Interviewer instructions
P7 Marital status
Marital status refers to the personal status of each individual in reference to the marriage laws or customs of the country. It is the same as "civil status", the term usually used in official and private records, documents, transactions, etc., in the country.
For persons 10 years old and over ask: "What is 's marital status?" For persons below 10 years old, enter 1 (Single) without asking the question.
Encircle the code for the person's marital status as reported by the respondent. Avoid antagonizing the respondent. Do not refute the reported marital status of any person. Disregard your personal knowledge about the person or your knowledge of any official record.
Determine the appropriate code for the person's marital status as defined below;
1 Single - for a person who has never been married.
2 Married - for a person married in a religious or civil ceremony, either living together with spouse at the time of the visit, or temporarily living apart because his spouse is employed elsewhere or is in the Armed Forces, etc.
3 Widowed for a married person whose spouse died and who has not remarried up to the time of visit.
4 Separated/Divorced - for a person who is permanently separated from his spouse, legally or through mutual consent. Also for a person whose marriage with another has been annulled or dissolved and can therefore remarry.
5 Others - for persons or couple living consensually together (by mere consent) as husband and wife without the benefit of a legal marriage.
6 Unknown - for a person whose marital status is not known to the respondent, or whose marital
status is being concealed by the respondent.
