Demographic

HOUSEHOLD POPULATION AND HOUSING2CHARACTERISTICSPetronella MambaThis chapter presents a description of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of thepopulation in the households sampled in the 2006-07 SDHS. For the purpose of the 2006-07 SDHS, ahousehold was defined as a person or a group of persons, related or unrelated, who live together and sharea common source of food. The Household Questionnaire (see Appendix E) included a schedule collectingbasic demographic and socioeconomic information (e.g., age, sex, education attainment, and currentschool attendance) for all usual residents and visitors of the household who spent the night preceding theinterview. This method of data collection allows the analysis of the results for either the de jure (usualresidents) or de facto (those who are there at the time of the survey) populations. The householdquestionnaire also obtained information on housing facilities (e.g., sources of water supply and sanitationfacilities) and household possessions.The information presented in this chapter is intended to facilitate interpretation of the keydemographic, socioeconomic, and health indices presented later in the report. It is also intended to assistin the assessment of the representativeness of the survey sample.2.1 POPULATION BY AGE AND SEXAge and sex are important demographic variables and are the primary basis of demographicclassification. Needs and services for a given population mostly depend on its age and sex structure. Ageand sex structure have a strong bearing on the population’s fertility, mortality, and nuptiality patterns.Table 2.1 gives the age and sex distribution of the de facto population by urban and rural residence. Eightin ten of the Swazi population live in the rural areas.Table 2.1 Household population by age, sex, and residencePercent distribution of the de facto household population by five-year age groups, according to sex andresidence, Swaziland 2006-07Urban Rural TotalAge Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total