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Intercensus Population Estimates

• 1Contact
  • 1.1Contact organisation
    National Statistics Institute of Spain
    
  • 1.5Contact mail address
    Paseo de la Castellana 183 - 28046 Madrid
    
• 2Metadata update
  • 2.1Metadata last certified
    16/12/2014
  • 2.2Metadata last posted
    23/04/2013
  • 2.3Metadata last update
    16/12/2014
• 3Statistical presentation
  • 3.1Data description

    Figures of population resident in Spain for the 1970-2011 period (up to 1st January 2012).

    Data for population resident in Spain are provided, for each Autonomous Community and for each province, disaggregated according to basic demographic features, such as sex and age. For the 2001-2011 period disaggregation according to nationality and country of birth are added, for all the territorial levels, as well as disaggregation according to islands (in island provinces). Also, age rank is extended (up to 110 years for national results, and to 100 years for the results of the Autonomous Communities, provinces and islands).

  • 3.2Classification system
    • Clasificaciones utilizadas

      Data disaggregated by Autonomous Community, province, nationality and country of birth is provided, according to the INE standardised classifications.

  • 3.3Sector coverage
  • 3.4Statistical concepts and definitions
    • Age
      Age in years refers to the number of birthdays reached by the reference date, in other words, the age last birthday.
    • Citizenship
      Citizenship is defined as the particular legal bond between an individual and his/her State,, acquired by birth or naturalisation, whether by declaration, option, marriage or other means according to the national legislation.
    • Place of birth
      Place where a person was born, in other words, the place of habitual residence of the mother at the time of birth, determined on the date of collecting data.
    • Province ( Article 141.1 of the Spanish Constitution)
      The province is a local institution with its own legal status, determined by grouping municipalities and dividing territories in order to fulfil State activities. Any alteration in the provincial limits is to be approved by the General Courts by means of constitutional law.
    • Resident population
      The population resident in a given geographical scope is defined as those persons who, on the reference date, have established their usual residence therein.
    • Sex
      Sex refers to the biological sex of the person. According to the WHO, "sex" refers to biological and physiological features defining to men and women, whereas "gender" refers to the roles, behaviour, activities and attributes constructed socially that a specific culture regards as appropriate for men and women. In accordance with this description, the WHO regards "man" and "woman" as sex categories, whereas "male" and "female" are gender categories.
    • Usual residence
      Place where a person normally spends rest periods, not taking into account temporary absences due to leisure trips, holidays, visits to family and friends, business, visiting friends or relatives or religious pilgrimages. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that only usual residents in a region will be considered:
      
      - Those who, according to the previous definition, would usually have lived therein for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
      
      - Those who, according to the previous definition, would have established their usual residence therein less than 12 months ago, but with the intention of remaining therein for at least one year.
      
      Where the above circumstances cannot be established, "usual residence" shall mean the place of registered residence.
  • 3.5Statistical unit

    Persons.

  • 3.6Statistical population

    Resident population in Spain.

  • 3.7Reference area

    Spain, Autonomous Communities, provinces and islands (for island provinces).

  • 3.8Time coverage

    1st January and 1st July of each year of the 1970-2011 period (up to 1st January 2012).

  • 3.9Base period

    This operation provides data from 1970 on.

• 4Unit of measure
  • 4.1Unit of measure
• 5Reference period
  • 5.1Reference period

    1st January and 1st June of each year of the 1970-2011 period (up to 1st January 2012).

    Data referred to the period: Decenal

• 6Institutional mandate
  • 6.1Legal acts and other agreements
    The compilation and dissemination of the data are governed by the Statistical Law No. 12/1989 "Public Statistical Function" of May 9, 1989, and Law No. 4/1990 of June 29 on “National Budget of State for the year 1990" amended by Law No. 13/1996 "Fiscal, administrative and social measures" of December 30, 1996, makes compulsory all statistics included in the National Statistics Plan. The National Statistical Plan 2009-2012 was approved by the Royal Decree 1663/2008. It contains the statistics that must be developed in the four year period by the State General Administration's services or any other entity dependent on it. All statistics included in the National Statistics Plan are statistics for state purposes and are obligatory. The National Statistics Plan 2013-2016, approved by Royal Decree 1658/2012, of 7 December, is the Plan currently implemented. This statistical operation has governmental purposes, and it is included in the National Statistics Plan 2013-2016. (Statistics of the State Administration).
    

    European Parliament and Council Regulation 862/2007 on Migration and International Protection Statistics, with regard to providing data on the resident population by nationality and by place of birth.

  • 6.2Data sharing
    The exchanges of information needed to elaborate statistics between the INE and the rest of the State statistical offices (Ministerial Departments, independent bodies and administrative bodies depending on the State General Administration), or between these offices and the Autonomic statistical offices, are regulated in the LFEP (Law of the Public Statistic Function). This law also regulates the mechanisms of statistical coordination, and concludes cooperation agreements between the different offices when necessary.
    

    Intercensus Population Estimates are provided on international level as historical series of population resident in Spain for allintents and purposes.

• 7Confidentiality
  • 7.1Confidentiality - policy
    The Statistical Law No. 12/1989 specifies that the INE cannot publish, or make otherwise available, individual data or statistics that would enable the identification of data for any individual person or entity. Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society
    
  • 7.2Confidentiality - data treatment
    INE provides information on the protection of confidentiality at all stages of the statistical process: INE questionnaires for the operations in the national statistical plan include a legal clause protecting data under statistical confidentiality. Notices prior to data collection announcing a statistical operation notify respondents that data are subject to statistical confidentiality at all stages. For data processing, INE employees have available the INE data protection handbook, which specifies the steps that should be taken at each stage of processing to ensure reporting units' individual data are protected. The microdata files provided to users are anonymised.
    

    Additional confidentiality measures have not been adopted, other than those indicated as customary in all INE operations.

• 8Release policy
  • 8.1Release calendar
    The advance release calendar that shows the precise release dates for the coming year is disseminated in the last quarter of each year.
    
  • 8.2Release calendar access
    The calendar is disseminated on the INEs Internet website (Publications Calendar)
    
  • 8.3User access
    The data are released simultaneously according to the advance release calendar to all interested parties by issuing the press release. At the same time, the data are posted on the INE's Internet website (www.ine.es/en) almost immediately after the press release is issued. Also some predefined tailor-made requests are sent to registered users. Some users could receive partial information under embargo as it is publicly described in the European Statistics Code of Practice
    
• 9Frequency of dissemination
  • 9.1Frequency of dissemination

    Once a decade.

• 10Accessibility and clarity
  • 10.1News release
    The results of the statistical operations are normally disseminated by using press releases that can be accessed via both the corresponding menu and the Press Releases Section in the web
    
  • 10.2Publications

    Currently no specific publications for this operation are made. All of the information relating to this operation may be accessed via:

    https://www.ine.es/en/inebaseDYN/cp30321/cp_inicio_en.htm

  • 10.3On-line database
    INEbase is the system the INE uses to store statistical information on the Internet. It contains all the information the INE produces in electronic formats. The primary organisation of the information follows the theme-based classification of the Inventory of Statistical Operations of the State General Administration . The basic unit of INEbase is the statistical operation, defined as the set of activities that lead to obtaining statistical results on a determined sector or topic using data collected individually
    

    The link where users may view the results and documentation relating to this operation is:

    https://www.ine.es/en/inebaseDYN/cp30321/cp_resultados_en.htm

  • 10.4Micro-data access
    A lot of statistical operations disseminate public domain anonymized files, available free of charge for downloading in the INE website Microdata Section
    

    These are synthesis statistics compiled using the aggregated results of different statistical sources. Therefore, microdata thereof is not available.

  • 10.5Other

    This operation enables meeting customised information requests by users that are not considered in the corresponding results tables, following a viability study, in all cases, performed by the INE.

  • 10.6Documentation on methodology

    The operation methodology may be viewed at:

    https://www.ine.es/en/inebaseDYN/cp30321/cp_metodologia_en.htm

  • 10.7Quality documentation

    Fields 11 to 19 of this document may be considered the quality report intended for users for this operation.

• 11Quality management
  • 11.1Quality assurance
    Quality assurance framework for the INE statistics is based on the ESSCoP, the European Statistics Code of Practice made by EUROSTAT. The ESSCoP is made up of 15 principles, gathered in three areas: Institutional Environment, Processes and Products. Each principle is associated with some indicators which make possible to measure it. In order to evaluate quality, EUROSTAT provides different tools: the indicators mentioned above, Self-assessment based on the DESAP model, peer review, user satisfaction surveys and other proceedings for evaluation.
    

    Intercensus Population Estimates are prepared by using all the available information on demographic evolution between two consecutive Population Censuses, and it is intended to obtain the highest coherence of its results as compared to those of the official statistics on demographic events, in particular comparing them to the Vital Satistics and the Migration Statistics disseminated by the INE (the last one since 2013, whit data from 2008 on).

  • 11.2Quality assessment

    The full consistency of the resident population figures provided by the Population Intercensus Estimations as compared to those provided by the Dwelling and Population Censuses of 1970, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 was confirmed, as well as their coherence with the migration, death and birth figures available for each period.

• 12Relevance
  • 12.1User needs

    This data makes up the final series of data of population resident in Spain, in each Autonomous Community and in each province since 1970. The first user thereof is the actual national statistical system: in particular, the data is used by the INE as reference figures in all of its statistical products (surveys, National Accounts, indicators, etc.). In addition, this data is available to all users who need to analyse the demographic evolution of the country n the last few decades, or to be used, in turn, in the production or analysis of another type of statistical information. Moreover, such figures are those used by international bodies as the official population of Spain for all intents and purposes.

    For previous decades, that information is only available based on the historical population censuses that have been prepared in Spain every ten years, since 1900.

    On the other hand, disaggregation by nationality and country of birth, for all territorial levels, and disaggregation by islands (for island provinces) are only available for the most recent period from 2001 to 2011. Besides, data by age up to 110 years for national results and up to 100 years for the results of the Autonomous Communities, provinces and islands are only available for that period.

    Municipal information is not available: the only municipal population data available is that referring to the population registered therein, according to the Continuous Register.

  • 12.2User satisfaction

    The INE has carried out general user satisfaction surveys in 2007, 2010 and 2013, and it plans to continue doing so every three years. The purpose of these surveys is to find out what users think about the quality of the information of the INE statistics and the extent to which their needs of information are covered. In addition, additional surveys are carried out in order to acknowledge better other fields such as dissemination of the information, quality of some publications...

    On the INE website, in its section Methods and Projects / Quality and Code of Practice / INE quality management / User surveys are available surveys conducted to date.(Click  next link)

     

    
    

    In the User Satisfaction Surveys conducted to date, it is possible to view the evaluation of the "Population" sector in which this statistical operation is centred, which can help direct us with regard to user opinions of it.

  • 12.3Completeness

    This operation provides all of the information required by European Parliament and Council Regulation 862/2007, regarding Migration and International Protection Statistics, with regard to the resident population, according to nationality and place of birth.

    Therefore, the rate of compulsory results available is 100%.

• 13Accuracy and reliability
  • 13.1Overall accuracy

    Measurements of the accuracy of the results for this operation are not available. Nonetheless, this operation is prepared using the information provided by the statistics of the demographic events occurring at each point in time, and therefore, the accuracy of their results depends on that of the information sources used.

  • 13.2Sampling error

    This is not applicable to this statistical operation, as they are synthesis statistics, compiled using other statistical sources, and not a sample survey.

  • 13.3Non-sampling error

    This is not applicable to this statistical operation, as they are synthesis statistics, compiled using other statistical sources, and not a sample survey.

• 14Timeliness and punctuality
  • 14.1Timeliness

    The results of this operation referring to the last intercensus period are prepared and released once the results of the last Population Census are available. From that results the retrospective review of the results of the different INE statistical operations (surveys, National Accounts and indicators) can be done according to the new population reference.

    Specifically, the results referring to the 2001-2011 intercensus period, that are up to 1st January 2012, were disseminated on 23thApril 2013, and the results of the 2011 Population Census were disseminated on 14th December 2012. This way, that data were disseminated with a delay of less than 17 months regarding their final reference period, but only 4 months after the release of the census data. .

  • 14.2Punctuality

    Intercensus Population Estimates are always disseminated within the deadline established in the structural statistics calendar of the INE. For data referring to the 2001-2011 period, the dissemination was intended for May 2013, and it was carried out finally on 23th April, that is to say, one week before the established deadline.

• 15Coherence and Comparability
  • 15.1Comparability - geographical

    The results maintain total inter-territorial consistency, at all breakdown levels. Moreover, they are calculated based on the definitions established in European Regulation 763/2008 on Population and Housing Censuses and European Regulation 862/2007 on Migration and International Protection Statistics and fostered, in turn, by the United Nations, which encourages their international comparability.

  • 15.2Comparability - over time

    The Population Figures constitute the definitive series of figures for the resident population in Spain as of 1970. Its results are also coherent with the next Population Censuses (1970, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011).

    Nevertheless, data from periods previous to 2001 are softened by age. In order to correct this small methodologic breakdown, the review of that data is intented for 2014.

  • 15.3Coherence - cross domain

    These results are used as reference population figures in all INE indicators and surveys and in the National Accounts. Therefore, they are consistent with the data provided by said sources.

  • 15.4Coherence - internal

    The data maintains total inter-territorial and demographic consistency.

    Nevertheless, data from periods previous to 2001 are softened by age, as long as it is not reviewed (review intended for 2014).

• 16Cost and burden
  • 16.1Cost and burden

    These are synthesis statistics, compiled using other sources. Therefore, they do not require collaboration from respondent units, nor do they generate data collection costs.

    For guidance, the estimation of the budgetary credit necessary to finance the preparation of the results of these statistics, as foreseen in the 2013 Annual Programme developed by the 2013-2016 National Statistical Plan is 41.72 thousand euros.

• 17Data revision
  • 17.1Data revision - policy

    This data makes up the final series of data of population resident in Spain since 1970 and, therefore, it is not revisable.

    Nevertheless, in 2014, and in exceptional circumstances, a review of data previous to 2001 is going to be made, based of census figures that are not softened by age.

  • 17.2Data revision - practice

    The review of results previous to 2001 is intended for 2014, based on the results of the Population Censuses that are not softened by age.

• 18Statistical processing
  • 18.1Source data

    This is a synthesis statistical operation, compiled using results from different sources. Specifically, the following sources were used:

    - Population and Dwelling Censuses.

    - Vital Statistics.

    - Municipal Register.

    - Granting of nationality due to residence.

  • 18.2Frequency of data collection

    Once a decade.

  • 18.3Data collection

    Data are prepared based on the population figures of two consecutive censuses, the estimation and the accounts of successive demographic events that happened during the intercensus period, and the adjustment in order to guarantee the final coherence with census data.

  • 18.4Data validation

    Multiple analyses are carried out of the coherence of the evolution of the figures for the resident population, and of them with the data from the different demographic statistical sources.

  • 18.5Data compilation

    In data of the 2001-2011 period different treatments were made on the data of the starting demographic events:

    - Automatic assignation of the nationality of the newborn, from the nationality and place of birth of their parents, and applying the current laws on acquisition of origin Spanish nationality.

    - Assignation of the nationality and country of birth of the deceased.

    - For migration data, migration flows were estimated based on the variations recorded in the Municipal Register: estimating the reference date of the migration movement when it cannot be associated to register variation; estimating variations that, despite not being recorded in the Municipal Register when the results were obtained, are foreseen to be recorded afterwards; automatic assignation of unknown variables (nationality and country of birth).

    - Estimation of Spanish nationality acquisition based on the available information on granting of Spanish nationality due to residence approved by the Ministry of Justice.

    Finally, the result of the accounting of the estimated demographic events was adjusted in order to guarantee the consistency of the population figures of that period with the census data.

  • 18.6Adjustment

    The adjustment of the population figures resulting from adding the accounting of demographic events of the intercensus period previous to the last Census to the data of the penultimate Population Census available is made by an even distribution of the difference between them both during all the intercensus period for each disaggregation level.

• 19Comment
  • 19.1Comment