Sample characteristics: Germany

Census characteristics
  1970 1971 1981 1987
Title The 1970 Census of the Federal Republic Germany The 1971 Census of Population, Occupation, Dwellings and Buildings of the German Democratic Republic The 1981 Census of Population, Occupation, Dwellings and Buildings of the German Democratic Republic Population Census 1987, Federal Republic Germany
Census agency Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt) Central State Office for Statistics Central State Office for Statistics Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt)
Population universe Total population entitled to reside in households Total population entitled to reside in households Persons who live permanently in the GDR, excluding members of foreign embassies and consular offices, and military and civil members of the Soviet Union military and their families Total population entitled to reside in households
De jure or de facto De jure De jure De jure De jure
Enumeration unit Household Household Household Household
Census day May 27, 1970 January 1, 1971 December 31, 1981 May 25, 1987
Field work period The enumerators (interviewers) distributed the questionnaires to all households until 23 May and collected the completed questionnaires until 6 June.
Enumeration forms 2 questionnaires: (f1) population census questionnaire: 90% of the population received a questionnaire comprising 18 questions, the remaining 10% received a questionnaire containing 39 questions; (f2) local unit questionnaire There are 4 forms: (1) household questionnaire containing questions for all persons in the household; (2) dwelling questionnaire containing questions for all dwellings; (3) building questionnaire containing questions for all residential buildings; and (4) institution questionnaire. There are 3 forms: (1) household list; (2) person list which contains information on all persons living in the household; and (3) housing list which contains information on the rooms of residence There are 2 forms: (1) dwelling questionnaire which contains question relating to building characteristics; and (2) personal questionnaire which contains questions about individual characteristics
Type of field work Standardized interview Standardized interview Standardized interview Standardized interview
Respondent Person contributing the most to the livelihood of the family, or one of the spouses in households with married couples An adult person, usually one of the spouses in the household Persons of legal age and persons not being of full age who however maintain their own separate household
Coverage 100% 100% 100% 100%

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Microdata sample characteristics
  1970 1971 1981 1987
Microdata source Federal Statistical Office Federal Statistical Office Federal Statistical Office Federal Statistical Office
Sample design A randomized 50% sub-sample was drawn from the 10% sample of the factually anonymous Scientific-Use-File (SUF) by using the ending numbers method. This yields the Public Use File, which is 5% sample of the total 1970 FRG population.

NOTE: Persons are not organized into households.
25% sample of households drawn based on anonymization methodology by the Federal Statistical Office. 25% sample of households drawn by the Federal Statistical Office. Sample method unknown 5% sample of households drawn by the Federal Statistical Office. Sample method unknown
Sample unit Person Household Household Household
Sample fraction 5% 25% 25% 5%
Sample size (person records) 3,094,845 4,110,749 4,278,563 3,160,224
Sample weights Self-weighting (expansion factor=20) Self-weighting (expansion factor=4) Self-weighting (expansion factor=4) Self-weighting (expansion factor=20)

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Units identified
  1970 1971 1981 1987
Dwellings No Yes No No
Vacant units No Yes No No
Households No Yes Yes Yes
Individuals Yes Yes Yes Yes
Group quarters Yes Yes Yes Yes
Indigenous population No No No No
Special populations No No No No
Smallest geography State State State State

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Unit definitions
  1970 1971 1981 1987
Dwellings A dwelling, in terms of a survey unit, is defined as a self-contained set of rooms intended for living purposes which enable persons to keep their own household. Living quarters which could be in residential buildings and non-residential buildings A dwelling is defined as a group of connected rooms, which are built as living quarters, have a separate entrance directly from a stair well or directly from the outside, and have a kitchen or a kitchenette. Accommodations/rooms
Households A household consists of all persons who live in the same dwelling and have a common housekeeping budget. Also. persons living and keeping house alone as well as lodgers are counted as households. A household is a group of persons who live and keep house together. A person living alone forms a household. Subtenants are treated as separate households. A household is a group of persons who live and keep house together. A person living alone forms a household. Persons occupying several dwellings are assigned to one household in each dwelling. A household comprises all persons living and keeping house together. Persons keeping house alone are regarded as separate households. Persons having more than one dwelling will be allocated to a household in each dwelling.
Group quarters Persons in institutions, homes or the like are covered if they live there, are registered at that address with the police or relevant authorities and, fully or partly, make use of communal catering arrangements or of any joint facilities. Institutions were collective dwelling for the accommodation and care of citizens who for reasons of working, training or studying, or for educational, health, social or other reasons needed to be accommodated collectively. Collective dwellings, for the purpose of the census, are hostels, establishments for the care of children and youth, for health services, or for social welfare to provide care and accommodations to persons who lived there for reasons of working, occupational training, studying or for special education and treatment. All individual persons in community residences that do not keep house for themselves compose a collective household.

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