# Original Geography Units in French 1962 and 1968 Census
**URL:** https://forum.ipums.org/t/original-geography-units-in-french-1962-and-1968-census/5660
**Category:** INTERNATIONAL
**Created:** [February 7, 2024, 6:10am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/original-geography-units-in-french-1962-and-1968-census/5660 "2024-02-07T06:10:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Gabriel\_Koehler-Derr](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Gabriel_Koehler-Derr)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2024, 6:10am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/original-geography-units-in-french-1962-and-1968-census/5660/1 "2024-02-07T06:10:52Z")
The Geography section of the Source Variables for the 1962 and 1968 French censuses seems truncated. Under geography F-N there are many urban-rural indicators but the only administrative units are listed under the Harmonized variable section, and here only at very aggregated (regional) level. I had hoped that these microdata would be reported at least at the Department level. Were the original data only released to IPUMS at the regional level?
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### Author:  [@Isabel\_Pastoor](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Isabel_Pastoor)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/original-geography-units-in-french-1962-and-1968-census/5660/2 "2024-02-09T16:27:11Z")
The level of geographic detail identified in IPUMS International data varies by sample. That is correct; the original data obtained by IPUMS included the region ([GEO1\_FR](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/variables/GEO1_FR#codes_section)/[ENUTS2](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/variables/ENUTS2#codes_section)) as the finest geographic identifier and did not identify the department. This is noted in [the sample characteristics page](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/sample_details/country/fr#tab_fr1962a) as well under _smallest geography._ Sample-specific urban/rural indicators ([FR1962A\_URBAN](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/variables/FR1962A_0012) and [FR1968A\_URBAN](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/variables/FR1968A_0061)) are harmonized across time and space into the [URBAN](https://international.ipums.org/international-action/variables/URBAN#codes_section) variable.