Quality Statement

Label
Census night population count - 2023 Census: Information by concept en-NZ
Definition

The census night population count is a count of all people present in New Zealand on census night. This includes visitors from overseas who are counted on census night but excludes residents who are temporarily overseas on census night.

The census night population count of an area (subnational count) is a count of all individuals present in that area on census night. It includes visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand and visitors from overseas who were counted in that area on census night but, excludes residents of that area who are temporarily elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas on census night.

en-NZ
Overall quality rating

Moderate quality
Data quality processes section below has more detail on the rating.

en-NZ
Priority level

Priority level 1
A priority level is assigned to all census concepts: priority 1, 2, or 3 (with 1 being highest and 3 being the lowest priority).
The census night population count is a priority 1 concept. Priority 1 concepts are core census concepts that have the highest priority in terms of quality, time, and resources across all phases of a census.
The census priority level for the census night population count remains the same as 2018.
The 2023 Census: Final content report has more information on priority ratings for census concepts.

en-NZ
Subject population

Census night population count
‘Subject population’ means the people, families, households, or dwellings that the count applies to.

en-NZ
How this data is classified

The census night population count is a count of census-form responses plus admin-enumerated records, that is, a count of unit records.

Standards and classifications has more information on what classifications are, how they are reviewed, where they are stored, and how to provide feedback on them.

en-NZ
Question format

Census night population count data is collected from the household set-up form (question 18 on paper dwelling) and individual form (question 7 on paper individual form).

Stats NZ Store House has samples for both the individual and dwelling paper forms.

en-NZ
Examples of how this data is used

Data-use outside Stats NZ:

  • to understand populations for infrastructure and service provision (such as roading or public transport), especially in areas with high numbers of visitors or tourists
  • to provide information on how communities are changing.
en-NZ
Data sources

Where there were missing census responses, admin-enumerated records were added to the census file to count people who were missed.

Methodology for using admin data to count people in the 2023 Census has more information about admin enumeration.

The table below shows the distribution of data sources for the census night population count.

Data sources for population count data, as a percentage of census night population count, 2023 Census
Source of census night population count data Percent
2023 Census response 89.3
Admin data 10.7
No information 0.0
Total 100.0
Note: Due to rounding, individual figures may not always sum to the stated total(s).

Note that when examining census night population count for specific population groups within the subject population, the percentage that is admin-enumerated may differ from that for the overall subject population.

en-NZ
Missing and residual responses

There is no non-response for the census night population count. In the 2023 Census and 2018 Census, admin-enumerated records were used to fill missing responses. In 2013, substitute individual forms were created for missing responses.

en-NZ
Data quality processes

Overall quality rating: Moderate
Data was evaluated to assess whether it meets quality standards and is suitable for use.

The census night population count is evaluated by the consistency and coherence quality metric only. A data sources and coverage quality metric is not produced. Accuracy of response quality metric is also not applicable to unit counts.

The ‘moderate quality’ rating is based on how the census night population count compares with the population benchmarks and expectations (consistency and coherence of the counts) and supported by the quality assessment of the population key demographic attributes (such as census night address).

The census night population count is mostly consistent with expectations across consistency checks. There is an overall difference in the data compared with expectations and benchmarks that can be explained through a combination of real-world change, incorporation of other sources of data, or a change in how the variable has been collected.

Fewer overseas visitors were counted on census night than expected. There are no alternative admin data sources available that would enable counting overseas visitors at their geographical location.

At a higher geographic level, time series by key demographic attributes and census night address are largely comparable to 2018. While comparisons at higher geographies are consistent with expectations, there are areas at geographies below this that vary from expectations. Most, but not all, of these geographies are areas that were impacted by ex-tropical cyclone Gabrielle.

Data quality assurance in the 2023 Census provides more information on the quality rating scale.

en-NZ
Recommendations for use and further information

Census night population count can be used in a comparable manner to the 2013 and 2018 Censuses.

When using this data, users should be aware that a small number of changes have been made to the methodology used to include individuals in the census night population count in the 2023 Census:

  • There is now a process to identify and remove usually resident respondents who were temporarily overseas on census night but completed census forms, as these people are out of scope for the census. In earlier censuses these respondents were not able to be identified or removed from the census night population count.
  • A higher proportion of admin enumerations were able to be placed into a dwelling, rather than a meshblock, providing greater confidence on the accuracy of the location of these admin enumerations.

A break in time series occurred between the 2013 and 2018 Censuses due to the adoption of a combined census model as a mitigation to lower-than-expected response rates in 2018. This model improved the enumeration of traditionally low responding age groups, such as young adults. The 2023 Census uses a combined model by design. The census night population count shows very high consistency with the 2018 Census, and less consistency with the 2013 Census due to the change in census model.

en-NZ
Information by variables from previous censuses

To assess how this concept aligns with the variables from the previous census, use the links:

Contact our Information centre for further information about using this concept.

en-NZ

Information

History

View Full History
Revision Date Responsibility Rationale
38 26/09/2024 10:00:56 AM