Population Census 1996
South Africa, 1996
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Mar 24, 2013
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Mar 29, 2019
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Marital status (marstau)
Data file: SA Census 1996 Person_v01
Overview
Valid:
0
Invalid:
0
Type:
Discrete
Decimal:
0
Width:
8
Range:
-
Format:
Questions and instructions
Literal question
Household questionnaire: Q4 What is (the person’s) PRESENT marital status?
Personal questionnaire: Q4 What is this person’s PRESENT marital status?
Special enumeration questionnaire: Not included
Personal questionnaire: Q4 What is this person’s PRESENT marital status?
Special enumeration questionnaire: Not included
Categories
| Value | Category |
|---|---|
| 1 | Never married |
| 2 | Married: Civil/religious |
| 3 | Married: Traditional |
| 4 | Living together |
| 5 | Widowed |
| 6 | Divorced/separated |
| 8 | N/A: Institution |
| 9 | Unspecified |
Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest.
Description
Definition
This variable reflects the marital status of the enumerated person
Universe
All persons enumerated on household or personal questionnaires at night between Wednesday 9 October and Thursday 10 October 1996.
Others
Notes
A question was included on each person’s marital status, regardless of their age. The following responses were allowed:
• Never married
• Married: Civil/religious
• Married: Traditional/customary
• Living together (with partner)
• Widower/widow
• Divorced/separated
‘Married: Civil/religious’ should include, for example, a person married in a church or in a magistrate’s office. ‘Married: Traditional/customary’ should include a person married according to African traditions or
customs. A person married according to Muslim rites, or one married according to both civil and customary rites, could have been listed under either.
Only information on the person’s present marital status was sought. ‘Living together’ was treated as a legitimate option, even though the person may have a different registered marital status (eg. never married or divorced).
All persons aged under 16 were coded as ‘Never married’.
It is possible that a person’s marital status may apparently differ from the relationship stated. This may be as a result of the respondent perceiving the questions as relating to different issues or may be due to genuine errors.
• Never married
• Married: Civil/religious
• Married: Traditional/customary
• Living together (with partner)
• Widower/widow
• Divorced/separated
‘Married: Civil/religious’ should include, for example, a person married in a church or in a magistrate’s office. ‘Married: Traditional/customary’ should include a person married according to African traditions or
customs. A person married according to Muslim rites, or one married according to both civil and customary rites, could have been listed under either.
Only information on the person’s present marital status was sought. ‘Living together’ was treated as a legitimate option, even though the person may have a different registered marital status (eg. never married or divorced).
All persons aged under 16 were coded as ‘Never married’.
It is possible that a person’s marital status may apparently differ from the relationship stated. This may be as a result of the respondent perceiving the questions as relating to different issues or may be due to genuine errors.