Historical Censuses; Numbers from the Dutch Providing access to the Dutch Population census of 1971...
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Transcript of Historical Censuses; Numbers from the Dutch Providing access to the Dutch Population census of 1971...
Historical Censuses; Numbers from the Dutch
Providing access to the Dutch Population census of 1971
drs. L.J.G. Schreven
Structure
• Censuses in the NetherlandsA very short history
•Digitising the 1971 censusApproach, difficulties and solutions and state of
affairs
• Census digitisation projects in the NetherlandsDifferent projects in past, present and future
Censuses 1795 – 1889
Year Census
1795 1st integral Dutch population census (French rule)
1829 1st general population census (Royal Decree 1828)
1839 2nd general population census
1849 3rd general population census
1859 4th general population census
1869 5th general population census
1879 6th general population census (Census Act 1879)
1889 7th general population and occupation census
Censuses 1899 – 1971
Year Census
1899 8th general population, occupation and housing census (1st by Statistics Netherlands)
1909 9th general population, occupation and housing census
1920 10th general population, occupation and housing (1919) census
1930 11th general population, occupation and housing census
1947 12th general population, occupation and housing census
1956 Housing census
1960 13th population census
1971 14th general population, occupation and housing census (Census Act 1970)
Main census objectives
1. To determine the size of the population on a fixed point in time (statistic objective)
2. To prove the reliability of the population registers (administrative objective)
3. To examine the demographic and social-economic characteristics of the population (social objective)
The end of an era
In 1971 the last general census was held. Why? Unwilling population!
Causes:• Deep scars left by World War 2• Fear for an all-knowing government (Big Brother)• Fear for computerised data on the whole society
Consequences:• Public protest against the census• Media attention to all issues concerning privacy policy• Political pressure on Statistics Netherlands
Results
• A new law concerning privacy was passed in 1970• This delayed the census until 1971.• Still there were some people unwilling to cooperate
Opposition against censuses:
1960 2 (absolute figure) unwilling citizens
1971 .2 percent unwilling (about 25.000)
1980 A census test showed an average unwillingness of 26 percent. In big urban areas this rose to almost 60 percent
1981 census was first postponed, later it was cancelled
After 1971Register counts supplemented by random sample surveys.
Year Method
1981 Register count of Population and housing; survey Labour force and housing needs
1991 Register count of Population; survey Labour force and housing needs
1992 and onwards Annual count of housing supply
1995 and onwards Annual count of the population structure
1998 and onwards Annual household statistic
2001 Virtual population census
(dis)advantages
Disadvantages: regional splitting of data is impossible
Advantages: costs are down and results are faster available
Summary
• Decennial censuses between 1829 and 1971
• Privacy controversy leads to cancelling 1981 census
• Censuses are replaced by register counts and surveys
• Detailed annual statistics are introduced from the early nineties
Approach
• Detailed description of the data
• Researching different methods of availability of data (and documentation)
• Manufacturing a test data file
• Researching the statistical security of data
• Preparing the digital archiving of data
Difficulties
Very soon after the project got underway data problems were discovered.
1. Data were incomplete• Missing labels• Missing cases
2. Data were false• ‘Impossible’ data
Solutions
1. Missing labels: scanning – editing – reentering
2. Missing cases: recovering ‘ancient’ data by going back to the source
3. Impossible data: reestablishing corrupt data
Data availability: Remote Execution
The data are rendered available in cooperation with Statistics Netherlands.
Privacy issues restrict availability, therefore we decided to use Remote Execution.
To facilitate Remote Execution a test data file was constructed, which had to be secured.
State of affairs
On schedule
June to September; detailed descriptions of both the data and the documentation
Updating the website (www.volkstellingen.nl)
GIS component
Summary
• Difficulties with data were overcome
• Metadata and documentation are collected
• A test data file was constructed to facilitate Remote Execution
• The website will be updated
• Applications for regional analyses of the data will be available through Statistics Netherlands
Census projects; past, present and future
Past: Centennial census project (1899-1999)
Present: Digitising fund Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (1795-1859, 1930, 1960 and 1971)
Future: Life Courses in Context (1869-1989, 1909, 1920 and 1947)