Evaluation of Census Data for the General Population Census Data of Cambodia 2008

1. Evaluation of Census Data for the General Population Census Data of Cambodia 2008 BY: Mr. Meng Kimhor Deputy Director General of NIS/MoP Presented at Workshop on Census Data Evaluation for the South East Asian Countries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 14-17 November 2011

2. Overview (1) • Pop. Censuses in Cambodia: • First Pop. Census 1962, • Second Pop. Census 1998, • Third Pop. Census 2008, • There was a gap of 36 years between 1962 and 1998 because of conflict and civil war. • The majority of the 1998 General Population Census was supported fully by UNFPA. UNDP provided vehicles, but took them back. • 2008 Pop.Census was supported by UNFPA, JICA, Japanese Gov’t, Germany Gov’t, and RGC • The de facto was used for 1998 and 2008 population census.

3. Overview (2) • Post-enumeration Survey (PES) was conducted immediately after a census for the purpose of evaluating the census quality (from 25 March to 04 April, 2008). • The Provincial Planning Director and Deputy Director in each province coordinated and supervised the PES operations in the respective province. • About 200 enumerators and supervisors carried out the field task. • The net coverage error of missed persons (2.77 percent) and the level of response variance of selected characteristics as estimated by PES show that in the general 2008 General Population Census of Cambodia was conducted satisfactorily.

4. Objective • The main objective of PES is to quantify the omission and duplication and ultimately estimate in the net error in the census count, and also to measure the response errors in respect of a few selected characteristics canvassed in the census. • Apart from evaluation, the PES provides a feedback on operational issues which will be useful while organizing future censuses.

5. Method Used To Evaluate 1998 and 2008 Census Data • Recruit enumerators and supervisors for field task (200 Enu. and Sup for PES of 2008 census). • Sample Design: the sample plan for conducting the PES was very simple. It is a probability sample selected in single stage, using systematic random sampling. • Sample Frame: The sample frame for the PES was the final list of Enumeration Area (EAs) in Cambodia they were to be covered by the 2008 General Population Census. There were about 28,000 EAs listed for the census. • The sample selected consisted of 100 EAs. The selected EAs were re-enumerated for PES. The overall size of the PES sample that was selected about 9,600 households with 46,000 persons for 2008 and in 1998 census PES sample was selected 8,703 households or 45,021 persons. • Sample selection: After sorting the EAs in the sequence indicated the sample was selected at the rate of 1 in 282.6 using a random start for 2008 census and 1998 census, the sample was selected at the rate of 1 in 249.2, using random start of 78.9. The sample was systematic, equal probability selection design as geographic ordering, urban and rural, EAs arranged in order of their estimated sizes within each urban or rural sector.

6. Method Used To Evaluate 1998 and 2008 Census Data (2) • Limitation of PES: many countries undertake post-census studies by re-checking a sample of the census returns, in one way or anther, to try to measure the degree of undercounting. • Training and Fieldwork: There were three distinct stages of operation in the PES such as: i) Listing and enumeration of persons in all households in buildings situated within the allotted Enumeration Area (EA), ii) Desk matching of particulars collected during listing with those contained in the corresponding census schedule, Form B, and iii) Field recollection of particulars, where necessary. • Some Important Aspect of PES Procedure: In order to minimize the non-sampling error in conducting PES field operation the following situation that occurred during the PES re-enumeration were reconciled with the census in order to determine true census misses: i) Births, ii) Deaths, and iii) In-movers and out-movers

7. Main results of evaluation of Census Data

8. Estimates of coverage error

9. Net missed rates by age group and sex for 1998 census (percent)

10. Data Evaluation

11. Standard Error of Census Coverage Estimates

12. Net Undercount Rates in some countries

13. Level of Agreement

14. Rate of Agreement and Aggregate Inconsistency Index for selected characteristics

15. Net Difference Rate and Inconsistency Index of enumerated by age

16. Net Difference Rate And Inconsistency Index for Person Enumerated By Marital Status- Cambodia

17. Net Difference Rate And Inconsistency Index for Person Enumerated By Type of Physical/Mental disability-Cambodia

18. Net Difference Rate And Inconsistency Index for Mothers classified by children ever born

19. Net Difference Rate And Inconsistency Index for Mothers classified by children surviving

20. Problems faced (1) • There were some problems at the household listing as households increased. In some EAs, the households increased to three or four times as compared with the results of the census mapping. Therefore the NIS faced the problem to print and send additional forms to the relevant EAs. • Printing a large volume of census forms and distributing them to the field on time was very crucial.

21. Problems faced (2) • Difficulties in enumeration in urban areas: • Multiple store building; • Locked houses; • Vacant houses; • During PES operation, some respondent forget some information that they answered during census time (hour 00 in 3 March 2008)

22. Conclusion • The PES is the one method to evaluate the census data in 1998 and 2008 • Through the PES, the 1998 and 2008 population census can be estimated over-count (duplicate plus erroneously counted) is only 0.37 in 1998 and 0.62 in 2008. • The quality of enumeration was generally good as revealed by the level of response variance is selected characteristics, age, martial status, mother tongue, literacy physical/mental disability, main activity, the aggregate level of inconsistency is moderate. • The net coverage error of missed persons is 1.78 percent in 1998 population census and 2.77 percent in 2008 population census. So, the generally the 1998 and 2008 was conducted satisfactorily.