| Census Characteristics | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 |
| Title | General Population Census of 1962 | General Population Census of 1968 | General Population Census of 1975 | General Population Census of 1982 | General Population Census of 1990 |
| Census Agency | Institut National de la Statisque et des Etudes Economiques | Institut National de la Statisque et des Etudes Economiques | Institut National de la Statisque et des Etudes Economiques | Institut National de la Statisque et des Etudes Economiques | Institut National de la Statisque et des Etudes Economiques |
| Population | Residents in France, of any nationality. Does not include French citizens living in other countries, foreign tourists, or people passing through. | Residents in France, of any nationality. Does not include French citizens living in other countries, foreign tourists, or people passing through. | Residents in France, of any nationality. Does not include French citizens living in other countries, foreign tourists, or people passing through. | Residents in France, of any nationality. Does not include French citizens living in other countries, foreign tourists, or people passing through. | Residents in France, of any nationality. Does not include French citizens living in other countries, foreign tourists, or people passing through. |
| Universe | The microdata sample includes mainland France and Corsica. | The microdata sample includes mainland France and Corsica. | The microdata sample includes mainland France and Corsica. | The microdata sample includes mainland France and Corsica. | The microdata sample includes mainland France and Corsica. |
| De jure or de facto | De jure | De jure | De jure | De jure | De jure |
| Enumeration unit | Depends on target population (see enumeration forms, below) | Dwelling | Dwelling | Dwelling | Dwelling |
| Census day | 7 March 1962 | 1 March 1968 | 20 Febrary 1975 | 4 March 1982 | 5 March 1990; 15 March for overseas departments |
| Field work period | 7-30 March 1962 | 1-23 March 1968 | 20 February-21 March 1975 | 4 March-3 April 1982 | March-April 1990 |
| Enumeration forms used | Separate forms for buildings, group quarters (collective households), group quarters (compte a part), private households, and boats. Four forms for individuals (living in group quarters and private dwellings; two different forms for people compte a part; | Separate forms for buildings, group quarters (collective households), group quarters (compte a part), private households, and boats. Four forms for individuals (living in group quarters and private dwellings; two different forms for people compte a part; | Separate forms for buildings, group quarters (collective households), group quarters (compte a part), private households, and boats. Four forms for individuals (living in group quarters and private dwellings; two different forms for people compte a part; | Separate forms for buildings, group quarters (collective households), group quarters (compte a part), private households, and boats. Four forms for individuals (living in group quarters and private dwellings; two different forms for people compte a part; | Separate forms for buildings, group quarters (collective households), group quarters (compte a part), private households, and boats. Four forms for individuals (living in group quarters and private dwellings; two different forms for people compte a part; |
| Type of field work | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration | Direct and self-enumeration |
| Respondent | - | - | - | - | - |
| Coverage | - | - | - | - | - |
| Microdata sample characteristics | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 |
| Sample microdata source | INSEE 1/20 original sample, selected variables | INSEE 1/20 original sample, selected variables | INSEE 1/20 original sample, selected variables | INSEE 1/20 original sample, selected variables | INSEE 1/24 sample |
| Sample design | Systematic manual sorting into lots with different sample units, according to target population. | Systematic manual sorting into lots with different sample units according to target population. Lots divide the population into different samples (1/20,1/5,3/4). | Systematic manual sorting into lots with different sample units according to target population. Lots divide the population into different samples (1/5 and 4/5). 1/20 sample is selected from 1/5 sample. | Systematic manual sorting into lots with different sample units according to target population. Lots divide the population into different samples (1/4 and 3/4). 1/20 sample is selected from 1/4 sample. | 1/20 sample: 1/5 sample selected from 1/4 sample. All individuals in private households from 1/4 sample from a district selected with probability 1/5. Other populations: systematic selection of individuals with probability 1/5. |
| Sample unit | Private dwellings and individuals for group quarters and compte a part | Private dwellings and individuals for group quarters and compte a part | Private dwellings and individuals for group quarters and compte a part | Private dwellings and individuals for group quarters and compte a part | Private dwellings and individuals for group quarters and compte a part |
| Sample fraction | 5 % | 5 % | 5 % | 5 % | 4,20 % |
| Sample fraction (private households) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sample fraction (institutional households) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sample size (person records) | 2.320.901 | 2.487.778 | 2.629.456 | 2.631.713 | 2.360.854 |
| Sample size (private households) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sample size (institutional households) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sample weights | Self-weighting (expansion factor=20) | Self-weighting (expansion factor=20) | Self-weighting (expansion factor=20) | Self-weighting (expansion factor=20) | Self-weighting (expansion factor=24) |
| Units identified | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 |
| Dwellings | No | No | No | No | No |
| Vacant units | No | No | No | No | No |
| Households | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Individuals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group quarters | No | No | No | No | No |
| Settled/unsettled Population | - | - | - | - | - |
| Special populations | - | - | - | - | - |
| Unit definitions | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 |
| Dwellings | - | - | - | - | - |
| Households | - | - | - | - | - |
| Institutional population | - | - | - | - | - |
| Group quarters | A collective household is a group of persons that does not live in an ordinary household, but lives in a collective establishment, sharing meal times. | A collective household is a group of persons that does not live in an ordinary household, but lives in a collective establishment, sharing meal times. | A collective household is a group of persons that does not live in an ordinary household, but lives in a collective establishment, sharing meal times. | A collective household is a group of persons that does not live in an ordinary household, but lives in a collective establishment, sharing meal times. | A collective household is a group of persons that does not live in an ordinary household, but lives in a collective establishment, sharing meal times. |
| Unsettled population | Persons living in group quarters or without a fixed address but having a usual home elsewhere (i.e., enumerated away from their usual residence). During data processing, most of these people are reintegrated into their usual households, except in the case of persons in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. | Persons living in group quarters or without a fixed address but having a usual home elsewhere (i.e., enumerated away from their usual residence). During data processing, most of these people are reintegrated into their usual households, except in the case of persons in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. | Persons living in group quarters or without a fixed address but having a usual home elsewhere (i.e., enumerated away from their usual residence). During data processing, most of these people are reintegrated into their usual households, except in the case of persons in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. | Persons living in group quarters or without a fixed address but having a usual home elsewhere (i.e., enumerated away from their usual residence). During data processing, most of these people are reintegrated into their usual households, except in the case of persons in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. | Persons living in group quarters or without a fixed address but having a usual home elsewhere (i.e., enumerated away from their usual residence). During data processing, most of these people are reintegrated into their usual households, except in the case of persons in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. |
in collaboration with Minnesota Population Center 
