JOINT UN-ECE/EUROSTAT WORK SESSION

ON POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUSESGENEVA, 30 SEPT- 3 OCT 2013

ETHNO-CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY

AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020

IAN WHITE, Office for National Statistics,

UNITED KNGDOM

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: ETHNICITY

• 31 countries collected information (61 per cent) • No register-based census did so • 23 countries adopted the UNECE definition/ concepts • 14 countries used a combination of ethnic/ cultural and nationality concepts

• 12 used countries only ethnic/cultural concept

• In the UK the situation was complicated • 9 countries allowed multiple responses; 20 allowed only one response • In 24 countries the information was provided in a voluntary basis; in 6 countries it was mandatory

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: ETHNICITY

Type of questions • Combination of pre-defined categories and write-in option: 17 countries

• Open-ended: 12 countries

MontenegroEthnic affiliation

_____________________________________________

AlbaniaWhat is your ethnic group affiliation ? Self-declaration, not obligatory

1 I belong to

2 Prefer not to answer

England and Wales

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: RELIGION

• 28 countries collected information (65 per cent) • Only 1 register-based census did so • 17 countries referred to ‘identification with a religion’ • 11 countries referred to ‘religious belief’ • 4 countries referred to ‘formal membership of a church/religious community’ • In the UK the situation was complicated • In 24 countries the information was provided on a voluntary basis; in 3 countries it was mandatory

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: RELIGION

 Type of questions • Combination of pre-defined categories and write-in option: 16 countries

• Open-ended: 6 countries

Albania

Do you have any religion ? Self-declaration, not obligatory

1 I belong to

2 Yes without specific religion2 None4 Prefer not to answer

England and Wales

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: LANGUAGE

• 36 countries collected information (71 per cent) • Only 1 register-based census did so

• Type of information collected - Mother tongue: 24 countries - Main language:11 countries - Language spoken at home: 20 countries - Knowledge/ability to speak an other language: 13 countries - Knowledge/ability to speak official national language: 7 countries - Sign language: 4 countries • In the UK the situation was complicated

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF UNECE SURVEY: LANGUAGE

 17 Can you understand, speak, read, or write Welsh? Tick all of the boxes that apply Understand spoken Welsh Speak Welsh Read Welsh Write Welsh None of the above

Type of questions

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: ETHNICITY

No substantive changes. Main features cover: • Relevant for understanding cultural diversity• Information used for monitoring equality and discrimination• Subjective, politically sensitive• Often relates to very small populations – thus potentially disclosive in outputs• Multi-dimensional – ancestry to be considered – use of ‘nationality to be avoided• Indigenous populations to be recognised• Self declaration – multi-response option • Voluntary• Consultation with community leaders/key users• Criteria and classifications to be explained• Classification depends on national circumstances – none recommended • Non-core topic

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: ETHNICITY

Issues for discussion 

• Should the topic be CORE?

• Should the Recommendations attempt to propose a FORMAL CLASSIFICATION?

• Should the topic be VOLUNTARY or MANDATORY with option to record ‘Prefer not to respond’?

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: RELIGION

No substantive changes. Main features cover: • Relevant for understanding cultural diversity• Information used for monitoring equality and discrimination• Subjective, politically sensitive• Often relates to very small populations – thus thus potentially disclosive in outputs• Definitions and concepts unchanged: either: - A religious or spiritual belief or faith, regardless of whether or not this belief or faith is represented by an organised group; or - An affiliation with, or membership of, an organised group or body having a specific religious or spiritual tenets and/or practices• Self declaration • Voluntary • Consultation with community leaders/key users• Criteria and classifications to be explained• Non-core topic

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: RELIGION

Detailed classification depends on national circumstances – no change proposed to basic classification(1.0) Christianity (1.1) Catholic (1.2) Orthodox (1.3) Protestant (including Anglican, Baptist, Brethren, Calvinist, Evangelical, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, Pietist, Presbyterian, Reformed, and other Protestant groups) (1.4) Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.5) Oriental Christian (1.6) Other Christian (2.0) Islam (2.1) Alawit (Nusayris) (2.2) Ismaili (Seveners) (2.3) Ithna'ashari (Twelvers) (2.4) Shia (2.5) Sufi (2.6) Sunni (2.7) Zaydi (Fivers)(3.0) Judaism (4.0) Buddhism (5.0) Hinduism (6.0) Sikhism(7.0) Other religious groups (8.0) No religion

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: RELIGION

Issues for discussion

• Should the topic be CORE?

• Should the topic be VOLUNTARY or MANDATORY?

• Should the classification be revised, for example: - Fewer categories of Christian? - Fewer categories of Islam? - More ‘other’ categories – if so which ones? - Put ‘No religion’ first?

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: LANGUAGE

 No substantive changes. Main features cover: • Relevant for understanding cultural diversity• Information used for monitoring equality and discrimination• Subjective, politically sensitive• Often relates to very small populations – thus potentially disclosive in outputs• Options for type information to be collected remain unchanged: (a) Mother tongue, defined as the first language spoken in early childhood at home. (b) Main language, defined as the language which the person commands best. (c) Usual language(s), defined as the ones most often spoken at home and/or work. (d) Knowledge of language(s), defined as the ability to speak and/or write one or more designated languages• Countries to decide which is/are most appropriate• Consultation with community leaders/key users• Criteria and classifications to be explained• Classifications should be as comprehensive as possible and should attempt to identify regional or languages/dialects and sign language• Non-core

PROPOSALS FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: LANGUAGE

Issues for discussion

• Should the topic be CORE?

• If so, which type of information should be recommended?

• And should the CESR then attempt to propose a FORMAL CLASSIFICATION?

• What other language-related questions might be proposed?