Colombian Sample Characteristics
Census Characteristics
	1964		1973	1985			1993
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
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)
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.
De jure or de facto	de facto		de facto	de jure			de jure
Enumeration unit	Dwellings		Dwellings	Dwellings			Dwellings
Census day	July 15, 1964		October 24, 1973	October 15, 1985			October 24, 1993
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.
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.
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.
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.
Coverage		98.2%	92.8%	91.2%			88.5%
Microdata sample characteristics
	1964		1973	1985			1993
Microdata source	Centro Latinoamericano de Demografia (CELADE)		Universidad de los Andes.	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 tapes of private dwellings.
Sample unit	Individual		Household	Dwelling			Dwelling
Sample fraction	2%		10%	10%			10%
Sample size (person records)	349,652		1,988,831	2,643,125			3,274,467
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)
Units identified
	1964		1973	1985			1993
Dwellings	Not available in microdata sample		Not available in microdata sample	Yes			Yes
Vacant units	Not available in microdata sample		Available but not included in current microdata version	Yes			Yes
Households	Not available in microdata sample		Yes	Yes			Yes
Individuals	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
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
Special populations	People in transit included in microdata sample		People in transit, available but not included in current microdata version.	Not defined			Not defined
Unit definitions
		1964	1973		1985	1993
Dwellings		Separated space with independent access that serves as a human lodging
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. For indigenous population definition of household requires sharing at least one meal.			Individuals living in the same dwelling with common food expenses
Group quarters		Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.
Sources: Florez, Carmen Elisa. "Los censos de poblacion de Colombia 1964 a 1993: Una Introduccion historica", Proyecto Col-Ipums. McCaa, Robert. "Colombia Microdata Samples for four National censuses 1964, 1973, 1985 and 1993" in: Hall, McCaa, and Thorvaldsen (eds.), Handbook of International Historical Microdata for Population Research. Minnesota Population Center, 2000 DANE Division de Censos, Republica de Colombia, Manual de Instruciones para los empdronadores de los Censos, Censos. Nacionales de 1964. [col64ebyn_instructions.PDF] DANE, Republica de Colombia, XIII Censo nacional de poblacion y II de edificios y viviendas, julio 15 de 1964: resumen. CELADE, Informe del Proceso Efectuado con la Muestra del Censo de Colombia 1973, enero 1977. DANE, XIV Censo Nacional de Poblacion y II de Vivienda, Manual del Recolector. DANE, Republica de Colombia, Informe con destino a la oficina de las naciones unidas (stat 131 (7) General) sobre la muestra de avance del XIV censo nacional de poblacion y III de vivienda recolectado el 24 de octubre de 1973. DANE, Republica de Colombia, XIV censo nacional de poblacion y III de vivienda, octubre 24 de 1973: resumen nacional DANE, Republica de Colombia, XV Censo Nacional de Poblacion y IV de vivienda, Manual del Empadronador de Formulario Ampliado. DANE. XV Censo Nacional de Poblacion y IV de Vivienda, Procedimiento de muestreo para el censo 1985 (Documento preliminar de trabajo) unidad de muestras, Bogota, septiembre de 1985. Olaya, Noel. Seminario Taller sobre utilizacion de la informacion de poblacion y vivienda 1985, COMO FUE EL CENSO 85. DANE. Memoria tecnica del censo de '93. Bogota: 1999. XVI Censo Nacional de Poblacion y V de Vivienda, Instructivos para diligenciar los formularios.