Notes
A question was included on each person’s marital status, regardless of their age. The following responses were allowed:
• Never married
• Married: Civil/religious
• Married: Traditional/customary
• Living together (with partner)
• Widower/widow
• Divorced/separated
‘Married: Civil/religious’ should include, for example, a person married in a church or in a magistrate’s office. ‘Married: Traditional/customary’ should include a person married according to African traditions or
customs. A person married according to Muslim rites, or one married according to both civil and customary rites, could have been listed under either.
Only information on the person’s present marital status was sought. ‘Living together’ was treated as a legitimate option, even though the person may have a different registered marital status (eg. never married or divorced).
All persons aged under 16 were coded as ‘Never married’.
It is possible that a person’s marital status may apparently differ from the relationship stated. This may be as a result of the respondent perceiving the questions as relating to different issues or may be due to genuine errors.
