Canadian census families: Adjust or not

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Michalowski, Margaret^{; 1}

Affiliations: Demography Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0T6, Canada

Note: [1] The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Statistics Canada.

Abstract: Statistics Canada's Demographic Estimation Programme generates a wide variety of estimates. Among these are Family Estimates which provide information on the total number of families, their distribution by geographical area (provinces and territories), size and type, sex and age of parents, and children's age. The increasing application of such data for measuring social processes has resulted in increased attention to their accuracy. Historically, family estimates have been based on census counts unadjusted for coverage error. In the 1986 Census of Canada, coverage error grew significantly over its 1981 level, and continued to be diversified according to geographic level and demographic group. This leads to consideration of whether to adjust the post-1991 population and family estimates for census coverage error. This paper addresses the ramifications of such adjustment for family estimates, as well as problems of overall consistency with other programmes and data.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-1992-9406

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 351-363, 1992