Comparability — Benin [top]

The 2013 census asked whether the household owns a television that is in functional condition.

Comparability — Botswana [top]

The 2001 and 2011 samples specify that televisions should be in working condition.

Comparability — Brazil [top]

In 1991 and 2000, only units in usable condition were to be considered. The 1960, 1970, and 2010 samples indicate whether the household has a television or not. The 1980 sample specifies identifies the availability of both color and black-and-white units. In 1991, the sample includes specific counts of color televisions with only a yes/no indicator of black-and-white televisions.

Comparability — Burkina Faso [top]

Only functional units were to be considered. The maximum value is 5 or more units.

Comparability — Cambodia [top]

The 2013 sample is top-coded at 5+ televisions.

Comparability — Canada [top]

The 1971 sample includes some households who have both color and black-and-white televisions in the category "yes, at least one color television".

Comparability — Chile [top]

1970 is the only sample that does not differentiate between color and black-and-white units. The 1982, 1992, and 2002 samples include households who have both color and black-and-white televisions in the category "yes, at least one color television".

Comparability — Costa Rica [top]

Only the 1984 sample differentiates between color and black-and-white units, with those indicating both categorized as "at least one color television". In the 2011 sample there are two source variables concerning televisions in the private dwelling. One variable records whether the dwelling has a TV screen and the other variable records whether the dwelling has a conventional TV. Households with TV screens and/or conventional televisions are included in the "Yes" category in the integrated TV variable.

Comparability — Dominican Republic [top]

In 1981 there are two source variables concerning televisions in the household. One variable records whether the household has an electric or non-electric television. The other variable records the number of televisions in the household. Households with an electric or non-electric television are included in the "Yes" category in the integrated TV variable. See the 1981 source variables for more detail.

In the 2002 and 2010 samples, "Yes" indicates that the household owns a television. The source variables do not indicate the number of televisions in the household or differentiate between color and black-and-white units.

Comparability — Egypt [top]

The 1986 and 1996 samples differentiate between color and black-and-white. Households who indicate they have both are categorized as "at least one color television". The 2006 sample does not differentiate, but does record the number of total televisions; televisions are counted when they are being used or set for future use. The instructions of 1986 and 1996 specify that the purpose of tenure of this appliance must be for use and not commerce.

Comparability — El Salvador [top]

The data are comparable across samples.

Comparability — Ethiopia [top]

In 1984 and 1994, the question about whether the household had a television was asked of urban households only. The 2007 sample's universe is all households that responded to the long form. In 1984, enumerators were instructed to answer "yes" even if the television was not in working order. In 1994, non-working televisions that a household did not intend to repair were not included in the "yes" category. The 2007 sample only considered televisions in working condition.

Comparability — Fiji [top]

The 1996 sample records ownership of a "video/tv". In 2007 and 2014, the census form indicates only "tv" for this question and it requests the number of such appliances.

Comparability — Haiti [top]

The 2003 sample records the number of televisions.

Comparability — Honduras [top]

In 2001, the census question includes the television even if it is found in poor working condition awaiting repair. The 1988 sample does not clarify whether it needs to be in working condition or not.

Comparability — Indonesia [top]

The 1976, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1995 samples all explicitly ask about possession of a television, not ownership. The 1990 and 1995 samples include televisions that were out of order but could be repaired. The 2005 question is explicitly concerned with ownership. Therefore, even if the television was not in the house at the time of enumeration, the household was considered to own a television. In addition, if the television was out of order, it was still considered to be owned.

Comparability — Israel [top]

The censuses indicated the presence of a television in the household, not necessarily ownership of the unit.

The 1983 sample differentiates between color and black-and-white units.

Comparability — Lesotho [top]

In 2006, the census question specifies that the television had to be in working condition over the previous month.

Comparability — Malawi [top]

Only units in working condition are considered.

Comparability — Malaysia [top]

The 1980 sample includes those who indicate both black-and-white and color televisions as "at least one color television".

Comparability — Mexico [top]

In all years the variable indicates possession of a television in the dwelling. In 2000 and 2015, enumerators were instructed to include broken or inoperable televisions, provided that the household intended to repair the unit.

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

In the 2015 census, in addition to a question about television ownership, the enumeration form inquired about ownership of flat screen televisions. The flat screen televisions are considered as color televisions.

In 2000, 2010, and 2015, enumerators were instructed to exclude appliances that belong to the business or institution where one of the dwelling occupants works.

Comparability — Mozambique [top]

The 2007 sample specifies that the television must be in working order.

Comparability — Nepal [top]

In 2001, televisions include black-and-white or color televisions and can be battery operated or electric. In 2011, the question asks whether the household has a television in working condition or that can be easily repaired; enumerators were indicated to include both black-and-white and color, in addition to mobile devices used as televisions.

Comparability — Nicaragua [top]

The data in both samples refer to ownership.

Comparability — Panama [top]

The 2010 sample record the number of televisions, while the previous years do not.

Comparability — Philippines [top]

The 2010 census only considers television sets in working condition.

Comparability — Puerto Rico [top]

The census asked about televisions in working order.

Comparability — Rwanda [top]

The 2012 census question requires the television to be in functioning condition; this is not specified in 2002. There is also a top code of 3+ televisions in the 2012 census.

Comparability — Saint Lucia [top]

The census recorded the number of televisions owned or rented by the household. The 1991 sample is top coded at 3+ televisions.

Comparability — Senegal [top]

There are slight differences in how the variable was recorded in each census year. In 1988, the census recorded the number of working televisions. In 2002 and 2013, the census recorded whether or not the household had a television in working order or not working temporarily.

Comparability — Sierra Leone [top]

In 2004, only units in working condition were to be considered.

Comparability — South Africa [top]

The 2011 sample recorded two types of television ownership; one records presence of a standard TV and the other records presence of a satellite TV. Households with either type of television (or both) are included in the "yes" category. The 2001-2016 samples require televisions to be in working condition.

Comparability — Suriname [top]

The 2012 census asks whether a television is at the household's disposal and in working condition.

Comparability — Tanzania [top]

The 2012 sample specifies that the television must be in working order.

Comparability — Thailand [top]

The earlier censuses, 1970 and 1980, record only whether or not the household had a television. 1990 and 2000 censuses record the number of televisions, but only the 1990 census differentiated between color and black-and-white. 1990 records separate numbers of each type of television in the source variables.

The 2000 sample is top coded at 7 and over.

Comparability — Trinidad and Tobago [top]

The 1990 and 2000 samples ask about color or black and white televisions; the census question for 2011 simply refers to televisions.

Comparability — Uganda [top]

The 2014 sample records the number of televisions and is top coded at 6+.

Comparability — United States [top]

Only units in usable condition were to be considered.

Comparability — Uruguay [top]

In the 1985 and 1996 samples, the data are derived from separate questions for color and black-and-white televisions where those who indicated ownership of both are categorized as "at least one color television". The 2006 and 2011 questionnaires only ask about color televisions and specify the number. The full details are preserved in the unharmonized source variables.

Comparability — Venezuela [top]

The data are comparable across samples.

Comparability — Vietnam [top]

In 1999, the question asks for possession of a television whereas, in 2009, the question asks if the household is currently using a television.

Comparability — Zambia [top]

The 1990 source variable indicates the number of televisions in the household and is top coded at 4+ televisions. The 2000 and 2010 source variables do not indicate the number of televisions in the household.

Group quarters are included in the universe in the 2000 sample; only private households are included in the 1990 and 2010 samples.