Sample characteristics: Ireland

Census characteristics
  1971 1979 1981 1986 1991 1996 2002 2006 2011
Title Census of Population of Ireland, 1971 Census of Population of Ireland, 1979 Census of Population of Ireland, 1981 Census of Population of Ireland, 1986 Census of Population of Ireland, 1991 Census of Population of Ireland, 1996 Census of Population of Ireland, 2002 Census of Population of Ireland, 2006 Census of Population of Ireland, 2011      
Census agency Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office      
Population universe All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents temporarily absent from the State and members of the Defence Forces, who on Census night, were serving abroad with the United Nations were excluded. All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents temporarily absent from the State and members of the Defence Forces, who on Census night, were serving abroad with the United Nations were excluded. All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents temporarily absent from the State and members of the Defence Forces, who on Census night, were serving abroad with the United Nations were excluded. All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents temporarily absent from the State and members of the Defence Forces, who on Census night, were serving abroad with the United Nations were excluded. All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents temporarily absent from the State and members of the Defence Forces, who on Census night, were serving abroad with the United Nations were excluded. All persons present in Ireland on the census night, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents who were temporarily absent were excluded. All persons present in Ireland on the census night, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents who were temporarily absent were included but asked a subset of questions. All persons present in Ireland on the census night, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents who were temporarily absent were included but asked a subset of questions. All persons present in Ireland on the census night, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents who were temporarily absent were included but asked a subset of questions.      
De jure or de facto De facto De facto De facto De facto De facto De facto De jure and de facto De jure and de facto De jure and de facto      
Enumeration unit Household Household Household Household Household Household Household Household Household      
Census day April 18, 1971 April 1, 1979 April 5, 1981 April 13, 1986 April 21, 1991 April 28, 1996 April 28, 2002 April 23, 2006 April 10, 2011      
Field work period      
Enumeration forms There are 5 forms: Form A (Basic household Census form), Form B (summary of the population figures), Form C (summary of the household and population figures), Form D (for communal establishments), Form N (relevant note sto be attached with Form A) and Form P (for enumerations of guests in hotels and guest houses). The information from Form A is used here. The information is based on Form A - Household Schedule. There are 2 forms to be completed by households or individuals: (1) Form A - Census Household Schedule; and (2) Form A(P) - completed by persons in certain circumstances. The information from Form A is used here. There are 2 forms to be completed by households or individuals: (1) Form A - Census Household Schedule; and (2) Form A(P) - completed by persons in certain circumstances. The information from Form A is used here. There are 2 forms to be completed by households or individuals: (1) Form A - Census Household Schedule; and (2) Form A(P) - completed by persons in certain circumstances. The information from Form A is used here. There are 2 forms to be completed by households or individuals: (1) Form A - Census Form (or Schedule); and (2) Form A(P) - Personal Form. The information from Form A is used here. There are 5 forms completed by the public: a. Household Form ; b. Continuation Form; c. Listing Form ; d. Individual Form ; and d. Large Print Form. The information from the Household Form is us\ed here. There are 4 forms completed by the public: a. Household Form (main census form); b. Listing Form ; c. Individual Form ; and d. Large Print Form. The information from the Household Form is used here. There are 3 forms completed by the public: a. Household Form (main census form); b. Listing Form (for communal establishments only); and c. Individual Form. The information from the Household Form is used here.      
Type of field work Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration Direct and self-enumeration      
Respondent Not specified (a) The head, or other person acting as head, of a private household; (b) The person in charge of a collective household (institution); (c) The master or other person in charge of a vessel in waters within the jurisdiction of Ireland at midnight on the night of April 1, 1979 (a) The head, or other person acting as head, of a private household; (b) The person in charge of a collective household (institution); (c) The master or other person in charge of a vessel in waters within the jurisdiction of Ireland at midnight on the night of April 5, 1981 (a) The head, or other person acting as head, of a private household; (b) The person in charge of a collective household (institution); (c) The master or other person in charge of a vessel in waters within the jurisdiction of Ireland at midnight on the night of April 5, 1981 (a) The head, or other person acting as head, of a private household; (b) The person in charge of a collective household (institution); (c) The master or other person in charge of a vessel in waters within the jurisdiction of Ireland at midnight on the night of April 5, 1981 Householder Householder Householder Householder      
Coverage      

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Microdata sample characteristics
  1971 1979 1981 1986 1991 1996 2002 2006 2011
Microdata source Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office Central Statistics Office      
Sample design A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file. A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file.      
Sample unit Household Household Household Household Household Household Household Household Household      
Sample fraction 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%      
Sample size (person records) 296,878 337,686 344,291 355,020 353,149 365,323 410,688 440,314 474,353      
Sample weights Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10) Self-weighting (expansion factor=10)      

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Units identified
  1971 1979 1981 1986 1991 1996 2002 2006 2011
Dwellings No No No No No No No No No      
Vacant units No No No No No No No No No      
Households Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes      
Individuals Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes      
Group quarters Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes      
Indigenous population      
Special populations      
Smallest geography Region Region Region Region Region Region Region Region Region      

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Unit definitions
  1971 1979 1981 1986 1991 1996 2002 2006 2011
Dwellings Permanent structures consisting of walls and a roof (whether or not intended for occupation and whether or not occupied on Census night). A dwelling unit is defined as living accommodation which is occupied or, of vacant, is intended for occupation, by one household. A dwelling unit is defined as living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one household. A dwelling unit is defined as living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one household. A dwelling unit is living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one or more households. A dwelling unit is living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one or more households. A dwelling unit is living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one or more households. A dwelling is a self contained living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one or more households.      
Private households A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat, or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget. A person who lives alone or a person who occupies only part of the living accommodation but does not normally share a common budget with the other occupants is regarded as a separate household. A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat, or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget. A person who lives alone or a person who occupies only part of the living accommodation but does not normally share a common budget with the other occupants is regarded as a separate household. A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat, or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget. A person who lives alone or a person who occupies only part of the living accommodation but does not normally share a common budget with the other occupants is regarded as a separate household. A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat, or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget. A person who lives alone or a person who occupies only part of the living accommodation but does not normally share a common budget with the other occupants is regarded as a separate household. A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat, or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget. A person who lives alone or a person who occupies only part of the living accommodation but does not normally share a common budget with the other occupants is regarded as a separate household. A private household comprises either one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements - that is, sharing at least one meal a day or sharing a living room or sitting room. A private household comprises either one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements - that is, sharing at least one meal a day or sharing a living room or sitting room. A private household comprises either one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements - that is, sharing at least one meal a day or sharing a living room or sitting room. A private household comprises either one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements - that is, sharing at least one meal a day or sharing a living room or sitting room.      
Group quarters A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc. However, proprietors and manager of hotels, principals of boarding schools, persons in charge of various other types of institutions and members of staff who, with their families, occupy flats on the premises are considered as private households. A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc. However, proprietors and manager of hotels, principals of boarding schools, persons in charge of various other types of institutions and members of staff who, with their families, occupy flats on the premises are considered as private households. A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc. However, proprietors and manager of hotels, principals of boarding schools, persons in charge of various other types of institutions and members of staff who, with their families, occupy flats on the premises are considered as private households. A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc. However, proprietors and manager of hotels, principals of boarding schools, persons in charge of various other types of institutions and members of staff who, with their families, occupy flats on the premises are considered as private households. A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc. However, proprietors and manager of hotels, principals of boarding schools, persons in charge of various other types of institutions and members of staff who, with their families, occupy flats on the premises are considered as private households. Examples of non-private households are establishments or institutions. These include hotels, country clubs, guest houses, B&Bs, boarding houses, hostel, semiary, monastery or convent, hospital, nurses' home, nursing home, county home, orphanage, boarding school, garda stations, and military barracks. Communal Establishments (CEs) or non-private households, including, hotel, boarding house, guest house, bed and breakfast, hostel, educational establishment, religious community, children's home, nursing home, hospital/nurses' home, prison, defence establishment (including ships), civilian ships, boats and barges, garda station, and holiday campsite Communal Establishments (CEs) or non-private households, including, hotel, boarding house, guest house, bed and breakfast, hostel, educational establishment, religious community, children's home, nursing home, hospital/nurses' home, prison, defence establishment (including ships), civilian ships, boats and barges, garda station, and holiday campsite Communal Establishments (CEs) or non-private households are establishments providing managed (full-time or part-time supervision) residential accommodation. This includes hotel, boarding house, guest house, bed and breakfast, hostel, educational establishment, religious community, children's home, nursing home, hospital/nurses' home, prison, defence establishment (including ships), civilian ships, boats and barges, garda station, and holiday campsite. Boarding houses with less than five boarders on Census Night are treated as private households.      
                         

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