Age Reporting in North West Province, South Africa, 1996–2011
Age Reporting in North West Province, South Africa, 1996–2011

Summary/Abstract: The aim this study is to examine the nature and patterns of the reported age statistics in the North West Province using the 1996, 2001 and 2011 South African population censuses. First, the enumerated age-sex population distributions from the censuses are evaluated using such indices as Whipple’s, Myers and United Nations Age-Sex Score to highlight the nature and patterns of age misreporting in the province. Second, essential age-sex features of the population and their implications for development planning are highlighted. The study indicates that the quality of the reported age statistics in North West Province, like in the other provinces in South Africa, is quite good and in contrast to findings from most other Sub-Saharan populations. Furthermore, the reported age statistics show a preference of terminal digits 6, 4, 8, 0 and 2, implying a preference of ages ending in even numbers. Further research should establish the factors responsible for this pattern.

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