“ Census is the Image of the Present and the Future ”

“ Census is the Image of the Present and the Future ” 

ENGENDERING POPULATION CENSUS

THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS (DoS)

GLOBAL FORUM ON GENDER, 10-12 DECEMBER, 2007

ROME, ITALY

THE JORDANIAN EXPERIENCE

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Jordan Population in Figures• Area : 89.342 Km²• Population: Over 5.6

millions• Annual growth Rate: 2.3%

(2006).• Sex Ratio (Male/Female) 106.4 (2006).• Population under 15 years

old: 37% (2006)• Fertility Rate: 3.2 (2005).• Female Economic Activity

Rate: 11.9 % (2006). • Male Economic Activity

Rate: 63.1 % (2006).

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Department of Statistic's (DoS) Procedures to Avoid Gender Bias in the Population Census

•The Preparatory Stage of the Census

Census Contents

Census Operations

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To provide Sex disaggregated data on several topics

Information on sex was recorded in the questionnaire of the census

Providing clear instructions, definitions and classifications to enumerators, such as:

• Who is to be treated as the head of the household ?

•Who is the economically active person ?

To minimize the influence of sex-based stereotypes that respondents and enumerators may hold

Census Contents

The Preparatory Stage of the Census

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The Preparatory Stage of the Census

Census Operations

In the field as interviewers and supervisors.

Both men and women were represented

In the census administration (A woman was appointed as the technical assistant to the executive director of the census)

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Publicity Campaign

All target audiences, both men and women as well as boys and girls were represented in the logo

Logo Posters

Pictures included in the posters identify citizens by Sex and:•  Age groups• Employment type •   Professional groups •   Population in rural areas.•   Disabled persons.

The Preparatory Stage of the Census

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Data Dissemination Stage Gender Specific Census Output

The Analytical Gender Paper

“Population Census Results from Gender Perspective, 2004”

•It covers demographic and socio-economic characteristics for the Jordanian Population at the national level.

•This paper has to a large extent fulfilled the existing gender data gaps in the country.

• Examining quality level of the 2004 census data was done by comparing the results from the previous census (1994) and use that information to monitor the demographic and socio-economic variations occurred on women and men during the period separating the two census.

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Headship Rates by Sex of the Head of Household and the Source of Data

Source of Data

Sex of the Head of the Household

Men Women

Employment & Unemployment Survey, 2004 (one round)

88.0 12.0

Population Census, 2004

89.5 10.5

Employment & Unemployment Survey, 2005

(Annual Report) 88.5 11.5

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Refined Economic Activity and Unemployment Rates for Jordanians by Sex and Source of Data

Source of Data Economic Activity RateUnemployment Rate

Men

Women Total

Men

Women Total

Employment & Unemployment Survey, 2004 (Round)

63.710.437.411.816.512.5

Population Census, 2004

68.619.044.0 19.247.325.2

Employment & Unemployment Survey, 2005

64.411.738.312.825.914.8

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Economic Activity and Unemployment Rates for Jordanians by Sex and Source of Data for

the Rift Valley Area and the Kingdomthe Rift Valley Area and the Kingdom

Area

Source of Data (Population Census, 2004)

Economic Activity Rate

Unemployment Rate

MenWomenTotalMen WomenTotal

Rift Valley74.0 19.0 48.022.0 61.029.0

Kingdom68.6 19.0 44.019.2 47.325.2

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Challenges in Engendering 2004 Challenges in Engendering 2004 Jordanian Population CensusJordanian Population Census

• The Preparatory Stage of the Census Large number of temporary personnel (men and women) were deputized (8787 persons) to work as enumerators, controllers and supervisors. Women represented only 35%.

The reasons behind that are as follows:

Social restrictions based on the negative perception of involvement of women in some sectors (field work).

Turnover was high among the deputized (3075) women because they were office employees, as a result they were reluctant to work in the field.

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Missed Opportunities

• Women’s groups were not part of the consultation process, nor were represented in any committee formed with the user's community.

• Data at governorate level and other administrative levels was not published nor analyzed in gender specific census output (the Analytical Gender Paper). As a result the chance for highlighting the dimension of regional disparities in the empowerment of women in Jordan was lost.

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Missed Opportunities…cont

• Jordan has suffered from the reciprocal streams of internal and international migration, causing significant disparities in age structure, growth, geographic distribution and social and economic characteristics.

• Even so, no information were published on the distribution of non-Jordanians by gender such as: reasons for residence, type of occupation, etc.

• No tangible efforts have been made to review and assess the adequacy of statistics for understanding the diversity of both non-Jordanian women's and men's socio-economic characteristics.

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Next Steps

•Establishment of the Gender Unit at DOS is a sign that Gender issues are included in the Agenda.

•Establishing gender-oriented technical committees and expert groups in addition to the Gender Unit will provide input for 2014 population census, specifically in dealing with gender concerns at all various stages: questionnaire, media, project management, occupation and industrial classifications…