 2012 samples do not include the number of total rooms, but records the number of rooms used for sleeping in BEDROOMS.

Comparability — Togo [top]

The 1960 sample refers to habitable rooms, but no definition is provided in the enumeration instructions.

The 2010 sample includes room used for habitation (bedrooms, dining room, living room, rooms for domestics); a separate unharmonized source variable identifies the number of rooms used for other purposes (kitchen, shop, stables). Corridors, vestibule conservatories, bathrooms, WCs, and kitchen are not counted as rooms for habitation.

The data are top-coded at 20+ rooms in 2010.

Comparability — Trinidad and Tobago [top]

For all samples 1970-2011, rooms are defined as those being occupied by the household for living purposes. Bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, pantries, galleries, and porches are excluded. Data are top-coded at 7 rooms in 1970, 8 rooms in 1980, 1990, and 2000, and 5 rooms in 2011. The universe has changed slightly over time.

Comparability — Turkey [top]

Rooms are classified as being at least 2 meters high and 4 square meters in floor area. Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and balconies are excluded.

The 1985 sample has households with zero rooms (tents or huts). It is unclear where similar households are coded in 2000. The 1985 sample is missing significant household information, coded into the unknown category.

Comparability — Uganda [top]

The 1991 sample records the number of rooms in the dwelling unit. A kitchen (if it has walls and partitions) is counted as a room. Corridors, balconies, verandahs, stores, or bathrooms are excluded.

Comparability — Ukraine [top]

This variable indicates the number of occupied living rooms. Spaces such as attics, heated patios and terraces are included if they are suitable for living in year-round. Kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, and pantries are not to be counted.

Comparability — United Kingdom [top]

The sample excludes bathrooms and small kitchens -- those under 2 meters wide.
The data are top-coded at 15+ rooms.

Comparability — United States [top]

The U.S. censuses counted "whole" rooms contained in the household unit and used for living or residential purposes. Kitchens were included, but bathrooms were not.

Comparability — Uruguay [top]

The classification of kitchens varies across censuses. In 1975, 2006, and 2011, kitchens are explicitly excluded; in 1963, they are explicitly included; in 1985 and 1996, there is no mention of kitchens. The top codes differ across samples.

The number of rooms for the 1963-1985 censuses were constructed from two separate questions on number of bedrooms and number of "other" residential rooms. The 1963 census has a top code at 10 rooms and the 1975 and 1985 censuses have top codes at 8 rooms. Full detail is retained in the unharmonized source variables.

Comparability — Venezuela [top]

Kitchens are included in 1971 but excluded in all later years.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

Kitchens and warehouses are included and bathrooms are excluded; a room must be at least 2.1 meters high and 4+ square meters in area.

Comparability — Zambia [top]

In all years, a room is defined as a space in the housing unit enclosed by walls with a height of at least two meters, large enough to fit an adult-sized bed. Huts meeting these qualifications are to be counted as rooms. Hallways, verandahs, kitchens, and bathrooms are included. Garages are to be included only if they are used for living purposes. Top codes vary across samples.