Sample characteristics: Colombia

Census characteristics
	1964	1973	1985	1993	2005
Title	XIII National Population and II Housing Census	XIV National Population and III Housing Census	XV National Population and IV Housing Census	XVI National Population and V de Housing Census	General Census 2005 (XVII of Population and Dwelling and VI of Housing).
Census agency	Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE)	Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE)	Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE)	Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE)	Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE)
Population universe	Population census included people in territories, sailors, diplomats and their families. The indigenous population residing in remote areas was not enumerated.	Population census included people in territories, sailors, diplomats and their families. The indigenous population was enumerated for the first time. Microdata is available for 100% of the population, but current version excludes group quarters and indigenous population.	Population census included people in territories, sailors, diplomats and their families. The indigenous population was enumerated. Due to guerrilla activity, approximately 3,000 dwellings (out of 6 million) could not be enumerated. The microdata sample consists of the 10% survey. It excludes population in group quarters and indigenous population.	The entire population of the country, including all households and dwellings. Microdata is available for 100% of the population, but current version excludes group quarters and indigenous population.	The entire population of the country, including all households and dwellings. In addition, an inventory was made of economic establishments and agricultural units associated with the rural dwelling. The microdata sample consists of the 20% survey. It excludes population in group quarters.
De jure or de facto	De facto	De facto	De jure	De jure	De jure
Enumeration unit	Dwelling	Dwelling	Dwelling	Dwelling	Dwelling
Census day	July 15, 1964	October 24, 1973	October 15, 1985	October 24, 1993	The collection period for the information was between May 2005 and February 2006, with interruptions for vacation periods between June and July 2005 and between December 2005 and January 2006.
Field work period	Urban population and settlements with 20 or more dwellings were "immobilized" and enumerated on census day. Dispersed population was enumerated 20 days prior to census date. The National Territories (intendances and commissaries) were enumerated over a period of two months, following census day.	Population in urban areas was enumerated on census day, during which the population was "immobilized." Enumeration in rural areas continued for one month. The operation began four months earlier in National Territories and ended on census day. Unusually heavy rains caused the enumeration to be extended in some remote areas.	Urban population was not "immobilized" and the enumeration continued over a period of two weeks starting October 15. In rural areas enumeration continued for one month. In the National Territories (intendances and commissaries) fieldwork continued from October through March and, for some remote areas, fieldwork was timed to avoid the rainy season.	The urban population, including settlements with 300 dwellings or more, was "immobilized" and counted on census day. In rural areas, fieldwork continued for a period of six months, from August 1993 to February 1994.	The work of information collection was done based on the conglomerates of municipalities formed according to their demographic dynamics, with partial immobilization.
Enumeration forms	A single form was used for the entire country. It requested information about buildings, dwellings, households and individuals.	3 enumeration forms were used: (f1) population in private households with household and dwelling information; (f2) indigenous population, enumerated at the level of the dwelling, not the individual (slightly modified for the enumeration of National Territories); (f3) only age and sex was requested for individuals in group quarters and transients.	5 enumeration forms applied to 5 different target populations: (f1) short form for private dwellings (90%) of the population, requested information on age, sex, and relationship to householder; (f2) long form for private dwellings (10%); (f3) group quarters, 0.17% of dwellings; (f4) indigenous private dwellings (100%), representing 0.95% of dwellings; and (f5) indigenous group-quarters, 0.01% of dwellings.	3 enumeration forms: (f1) long form for private dwellings; (f2) short form for group quarters (institutional and non-institutional, population without housing or living in camps); and (f3) indigenous population.	Three enumeration questionnaires were used: 1. Questionnaire for the Urban environment. This is carried out by the field supervisor, through observation at the block level. It seeks to provide and overview of the predominant urban setting, based on criteria of habitat which are fundamentally physical. 2. Questionnaire of Census Units. This is carried out by the enumerator starting with the information reported directly by the units. It is divided into sections for: dwellings, households, persons, economic units and agricultural units. 3. Questionnaire for Special Housing Units (LEA). In the case of military barracks and penitentiary centers, this is carried out by resident personnel, trained for this purpose by the municipal coordinator. In the remaining cases, it is the responsibility of the enumerator.
Type of field work	Direct enumeration. Beginning with the census of 1964, Colombia has relied on high school students as enumerators.	Direct enumeration	Direct enumeration for both short and long form. For the short form, some areas were designated for self-enumeration.	Direct enumeration.	Direct enumeration.
Respondent	Head of the household	Head of the household	Person living in household 15 years of age or older.	The householder provided information for the dwelling and household and for individuals below the age of 10. Individuals ten years of age and older were questioned individually to provide their personal information. For group quarters, information was provided by the person in charge.	Persons over twelve years old who are habitual residents. In the case of the person not being present and not being able to be interviewed, the information should be given by the head of household (male or female), or his/her spouse or a resident person who is over fifteen years old and who knows the information about the person.
Coverage	98.2%	92.8%	91.2%	88.5%	96.3%

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Microdata sample characteristics
	1964	1973	1985	1993	2005
Microdata source	Centro Latinoamericano de Demografia (CELADE)	Universidad de los Andes	DANE	DANE	DANE
Sample design	Systematic sample of every 50th individual after a random start. Drawn by DANE from the original census enumeration forms.	Systematic sample of every tenth private household, after a random start, adjusted for households with illogical household structures (<1%). Drawn by the Minnesota Population Center from 100% microdata tapes of private dwellings.	Systematic sample of dwellings pre-selected before fieldwork based on pre-census enumeration. In rural areas selection was determined in the field by the enumerator.	Systematic sample of every tenth private dwelling. Drawn by the Minnesota Population Center from 100% microdata of private dwellings. NOTE: The sample excludes two small departments -- Guainía and Vaupés -- which had no cases enumerated as private dwellings.	Systematic sample of every other private dwelling. Drawn by the Minnesota Population Center from 20% microdata of private dwellings. The census office described the method for the original sample as a Bernoulli stratified design for elements of households, Poisson for dwellings, and of conglomerates for persons.
Sample unit	Individual	Household	Dwelling	Dwelling	Dwelling
Sample fraction	2%	10%	10%	10%	10%
Sample size (person records)	349,652	1,988,831	2,643,125	3,213,657	4,117,607
Sample weights	Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 50.	Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 10.	Computed by census agency and should be used for most types of analysis.	Self-weighting. Expansion factor = 10.	Factors of expansions were calibrated based on some basic variables of the census and starting with the basic expansion factor according to the design.
Smallest geography	Municipalities with 20,000+ population in 1993 combined by MPC	Municipalities with 20,000+ population in 1993 combined by MPC	Municipalities with 20,000+ population in 1993 combined by MPC	Municipalities with 20,000+ population in 1993 combined by MPC	Municipalities with 20,000+ population in 1993 combined by MPC

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Units identified
	1964	1973	1985	1993	2005
Dwellings	Not available in microdata sample	Not available in microdata sample	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vacant units	Not available in microdata sample	Available but not included in current microdata version	Yes	Yes	Available but not included in current microdata version
Households	Not available in microdata sample	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Individuals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Group quarters	Microdata sample includes individuals in group quarters, but are not identified	Available but not included in current microdata version	No	Available but not included in current microdata version	Available but not included in current microdata version
Indigenous population	Not included in the census	Available but not included in current microdata version	Not available	Available but not included in current microdata version	Yes
Special populations	People in transit included in microdata sample	People in transit, available but not included in current microdata version.	Not defined	Not defined	Not defined

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Unit definitions
	1964	1973	1985	1993	2005
Dwellings	Separated space with independent access that serves as a human lodging	Separated space with independent access that serves as a human lodging	Separated space with independent access that serves as a human lodging	Separated space with independent access that serves as a human lodging	Independent and separate space with areas of exclusive use, inhabited or designed to be inhabited by one or more persons.
Households	Individuals living in the same dwelling and sharing at least one meal. If a household is identified within a group quarters unit, it is enumerated separately as a private household	Individuals living in the same dwelling and sharing at least one meal. If a household is identified within a group quarters unit, it is enumerated separately as a private household	Individuals living in the same dwelling. For indigenous population definition of household requires sharing at least one meal.	Individuals living in the same dwelling with common food expenses	A person or group of people, related or not, who occupy all or part of a dwelling; attend to basic needs charged to a common budget, and they generally share food.
Group quarters	Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.	Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.	Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.	Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.	An institution in which a group of people generally not related lives and sleeps; done for reasons of study, work, religion, military discipline, administrative labors, rehabilitation, and others.

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