Population Censuses in Benin: long term experience and recent developments

Population Censuses in Benin: long term Population Censuses in Benin: long term experience and recent developmentsexperience and recent developments

By: Félicien Donat E. T. Accrombessy,By: Félicien Donat E. T. Accrombessy,Statistician, Chief of Studies and Research Unit,Statistician, Chief of Studies and Research Unit,

National Agency for Employment, BeninNational Agency for Employment, BeninCotonou, BéninCotonou, Bénin

[email protected][email protected]

SUMMARY

• 1 Introduction1 Introduction

• 2. History of census micro-data, availability 2. History of census micro-data, availability and accessibilityand accessibility

• 3 Harmonization: comparability (or absence 3 Harmonization: comparability (or absence thereof-) between censuses, and with thereof-) between censuses, and with international standards, section by sectioninternational standards, section by section

• 4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity 4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity to national and international levelsto national and international levels

1 Introduction1 Introduction

• Some Some historicalhistorical evidence of censuses and evidence of censuses and numbering in the kingdom of Danhomè,numbering in the kingdom of Danhomè,

• Conducting population censuses and surveys in Conducting population censuses and surveys in Benin goes back to the second half of the twentieth Benin goes back to the second half of the twentieth century,century,

• 1961: First Demographic Sample Survey in Benin,1961: First Demographic Sample Survey in Benin,• 1979, 1992 and 2002:Growing experience in 1979, 1992 and 2002:Growing experience in

conducing Population and Housing Censuses by conducing Population and Housing Censuses by the National Office for Statistics (INSAE). the National Office for Statistics (INSAE).

2. History of census micro-data, availability 2. History of census micro-data, availability and accessibilityand accessibility

• First census 1979: lack of appropriated First census 1979: lack of appropriated technology for saving the datatechnology for saving the data

• Micro-data then partially recovered by the ACAP Micro-data then partially recovered by the ACAP projectproject

• Raise in the issue of representativeness of Raise in the issue of representativeness of recovered data.recovered data.

• Data from the 1992 and 2002 censuses are fully Data from the 1992 and 2002 censuses are fully available.available.

• Internal use for specific studies: household labor Internal use for specific studies: household labor surveys, … surveys, …

• Published reports available at the INSAE Published reports available at the INSAE documentation center, documentation center,

• Used to conduct specific surveys, to draw a sample Used to conduct specific surveys, to draw a sample from the census master sample.from the census master sample.

• questionnaires were improved over the years with questionnaires were improved over the years with following informationfollowing information

• geographical location: place of residence, district, geographical location: place of residence, district, city, provincecity, province

• agricultural activity of the households, and when agricultural activity of the households, and when applicable its location;applicable its location;

• ethnicity for nationals, country of origin for ethnicity for nationals, country of origin for foreigners separately in 1992, but asked together foreigners separately in 1992, but asked together in 2002in 2002

2. History of census micro-data, availability 2. History of census micro-data, availability and accessibility (cd)and accessibility (cd)

• In both 1992 and 2002 censuses, questions are In both 1992 and 2002 censuses, questions are quite similar quite similar

• housing questionshousing questions• satisfaction of basic needssatisfaction of basic needs• questions on disability and handicaps were asked questions on disability and handicaps were asked

in 2002 --> allowed analysis of the most deprived in 2002 --> allowed analysis of the most deprived populations.populations.

• Indeed, as for any census, the main results are Indeed, as for any census, the main results are edited in census publication series.edited in census publication series.

• 1979 census: monographies published in 1980, in 1979 census: monographies published in 1980, in 1986 and 1988, two main volumes of “Analysis and 1986 and 1988, two main volumes of “Analysis and results” and “Statistical tables”, results” and “Statistical tables”,


• 1992 census also gave several publications: “Synthesis of 1992 census also gave several publications: “Synthesis of Results”; “Provisional Results”, and three volumes of Results”; “Provisional Results”, and three volumes of “Final results” (1993), “Analysis of results” (1994); “Final results” (1993), “Analysis of results” (1994); “Demographic projections and prospective studies” (1994).“Demographic projections and prospective studies” (1994).

• More data were published later on the population of the More data were published later on the population of the districts:districts:

• 2002 census, three CD-ROM were published in 2003 (also 2002 census, three CD-ROM were published in 2003 (also available in print since 2005), containing: “Synthesis of available in print since 2005), containing: “Synthesis of Results”; “Analysis of results”, and “Listing of villages”. Results”; “Analysis of results”, and “Listing of villages”.

• Publications are similar from census to census, although in Publications are similar from census to census, although in 2002 analysis was developed through2002 analysis was developed through

• Households, Living conditions and Poverty in Benin”, and Households, Living conditions and Poverty in Benin”, and “Characteristics of Vulnerable Persons in Benin”, topics “Characteristics of Vulnerable Persons in Benin”, topics that were not covered in 1992.that were not covered in 1992.


• Lack of doing analysis : data obviously under-utilized.Lack of doing analysis : data obviously under-utilized.• data poorly published in international journals or in data poorly published in international journals or in

publications, for ex: “African Households: Censuses and publications, for ex: “African Households: Censuses and Surveys”, London in 2006 (M. E. Sharpe),Surveys”, London in 2006 (M. E. Sharpe),

• serious difficulties in trying to access data from Benin: a serious difficulties in trying to access data from Benin: a joint research on orphanhood was limited in the findingsjoint research on orphanhood was limited in the findings

• acess to census micro-data to researchers, even within acess to census micro-data to researchers, even within INSAE itself, is an issue,INSAE itself, is an issue,

• Direct access to the data for the members of the census Direct access to the data for the members of the census analysis team .analysis team .

• Misunderstanding between NSO and International Misunderstanding between NSO and International organizations occursorganizations occurs

• system of integrated data bases for censuses and household system of integrated data bases for censuses and household surveys, named Jupiter under construction.surveys, named Jupiter under construction.


33 Harmonization: comparability between Harmonization: comparability between censusescensuses

• Common rationale, comparisons as well as harmonization of Common rationale, comparisons as well as harmonization of concepts with other countries. concepts with other countries.

• New variables were added or modified from census to censusNew variables were added or modified from census to census• Information on vulnerable populations in 2002: disability and Information on vulnerable populations in 2002: disability and

handicap. handicap. • Inconsistencies remain, due to the categories recorded in the Inconsistencies remain, due to the categories recorded in the

field or to the codingfield or to the coding• Social variables.Social variables.• a new category was introduced in 2002, « Polygamic with 3 a new category was introduced in 2002, « Polygamic with 3

wives », wives », • « Relationship with the head of hh » slightly modified, « Relationship with the head of hh » slightly modified, • ““Nationality” and “Ethnicity” were combined in 2002, Nationality” and “Ethnicity” were combined in 2002, • Categories of the variable “Religion” were more detailed in Categories of the variable “Religion” were more detailed in

2002.2002.

• Administrative divisions (geography) and migration.Administrative divisions (geography) and migration.• « Location », accessible information will no go beyond the « Location », accessible information will no go beyond the

district leveldistrict level• Change in administrative organization of the territory: but Change in administrative organization of the territory: but

comparisons are still possible comparisons are still possible • Education variables. Education variables. • Literacy Literacy 6 years or more in 2002, whereas 6 years or more in 2002, whereas 3 years or 3 years or

more in 1992.more in 1992.• Economic variables: minimum age went from 10 years in Economic variables: minimum age went from 10 years in

1992 to 6 years in 2002. 1992 to 6 years in 2002. • Occupation coding: local classification (NAEMA) adapted Occupation coding: local classification (NAEMA) adapted

from the international classification (ICTI, rev3) in 2002, from the international classification (ICTI, rev3) in 2002, whereas the coding used in 1992 was based on the ICTI, whereas the coding used in 1992 was based on the ICTI, rev2.rev2.

3 Harmonization: comparability between 3 Harmonization: comparability between censusescensuses

• Demographic variables. Two questions in the third Demographic variables. Two questions in the third census: survival of father and survival of mother.census: survival of father and survival of mother.fertility of resident women : focused on 12 years or fertility of resident women : focused on 12 years or more in 1992, whereas 10 years or more in 2002.more in 1992, whereas 10 years or more in 2002.RGPH3 provides more details on causes of deaths of RGPH3 provides more details on causes of deaths of women aged 10-55 years (maternal mortality). With women aged 10-55 years (maternal mortality). With info on the place of burial, marital status (age >=10)info on the place of burial, marital status (age >=10)

• variable on disability [handicap] was added, which did variable on disability [handicap] was added, which did not exist in 1979 or 1992: allowed one to capture the not exist in 1979 or 1992: allowed one to capture the disadvantage due to a disability or a handicap disadvantage due to a disability or a handicap

• Housing variables. With respect to housing Housing variables. With respect to housing characteristics, the compound [concession] was coded characteristics, the compound [concession] was coded as a binary variable (Yes/No) in 2002, but was one as a binary variable (Yes/No) in 2002, but was one category of the type of construction in 1992.category of the type of construction in 1992.

3 Harmonization: comparability between 3 Harmonization: comparability between censusescensuses

4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity

• Considerable opportunities for research further along Considerable opportunities for research further along those lines, not only with the “Jupiter” data base those lines, not only with the “Jupiter” data base which groups the three censuses, but also with all the which groups the three censuses, but also with all the other household surveys, whether demographic or other household surveys, whether demographic or socio-economic, in a large harmonized set with respect socio-economic, in a large harmonized set with respect to concepts and variables to be used.to concepts and variables to be used.

• Develop collaboration between the National Statistical Develop collaboration between the National Statistical Institutes and the International Organizations, Institutes and the International Organizations, Partners for development with trust and frank Partners for development with trust and frank cooperation.cooperation.

• Important role of researchers, both national and Important role of researchers, both national and internationalinternational

• Involve students in useful research and studiesInvolve students in useful research and studies• Need of collaboration between NSO and a project Need of collaboration between NSO and a project

such as IPUMS-International: to benefit from the such as IPUMS-International: to benefit from the know-how already developed in this field, and to know-how already developed in this field, and to enable his own researchers to utilize the enable his own researchers to utilize the international micro-data already available international micro-data already available worldwide.worldwide.

• It is therefore important that both parties find a It is therefore important that both parties find a reciprocal interface, and profitable for each of reciprocal interface, and profitable for each of both parties.both parties.

4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity4. Conclusion: Extend the research capacity

Thank you very much forThank you very much for your kind attentionyour kind attention

Mi kou do to do mè

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Population Censuses in Benin: long term experience and recent developments