Age reporting in the North West Province, South Africa, 1996-2006

The aim this study is to examine the nature and patterns of the reported age statistics in the North West Province using the 1996, 2001 and 2011 South African population censuses. First, the enumerated age-sex population distribution from the 1996 and 2001 censuses are examined to highlight the nature and patterns of age misreporting by means of such indices as Whipples, Myers and United Nations Age-Sex Score. Second, essential age-sex features of the population and their implications for development planning are highlighted. The study indicate that the quality of the reported age statistics in North West Province, like in the other provinces in South Africa, is quite good and contrast to findings from most other Sub-Saharan populations. Furthermore, the reported age statistics show a preference of terminal digits 6, 4, 8, 0 and 2, implying a preference of ages ending in even numbers. Further research should establish the factors responsible for this pattern.