Census 2011 round (cens_11r)

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statistics Sweden


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Dissemination format
11. Accessibility of documentation
12. Quality management
13. Relevance
14. Accuracy
15. Timeliness and punctuality
16. Comparability
17. Coherence
18. Cost and Burden
19. Data revision
20. Statistical processing
21. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Statistics Sweden

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Population and Welfare Department, Register Unit

1.5. Contact mail address

SCB
SE-701 89 Örebro
SWEDEN


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 13/11/2013
2.2. Metadata last posted 31/12/2013
2.3. Metadata last update 31/12/2013


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

The Swedish Census is fully register-based, and the main registers include population and dwellings.

3.2. Classification system

ISCO-08, NACE Rev. 2, ISCED 97

3.3. Coverage - sector
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1. Statistical concepts and definitions - Usual residence

Usual residence means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage.
Persons usually resident in the place of enumeration but absent, or expected to be absent, at the time of the census for less than one year shall be considered as temporarily absent persons and thus included in the total unsually population. In contrast, persons living or expected to live outside the place of enumeration for one year or more shall not be considered temporarily absent and shall therefore be excluded from the total population. This is regardless of the length of visits that they may pay to their families from time to time.
Persons who are enumerated but do not meet the criteria for usual residence in the place of enumeration, i.e. do not live or do not expect to live in the place of enumeration for a continuous period of at least 12 months, are considered temporarily present and are therefore not counted in the total usually resident population.

3.4.2. Statistical concepts and definitions - Sex

The sex of the persons.

3.4.3. Statistical concepts and definitions - Age

The age reached at the reference date (in completed years).

3.4.4. Statistical concepts and definitions - Marital status

Marital status is the (legal) conjugal status of an individual in relation to the marriage laws of the country (de jure status).
A person shall be classified according to his/her most recently acquired legal marital status at the reference date.
'Registered partnerships' are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
In countries where the legislation includes provisions for married partners to be 'legally separated', such 'legally separated' persons are classified under 'married'.

Marriages and divorces are regulated in “Äktenskapsbalken (1987:230)”. Between 1995 and 2009 it was possible to register same-sex partnerships. Registered partnerships were regulated in “Lagen (1994:1117) om registrerade partnerskap”.

3.4.5. Statistical concepts and definitions - Family status

The family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense, that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children, or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. A child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) shall consider the one where he or she spends the majority of the time as his or her household. Where an equal amount of time is spent with both parents the household shall be the one where the child is found at the time on census night.
The term couple shall include married couples, couples in registered partnerships, and couples who live in a consensual union.
Registered partnerships are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
Two persons are considered to be partners in a 'consensual union' when they
— belong to the same household, and
— have a marriage-like relationship with each other, and
— are not married to or in a registered partnership with each other.
'Skip-generation households' (households consisting of a grandparent or grandparents and one or more grandchildren, but no parent of those grandchildren) are not included in the definition of a family.

3.4.6. Statistical concepts and definitions - Household status

Private households may be defined according to the 'housekeeping concept' , or, if this is not possible, Member States may apply the 'household-dwelling' concept.
1. Housekeeping concept
According to the housekeeping concept, a private household is either:
(a) A one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies, as a lodger, a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or
(b) A multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living. Members of the group may pool their incomes to a greater or lesser extent.
2. Household-dwelling concept
The household-dwelling concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit. In the household dwelling concept, then, the number of occupied housing units and the number of households occupying them is equal, and the locations of the housing units and house­ holds are identical.
The category 'Persons living in a private household' comprises 'Persons in a family nucleus' and 'Persons not in a family nucleus'. The category 'Persons in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who belong to a private household that contains a family nucleus of which they are a member. 'Persons not in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who either belong to a non-family household or to a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household.
A non-family household can be a one-person household ('Living alone') or a multiperson household without any family nucleus. The category 'Not living alone' comprises persons that live either in a multiperson household without any family nucleus or in a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household. Persons who belong to a skip-generation household and who are not member of any family nucleus in that household shall be classified in the optional category 'Persons living in a household with relative(s)'.
The term 'son/daughter' is defined as the term 'child' in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'. 'Husband/wife couple' means a married opposite-sex couple.
'Registered partnership' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Legal marital status'. 'Consensual union' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'.
The category 'Partners' comprises 'Persons in a married couple', 'Partners in a registered partnership' and 'Partners in a consensual union'.
'Primary homeless persons' are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters as defined in the technical specifications for the topic 'Type of living quarters'.

Sweden use the ‘household-dwelling’ concept, and one household is created within each dwelling. Within the dwelling one or more families are created. A family is created between persons with civil and/or biological links. Household status is given to each person in each household and family status is given to each person in each family. The total population register includes information of legal and biological links between persons and this information is used when household status and family status is given to each person in a household or family.  

To be classified as a person in a "Married Couple" or "Registered Partnership" both persons in the couple shall be registered in the same dwelling. 

If there are more than two persons in the household who could form a cohabiting couple, no cohabiting couples are formed and all persons in the household are classified as "Persons not in a family nucleus - Not living alone." 

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling cannot form a household and are classified as "Persons not living in a private household, but category not stated.

See also 20.5 Data compilation

3.4.7. Statistical concepts and definitions - Current activity status

Current activity status' is the current relationship of a person to economic activity, based on a reference period of one week, which may be either a specified, recent, fixed, calendar week, or the last complete calendar week, or the last seven days prior to enumeration.
The 'currently economically active population' comprises all persons who fulfil the requirements for inclusion among the employed or the unemployed.
'Employed' persons comprise all persons aged 15 years or over who during the reference week:
(a) performed at least one hour of work for pay or profit, in cash or in kind, or
(b) were temporarily absent from a job in which they had already worked and to which they maintained a formal attachment, or from a self-employment activity.
The 'unemployed' comprise all persons aged 15 years or over who were:
(a) 'without work', that is, were not in wage employment or self-employment during the reference week; and
(b) 'currently available for work', that is, were available for wage employment or self-employment during the reference week and for two weeks after that; and
(c) 'seeking work', that is, had taken specific steps to seek wage employment or self-employment within four weeks ending with the reference week.
The category 'Currently not economically active' includes persons below the national minimum age for economic activity.
In ascribing a single activity status to each person, priority is given to the status of 'employed' in preference to 'unemployed', and to the status of 'unemployed' in preference to 'not economically active'.

Current activity status refers to persons aged between 15 and 74 years.

3.4.8. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupation

Occupation' refers to the type of work done in a job (that is the main tasks and duties of the work). Persons doing more than one job are allocated an occupation based on their main job, which is identified according to the time spent on the job or, if not available, to the income received.
The breakdown by occupation is available for persons aged 15 or over that were:
— employed during the reference week, or
— unemployed during the reference week, but have ever been in employment
Persons are classified according to the occupation they had during their most recent employment. The categories included in the breakdown 'occupation' correspond to the major groups of the ISCO-08 (COM) classification.
Persons under the age of 15 years, as well as persons aged 15 or over that were:
— not economically active during the reference week, or
— unemployed, never worked before (i.e. they have never been employed in their lives)
are classified under 'not applicable'.
The allocation of a person within the breakdowns of the topics 'Occupation', 'Industry' and 'Status in employment' is based on the same job.

Occupation refers to persons aged between 16 and 74 years.

3.4.9. Statistical concepts and definitions - Industry

Industry (branch of economic activity) is the kind of production or activity of the establishment (or similar unit) in which the job of a currently economically active person is located.
Persons doing more than one job shall be allocated an industry (branch of economic activity) based on their main job, which is to be identified according to the time spent on the job or (if not available) the income received.
The breakdown by industry is available for persons aged 15 or over that were:
— employed during the reference week, or
— unemployed during the reference week, but have ever been in employment
Persons are classified according to the industry they worked in during their most recent employment. The categories included in the breakdown 'industry' list the 21 sections of the NACE Rev. 2 classification and appropriate aggregates.
Persons under the age of 15 years, as well as persons aged 15 or over that were:
— not economically active during the reference week, or
— unemployed, and have never worked before (i.e. have never been employed in their lives)
are classified under 'not applicable'.
The allocation of a person within the breakdowns of the topics 'Occupation', 'Industry' and 'Status in employment' is based on the same job.

Industry refers to persons aged between 15 and 74 years.

3.4.10. Statistical concepts and definitions - Status in employment

An 'employee' is a person who works in a 'paid employment' job, that is a job where the explicit or implicit contract of employment gives the incumbent a basic remuneration, which is independent of the revenue of the unit for which he/she works.
An 'employer' is a person who, working on his or her own account or with a small number of partners, holds a 'self-employment' job and, in this capacity, on a continuous basis (including the reference week) has engaged one or more persons to work for him/her as 'employees'.
If a person is both employer and employee, he/she shall be allocated to only one group according to the time spent on the job or (if not available) the income received.
An 'own-account worker' is a person who, working on his/her own account or with one or a few partners, holds a 'self-employment job' and has not engaged, on a continuous basis (including the reference week), any 'employees'.
A 'contributing family worker' is a person who
— holds a 'self-employment’ job in a market-oriented establishment operated by a related person, living in the same household, and
— cannot be regarded as a partner (that is an employer or own-account worker) because the degree of commitment to the operation of the establishment, in terms of working time or other factors to be determined by national circumstances, is not at a level comparable to that of the head of the establishment.
A 'member of a producers' cooperative' is a person who holds a 'self-employment' job in an establishment organised as a coop­ erative, in which each member takes part on an equal footing with other members in determining the organisation of production, sales and/or other work, the investments and the distribution of the proceeds among the members.

Status in employment refers to persons aged between 15 and 74 years.

3.4.11. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of work

The location of the place of work is the geographical area in which a currently employed person does his/her job.
The place of work of those mostly working at home is the same as their usual residence. The term 'working' refers to work done as an 'employed person' as defined under the topic 'Current activity status'. 'Mostly' working at home means that the person spends all or most of the time working at home, and less, or no, time in a place of work other than at home.

The location of the place of work refers to persons aged between 15 and 74 years.

3.4.12. Statistical concepts and definitions - Educational attainment

'Educational attainment' refers to the highest level successfully completed in the educational system of the country where the education was received. All education which is relevant to the completion of a level is taken into account even if this was provided outside schools and universities.
Persons aged 15 years or over are classified under only one of the categories according to their educational attainment (highest completed level). Persons under the age of 15 years are classified under 'not applicable'.

'Educational attainment' is only available for persons aged 16 years or over. Persons aged 15 years are classified as 'Not stated'.

3.4.13. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of the locality

A locality is defined as a distinct population cluster, that is an area defined by population living in neighbouring or contiguous buildings. Such buildings may either:
(a) form a continuous built-up area with a clearly recognisable street formation; or
(b) though not part of such a built-up area, comprise a group of buildings to which a locally recognised place name is uniquely attached; or
(c) though not meeting either of the above two criteria, constitute a group of buildings, none of which is separated from its nearest neighbour by more than 200 metres.

3.4.14. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of birth

Place of birth is defined as the place of usual residence of the mother at the time of the birth, or, if not available, as the place in which the birth took place.
Information on the country of birth is based on the international boundaries existing on 1 January 2011. 'EU Member State', in particular, means a country that is a member of the European Union on 1 January 2011. The list of countries in the breakdown 'country/place of birth' serves only for statistical purposes.
For reporting countries that are EU Member States, the sub-category under the category 'other EU Member State' that refers to their Member State does not apply. For reporting countries that are not EU Member States, the category 'Other EU Member State' shall be read as 'EU Member State'.
The category 'Information not classifiable according to current borders' covers those persons whose country of birth existed at the time of the birth, but no longer exists at the time of the census, and who cannot be allocated uniquely to one country existing at the time of the census, i.e. according to current borders.
The category 'outside any country' covers persons for whom the usual residence of the mother at the time of the birth is not known and who where born outside the borders of any country, for example at sea or in the air.

For the majority of the population information on the country of birth is based on the international boundaries existing on 1 January 2011. But in some cases it refers to a different time.

3.4.15. Statistical concepts and definitions - Country of citizenship

Citizenship is defined as the particular legal bond between an individual and his/her State, acquired by birth or naturalisation, whether by declaration, option, marriage or other means according to the national legislation.
A person with two or more citizenships is allocated to only one country of citizenship, to be determined in the following order of precedence:
1. reporting country; or
2. if the person does not have the citizenship of the reporting country: other EU Member State; 3. if the person does not have the citizenship of another EU Member State: other country outside the European Union.
'EU Member State' means a country that is a member of the European Union on 1 January 2011. The list of countries in the breakdown 'Country of citizenship' shall only apply for statistical purposes.
For reporting countries that are EU Member States, the sub-category of the category 'citizenship not of reporting country, but other EU Member State' that refers to their Member State does not apply. For reporting countries that are not EU Member States, the category 'citizenship not of reporting country, but other EU Member State' shall be changed to 'citizenship of an EU Member State'.
Persons who are neither citizens of any country nor stateless and who have some but not all of the rights and duties associated with citizenship shall be classified under 'recognised non-citizens'.

For persons with more than one citizenship Sweden has a slightly different order of precedence.

3.4.16. Statistical concepts and definitions - Year of arrival in the country

The year of arrival is the calendar year in which a person most recently established usual residence in the country. The data for 2011 refer to the time span between 1 January 2011 and the reference date.

3.4.17. Statistical concepts and definitions - Residence one year before

This indicates the relationship between the current place of usual residence and the place of usual residence one year prior to the census. Children under one year of age are classified under 'Not applicable'.
For all persons that have changed their usual residence more than once within the year prior to the reference date, the previous place of usual residence is the last usual residence from which they moved to their current place of usual residence.

3.4.18. Statistical concepts and definitions - Housing arrangements

The topic 'Housing arrangements' covers the whole population and refers to the type of housing in which a person usually resides at the time of the census. This covers all persons who are usual residents in different types of living quarters, or who do not have a usual residence and stay temporarily in some type of living quarters, or who are roofless, sleeping rough or in emergency shelters, when the census is taken.
Occupants are persons with their usual residence in the places listed in the respective category.
'Conventional dwellings' are structurally separate and independent premises at fixed locations which are designed for permanent human habitation and are, at the reference date, either used as a residence, or vacant, or reserved for seasonal or secondary use.
'Separate' means surrounded by walls and covered by a roof or ceiling so that one or more persons can isolate themselves. 'Independent' means having direct access from a street or a staircase, passage, gallery or grounds.
'Other housing units' are huts, cabins, shacks, shanties, caravans, houseboats, barns, mills, caves or any other shelter used for human habitation at the time of the census, irrespective if it was designed for human habitation.
'Collective living quarters' are premises which are designed for habitation by large groups of individuals or several households and which are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the time of the census.
'Occupied conventional dwellings', 'other housing units' and 'collective living quarters' together represent'‘living quarters'. Any 'living quarter' must be the usual residence of at least one person.
The sum of occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units represents 'housing units'.
The homeless (persons who are not usual residents in any living quarter category) can be persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters (primary homelessness) or persons moving frequently between temporary accommodation (secondary homelessness).

3.4.19. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of family nucleus

The family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense, that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children, or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. A child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) shall consider the one where he or she spends the majority of the time as his or her household. Where an equal amount of time is spent with both parents the household shall be the one where the child is found at the time on census night.
The term couple shall include married couples, couples in registered partnerships, and couples who live in a consensual union.
Registered partnerships are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
Two persons are considered to be partners in a 'consensual union' when they
— belong to the same household, and
— have a marriage-like relationship with each other, and
— are not married to or in a registered partnership with each other.
'Skip-generation households' (households consisting of a grandparent or grandparents and one or more grandchildren, but no parent of those grandchildren) are not included in the definition of a family.

3.4.20. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of family nucleus

The family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense, that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children, or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. A child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) shall consider the one where he or she spends the majority of the time as his or her household. Where an equal amount of time is spent with both parents the household shall be the one where the child is found at the time on census night.
The term couple shall include married couples, couples in registered partnerships, and couples who live in a consensual union.
Registered partnerships are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
Two persons are considered to be partners in a 'consensual union' when they
— belong to the same household, and
— have a marriage-like relationship with each other, and
— are not married to or in a registered partnership with each other.
'Skip-generation households' (households consisting of a grandparent or grandparents and one or more grandchildren, but no parent of those grandchildren) are not included in the definition of a family.

3.4.21. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of private household

Private households may be defined according to the 'housekeeping concept' , or, if this is not possible, Member States may apply the 'household-dwelling' concept.
1. Housekeeping concept
According to the housekeeping concept, a private household is either:
(a) A one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies, as a lodger, a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or
(b) A multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living. Members of the group may pool their incomes to a greater or lesser extent.
2. Household-dwelling concept
The household-dwelling concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit. In the household dwelling concept, then, the number of occupied housing units and the number of households occupying them is equal, and the locations of the housing units and house­ holds are identical.
The category 'Persons living in a private household' comprises 'Persons in a family nucleus' and 'Persons not in a family nucleus'. The category 'Persons in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who belong to a private household that contains a family nucleus of which they are a member. 'Persons not in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who either belong to a non-family household or to a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household.
A non-family household can be a one-person household ('Living alone') or a multiperson household without any family nucleus. The category 'Not living alone' comprises persons that live either in a multiperson household without any family nucleus or in a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household. Persons who belong to a skip-generation household and who are not member of any family nucleus in that household shall be classified in the optional category 'Persons living in a household with relative(s)'.
The term 'son/daughter' is defined as the term 'child' in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'. 'Husband/wife couple' means a married opposite-sex couple.
'Registered partnership' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Legal marital status'. 'Consensual union' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'.
The category 'Partners' comprises 'Persons in a married couple', 'Partners in a registered partnership' and 'Partners in a consensual union'.
'Primary homeless persons' are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters as defined in the technical specifications for the topic 'Type of living quarters'.

3.4.22. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of private household

Private households may be defined according to the 'housekeeping concept' , or, if this is not possible, Member States may apply the 'household-dwelling' concept.
1. Housekeeping concept
According to the housekeeping concept, a private household is either:
(a) A one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies, as a lodger, a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or
(b) A multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living. Members of the group may pool their incomes to a greater or lesser extent.
2. Household-dwelling concept
The household-dwelling concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit. In the household dwelling concept, then, the number of occupied housing units and the number of households occupying them is equal, and the locations of the housing units and house­ holds are identical.
The category 'Persons living in a private household' comprises 'Persons in a family nucleus' and 'Persons not in a family nucleus'. The category 'Persons in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who belong to a private household that contains a family nucleus of which they are a member. 'Persons not in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who either belong to a non-family household or to a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household.
A non-family household can be a one-person household ('Living alone') or a multiperson household without any family nucleus. The category 'Not living alone' comprises persons that live either in a multiperson household without any family nucleus or in a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household. Persons who belong to a skip-generation household and who are not member of any family nucleus in that household shall be classified in the optional category 'Persons living in a household with relative(s)'.
The term 'son/daughter' is defined as the term 'child' in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'. 'Husband/wife couple' means a married opposite-sex couple.
'Registered partnership' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Legal marital status'. 'Consensual union' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'.
The category 'Partners' comprises 'Persons in a married couple', 'Partners in a registered partnership' and 'Partners in a consensual union'.
'Primary homeless persons' are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters as defined in the technical specifications for the topic 'Type of living quarters'.

3.4.23. Statistical concepts and definitions - Tenure status of household

The topic 'Tenure status of households' refers to the arrangements under which a private household occupies all or part of a housing unit.
Households that are in the process of paying off a mortgage on the housing unit in which they live or purchasing their housing unit over time under other financial arrangements are classified under 'Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit'.
Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit and at least one member tenant of all or part of the housing unit are classified under category 'Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit'.

3.4.24. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of living quarter

'Conventional dwellings' are structurally separate and independent premises at fixed locations which are designed for permanent human habitation and are, at the reference date, either used as a residence, or vacant, or reserved for seasonal or secondary use.
'Separate' means surrounded by walls and covered by a roof or ceiling so that one or more persons can isolate themselves. 'Independent' means having direct access from a street or a staircase, passage, gallery or grounds.
'Other housing units' are huts, cabins, shacks, shanties, caravans, houseboats, barns, mills, caves or any other shelter used for human habitation at the time of the census, irrespective if it was designed for human habitation.
'Collective living quarters' are premises which are designed for habitation by large groups of individuals or several households and which are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the time of the census.
'Occupied conventional dwellings', 'other housing units' and 'collective living quarters' together represent'‘living quarters'. Any 'living quarter' must be the usual residence of at least one person.

3.4.25. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupancy status

'Occupied conventional dwellings' are conventional dwellings which are the usual residence of one or more persons at the time of the census. 'Unoccupied conventional dwellings' are conventional dwellings which are not the usual residence of any person at the time of the census.
Conventional dwellings with persons present but not included in the census are classified under the category 'Dwellings reserved for seasonal or secondary use'.

Dwellings with registered residents are classified as occupied conventionel dwellings. Dwellings without registered residents are classified as unoccupied conventionel dwellings.

3.4.26. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of ownership

The topic 'Type of ownership' refers to the ownership of the dwelling and not to that of the land on which the dwelling stands.
'Owner-occupied dwellings' are those where at least one occupant of the dwelling owns parts or the whole of the dwelling. 'Cooperative ownership' refers to ownership within the framework of a housing cooperative.
'Rented dwellings' are those where at least one occupant pays a rent for the occupation of the dwelling, and where no occupant owns parts or the whole of the dwelling.

3.4.27. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of occupants

The number of occupants of a housing unit is the number of people for whom the housing unit is the usual residence.

3.4.28. Statistical concepts and definitions - Useful floor space

Useful floor space is defined as the floor space measured inside the outer walls excluding non-habitable cellars and attics and, in multi-dwelling buildings, all common spaces; or the total floor space of rooms falling under the concept of 'room'.
A 'room' is defined as a space in a housing unit enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult (4 square metres at least) and at least 2 metres high over the major area of the ceiling.

The Swedish definition of a 'room' is a space of at least 7 square meters, with direct daylight.  

3.4.29. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of rooms

A 'room' is defined as a space in a housing unit enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult (4 square metres at least) and at least 2 metres high over the major area of the ceiling.

The Swedish definition of a 'room' is a space of at least 7 square meters, with direct daylight. 

3.4.30. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (floor space)

The topic ‘Density standard’ relates the useful floor space in square metres or the number of rooms to the number of occupants, as specified under the topic 'Number of occupants'.
Data report on the density standard measured by the 'useful floor space', or, if not possible, by the 'number of rooms'.

3.4.31. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (number of rooms)

The topic ‘Density standard’ relates the useful floor space in square metres or the number of rooms to the number of occupants, as specified under the topic 'Number of occupants'.
Data report on the density standard measured by the 'useful floor space', or, if not possible, by the 'number of rooms'.

3.4.32. Statistical concepts and definitions - Water supply system

Access to piped water in the housing unit.

3.4.33. Statistical concepts and definitions - Toilet facilities

Access to flush toilet in the housing unit.

3.4.34. Statistical concepts and definitions - Bathing facilities

A bathing facility is any facility designed to wash the whole body and includes shower facilities.

3.4.35. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of heating

A housing unit is considered as centrally heated if heating is provided either from a community heating centre or from an installation built in the building or in the housing unit, established for heating purposes, without regard to the source of energy.

3.4.36. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of building

The topic 'Dwellings by type of building' refers to the number of dwellings in the building in which the dwelling is placed.

3.4.37. Statistical concepts and definitions - Period of construction

The topic 'Dwellings by period of construction' refers to the year when the building in which the dwelling is placed was completed.

3.5. Statistical unit

The EU programme for the 2011 population and housing censuses include data on persons, private households, family nucleus, conventional dwellings and living quarters.

3.6. Statistical population

Persons enumerated in the 2011 census are those who were usually resident in the territory of the reporting country at the census reference date. Usual residence means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage.

The Census population refers to the registered population on the referensday (31 December 2011).

3.7. Reference area

Data are available at different levels of geographical detail: national, NUTS1, NUTS2, NUTS3 and local administrative units (LAU2).

3.8. Coverage - Time

Data refer to the situation in the reporting country at the census reference date (see item 5)

3.9. Base period


4. Unit of measure Top

Counts of statistical units


5. Reference Period Top
31/12/2011


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

Statistics Sweden is the Swedish National Statistical Institute.

Statistics Sweden is an administrative agency. Our main task is to supply customers with statistics for decision making, debate and research. We are mainly assigned these tasks by the government and different agencies, but we also have customers in the private sector and among researchers.

Besides producing and communicating our statistical data, we are tasked with supporting and coordinating the Swedish system for official statistics. We also take part in international statistical cooperation.

The Administrative Procedure Act (1986:223) regulates how the government should handle cases and decisions. The Act also contains important rules about government service obligation, conflict of interest, communication about decisions, etc.
The rules of the Government regulation (2007:515) that are general for the state authorities supplemented by Ordinance (2007:762) with Instructions for SCB. The Instruction contains detailed rules on SCB's management, council and committees. It also regulates the SCB's tasks.
DG has in SCB's Rules of procedure adopted further rules complementary to official regulation and SCB's instruction. 

The 2011 Population and Housing Census is regulated by an EU legislation.

6.1.1. Bodies responsible

Statistics Sweden

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Not available.


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

The activities of Statistics Sweden concerning confidentiality of statistics is regulated by the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (SFS 2009:400, Ch. 24 § 8). Secrecy applies to specific activities of a public authority relating to the production of statistics, for information relating to an individual's personal or financial circumstances and which is attributable to the individual. Data needed for research or statistical purposes and data not directly attributable to the individual, may be disclosed unless it is manifestly evident that the information may be disclosed without the private party or a person closely related to him being harmed. This is a so called reversed requirement of damage, assuming secrecy to be the main rule, as contrasted to straight requirement of damage.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

The main measure taken to protect the data is record swapping of random pairs of households on a geographical variable. This method has the advantage that all tables produced from the protected data are consistent, and the method is targeted so that households most at risk for disclosure are more likely to be swapped. However, some individuals are unique at a national level when country of birth or citizenship is combined with age and gender, and extra measures had to be taken in order to protect this group from disclosure. For this group, the country of birth/citizenship is changed within continent according to a probability matrix based on the country frequencies in the population.


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

Data are made available 27 months after the end of the reference period (March 2014)

8.2. Release calendar access
8.3. Release policy - user access

Swedish Census data is published in the Census Hub at Eurostat web site, and may be accessed through Statistics Swedens web site.


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

Data on population and housing censuses are disseminated every decade


10. Dissemination format Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

No national news releases are planned.

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

No national publications are planned.

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

A link to Eurostat's CensusHuB from SCB's website.

No national on-line database on Census data.  

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Access to Census micro data is treated as all other requests on micro data.  

10.5. Dissemination format - other

No other dissemination formats.


11. Accessibility of documentation Top
11.1. Documentation on methodology

Documentation on methodology will be available on Statistics Swedens web site on 31 March 2014.

11.2. Quality management - documentation

Documentation on quality managemnet will be available on Statistics Swedens web site on 31 March 2014.


12. Quality management Top
12.1. Quality assurance

Not applicable

12.2. Quality management - assessment
12.2.1. Coverage assessment

The Swedish census is fully register based. It relies on a statistical register of the total population, kept by Statistics Sweden and fed by an administrative register kept by the Tax Agency, comprising all persons registered in Sweden at the reference date. The statistical register is considered as the target population. There has not been any coverage assessment of the statistical or the administrative register in connection to the census.

12.2.2. Post-enumeration survey(s)

A post-enumeration survey has been carried out, focusing on how accurate the population registration on dwelling number is, and how this may influence household type and household size as given by the census register. A stratified sample of 15000 individuals were asked to give information about the household at the reference day of the census. Respondents were given the opportunity to answer on line or by a mailed questionnaire. Response rate was about 65 % (weighted). If household size or -type differed between survey and register, there was a re-contact by telephone in order to establish the true value. Almost 3000 individuals were contacted and 85 % agreed to confirm their answers from the initial data collection.The results indicate that the numbers for smaller households are underestimated and the numbers for larger households are overestimated by the register.


13. Relevance Top
13.1. Relevance - User Needs

The census data disseminated by Eurostat are addressed to policy makers, researchers, media and the general public.

13.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

No user satisfaction surveys are carried out. User inquiries are handled by the Eurostat User Support service.

13.3. Completeness

Depends on the availability of data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes.


14. Accuracy Top
14.1. Accuracy - overall
14.1.1. Accuracy overall - Usual residence

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic 

14.1.2. Accuracy overall - Sex

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.3. Accuracy overall - Age

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.4. Accuracy overall - Marital status

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.5. Accuracy overall - Family status

Data on concensual union is not available, and are derived by using a model. This may imply unreliability for this topic.

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a family and are classified as 'Not applicable'.

14.1.6. Accuracy overall - Household status

Data on concensual union is not available, and are derived by using a model. This may imply unreliability for this topic.

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a household and are classified as 'Persons not living in a private household, but category not stated'.

Data on primary homelessness can not be classified. But according to a report from the  National Board of Health and Wellfare the number of primary homeless persons in 2011 is estimated to 4 500.

14.1.7. Accuracy overall - Current activity status

In the Swedish register-based model it is not possible to distinguish all persons on parental leave or long term sick leave. These persons are classified as 'Currently not economically active', even if they usually are economically active (in the work force)."

14.1.8. Accuracy overall - Occupation

Part of the register on occupation is not updated every year. This may imply unreliability for this topic.

14.1.9. Accuracy overall - Industry

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.10. Accuracy overall - Status in employment

Persons on parental leave or long term sick are classified as 'Currently not economically active', even if they usually are economically active (in the work force) and therefore 'Status in employment' is not applicable.

14.1.11. Accuracy overall - Place of work

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.12. Accuracy overall - Educational attainment

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.13. Accuracy overall - Size of the locality

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.14. Accuracy overall - Place of birth

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.15. Accuracy overall - Country of citizenship

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.16. Accuracy overall - Year of arrival in the country

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.17. Accuracy overall - Residence one year before

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.18. Accuracy overall - Housing arrangements

Data on other housing units are not available. Data on homelessness can not be classified. But according to a report from the  National Board of Health and Wellfare the number of homeless persons in 2011 is estimated to 34 000. Of which the number of primary homeless persons is estimated to 4 500.

14.1.19. Accuracy overall - Type of family nucleus

Data on concensual union is not available, and are derived by using a model. This may imply unreliability for this topic.

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a family and therefore not included in the topic.

14.1.20. Accuracy overall - Size of family nucleus

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a family and therefore not included in the topic.

14.1.21. Accuracy overall - Type of private household

Data on concensual union is not available, and are derived by using a model. This may imply unreliability for this topic.

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a household and therefore not included in the topic.

14.1.22. Accuracy overall - Size of private household

Persons not possible to link to a dwelling can not form a household and therefore not included in the topic.

14.1.23. Accuracy overall - Tenure status of household

Data on tenure status of household is not available, and are derived by using a model.

Households renting from cooperative owners can not be distinguished and are therefore classified as 'Households occupying all or part of a housing unit under some form of tenure'.

14.1.24. Accuracy overall - Type of living quarter

Data on other housing units are not available.

14.1.25. Accuracy overall - Occupancy status

There are particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic because occupied/unoccupied dwellings refers to the registered residents which can differ from the actual conditions.

14.1.26. Accuracy overall - Type of ownership

Data on type of ownership is not available, and are derived by using a model.

Dwellings in cooperative ownerships that are rented can not be distinguished and are therefore classified as 'Dwellings in cooperative ownership'.

14.1.27. Accuracy overall - Number of occupants

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.28. Accuracy overall - Useful floor space

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.29. Accuracy overall - Number of rooms

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.30. Accuracy overall - Density standard (floor space)

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.31. Accuracy overall - Density standard (number of rooms)

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.1.32. Accuracy overall - Water supply system

Data for the topic is imputed to 100 percent in category 'piped water in the housing unit'. According to previous studies almost all occupied conventional dwellings in Sweden have this facility.

14.1.33. Accuracy overall - Toilet facilities

Data for the topic is imputed to 100 percent in category 'flush toilet in the housing unit'. According to previous studies almost all occupied conventional dwellings in Sweden have this facility.

14.1.34. Accuracy overall - Bathing facilities

Data for the topic is imputed to 100 percent in category 'fixed bath or shower in the housing units'. According to previous studies almost all occupied conventional dwellings in Sweden have these facilities.

14.1.35. Overall accuracy - Type of heating

Data for the topic is imputed to 100 percent in category 'central heating'. According to previous studies almost all occupied conventional dwellings in Sweden have this facility.

14.1.36. Overall accuracy - Type of building

Conventional dwellings in detached two-dwelling buildings where each dwelling has it's own entrance can not be distinguished and are therefore included in 'Conventional dwellings in one-dwelling buildings'. This means that 'Conventional dwellings in two-dwelling buildings' only consists of detached two-dwelling buildings with shared entrance.

14.1.37. Overall accuracy - Period of construction

There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic

14.2. Sampling error
14.3. Non-sampling error


15. Timeliness and punctuality Top
15.1. Timeliness

All hypercubes will be transmitted by 31 March 2014 at the latest.

15.2. Punctuality


16. Comparability Top
16.1. Comparability - geographical

Sweden have done a complete register based Census. This can impair the comparability of the data with Censuses conducted in a traditional or a combined way.

For information on the different topics, see 3.4 Statistical concepts and definitions.

16.2. Comparability - over time


17. Coherence Top
17.1. Coherence - cross domain

Figures provided by the National Statistical Institutes in the framework of the 2011 Population and Housing Census may differ from those transmitted in other statistical domains due to the cross domain differences in definitions and methodologies used.  For additional information please see metadata specific to each domain.

17.2. Coherence - internal

Internal coherence is assured by regulations defining breakdowns and definitions of topics (Regulation (EC) No 1201/2009, Regulation (EU) No 519/2010, Regulation (EU) No 1151/2010)


18. Cost and Burden Top

In order to ensure cost effectiveness Sweden has choosen to do a fully register based census.


19. Data revision Top
19.1. Data revision - policy
19.2. Data revision - practice

No revisions planned. 


20. Statistical processing Top
20.1. Source data
20.1.1. List of data sources
20.1.1.1. List of data sources - data on persons
  • Total population register
  • Register of Education
  • Occupational register
  • Employment register
  • Dwelling register
  • Register on locality
20.1.1.2. List of data sources - data on households
  • Total population register
  • Dwelling register
20.1.1.3. List of data sources - data on family nuclei
  • Total population register
  • Dwelling register
20.1.1.4. List of data sources - data on conventional dwellings
  • Dwelling register
  • Total population register
20.1.1.5. List of data sources - data on living quarters
  • Dwelling register
  • Total population register
20.1.2. Classification of data sources
20.1.2.1. Classification of data sources - data on persons
02.Register-based censuses
20.1.2.2. Classification of data sources - data on households
02.Register-based censuses
20.1.2.3. Classification of data sources - data on family nuclei
02.Register-based censuses
20.1.2.4. Classification of data sources - data on conventional dwellings
02.Register-based censuses
20.1.2.5. Classification of data sources - data on living quarters
02.Register-based censuses
20.2. Frequency of data collection

Data on population and housing censuses are collected every decade, in a reference year that falls during the beginning of every decade

20.3. Data collection

The system of statistical registers used for Census 2011 relies on three core registers kept by Statistics Sweden: the Business Register, the Total Population Register, and the Real Property Register. The core registers are linked to various subject matter registers such as registers of employment, occupation, and education.

Comprehensive identification of persons, businesses, buildings, and dwellings is an essential part of the system. Unique identification of persons and businesses has been in use in Sweden for many years for various administrative purposes, but in order to link persons to dwellings, a new register with a unique dwelling key had to be created. In order to identify apartments, the property owners were responsible for labeling apartments in a block of apartments according to specific rules, and for informing the residents of their dwelling numbers. This was followed by a mailed questionnaire to every adult in the country where the Tax Agency (where the administrative register of all individuals in Sweden is kept) asked for the address of residence, including the dwelling number, and the Total Population Register was updated accordingly. As residents move to a different apartment or single house, they are required to inform the Tax Agency. Almost all public services utilize the administrative register and there is an incentive for individuals to keep the information updated in order to get information, social benefits, and other types of public services. The registration of the population on addresses including dwelling numbers started in September 2010 and ended in March 2011.

20.4. Data validation

The data validation process includes control of:

  • Consistency between objects and variables
  • Valid values
  • Linking process
  • Coherence between the hypercubes
20.5. Data compilation

New information is created by linking the different registers.

The forming of households and families is entirely based on the information from the registers. Individuals registered at the same dwelling form a dwelling household (not necessarily the same as a household in terms of a housekeeping unit). From the information in the registers, household and family variables are derived, such as size of family or household and type of family or household. This requires some information in addition to where persons are registered (i.e. legal marital status or child and parent relations), in combination with some basic rules (i.e. there has to be at least two people to make up a family, two married couples living together count as two families, children with divorced parents can only be counted as members of one household, etc.). There can be more than one family in a household, but never more than one household in a family.

A consensual union between two persons is formed if the persons are:

  • registered in the same dwelling
  • aged 18 years
  • of opposite sex
  • age difference less than 15 years
  • no kinship
20.6. Adjustment


21. Comment Top


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top