GIS Classification of level 1 and level 2 boundaries - Cameroon Census Data

INTERNATIONAL
1

Dear IPUMS User,

I need help with the GIS classification of Cameroon level 1 and level 2 boundaries for the 1976, 1987, and 2005 censuses.

  1. Why are geo1_cm and geo2_cm grouped to fewer (7 and 39, respectively) than the current number of level 1 and level 2 boundaries (10 and 58, respectively)?
  2. Is it possible to use geo1_cm1976, geo1_cm1987, and geo1_cm2005 variables, to reclassify the level 1 boundaries such that they appear as individual provinces (not grouped)?
    And likewise, use geo2_cm1976, geo2_cm1987, and geo2_cm2005 to reclassify the level 2 boundaries such that they appear as individual departments?

I am trying to develop trends in population indicators as per 10 provinces (geo1_cm1987 and geo_cm2005) and 58 departments (geo2_cm2005).

Thank you.

2

The GEO1_CM and GEO2_CM variables are consistent boundary variables for the Cameroon census samples from 1976 through 2005. Therefore, in order to harmonize the boundaries over time some detail from some specific samples is lost. If you are interested in using the full level of detail for each sample, you can use the sample specific geographic variables (e.g., GEO1_CM[year] and GEO2_CM[year]). However, since it sounds like you are using each of the available Cameroon samples, you may want to use the harmonized boundaries for consistency over time.

3

Well understood JeffBloem. Thank you