Living Standards Survey 2010-2011
Nepal, 2010 - 2011
Created on
Apr 25, 2019
Last modified
Apr 25, 2019
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Identification
Survey ID Number
NPL_2010_LSS-III_v01_M
Title
Living Standards Survey 2010-2011
Subtitle
Third Round
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Nepal | NPL |
Study type
Living Standards Measurement Study [hh/lsms]
Series Information
Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) carried out Nepal Living Standards Survey (NLSS) for the first time in 1995/96. The second round of the NLSS was conducted in 2003/04. The Nepal Living Standards Survey 2010/11 (NLSS-III) is the third round of the survey conducted by the CBS as a follow up of the previous two rounds.
All the three surveys followed the Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) methodology developed and promoted by the World Bank (WB). NLSS-II enumerated 3912 households from 326 PSUs compared to 3373 households from 274 PSUs in NLSS-I. NLSS-II also interviewed 1160 households from 95 panel PSUs that were enumerated in NLSS-I.
NLSS NLSS-III enumerated 7,020 households, of which 5,988 households were from the crosssection sample and the remaining 1,032 were from the panel sample.
All the three surveys followed the Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) methodology developed and promoted by the World Bank (WB). NLSS-II enumerated 3912 households from 326 PSUs compared to 3373 households from 274 PSUs in NLSS-I. NLSS-II also interviewed 1160 households from 95 panel PSUs that were enumerated in NLSS-I.
NLSS NLSS-III enumerated 7,020 households, of which 5,988 households were from the crosssection sample and the remaining 1,032 were from the panel sample.
Abstract
The Nepal Living Standards Survey, 1995/96 (NLSS-I) was a milestone in the collection of data for the objective measurement of the living standards of the people and for determining the level of poverty in the country. The survey covered a wide range of topics related to “household welfare” (demography, consumption, income, access to facilities, housing, education, health, employment, credit, remittances and anthropometry, etc.).
NLSS-I for the first time, provided a measure of “extent and dimension” of poverty in Nepal. The survey findings became popular among decision makers in the government agencies, the general public and the international agencies as well.
It was realized that a second round of the survey was needed to update the results and to assess the impact of policies and programs on poverty and social indicators over the years (since the NLSS-I was conducted). Accordingly, the second round of the survey (NLSS-II) was carried out in 2003/04 after 8 years of the first survey.
The findings of the NLSS-II helped the government to monitor progress in improving national living standards and the survey became a good basis for monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over time.
Realizing the importance of time series data, the Government of Nepal decided to conduct another round of the Nepal Living Standards Survey. Accordingly, the Central Bureau of Statistics for the third time conducted the survey in 2010/11 (NLSS-III). The survey was carried out with the assistance from the World Bank.
Objective of the Survey
The main objective of the NLSS-III is to update data on the living standards of the people. The survey aims to assess the impact of various government policies and programs on the socioeconomic changes in the country during the last 7 years. Further, the survey aims to track changes experienced by previously enumerated households during the past fifteen and seven years.
NLSS-I for the first time, provided a measure of “extent and dimension” of poverty in Nepal. The survey findings became popular among decision makers in the government agencies, the general public and the international agencies as well.
It was realized that a second round of the survey was needed to update the results and to assess the impact of policies and programs on poverty and social indicators over the years (since the NLSS-I was conducted). Accordingly, the second round of the survey (NLSS-II) was carried out in 2003/04 after 8 years of the first survey.
The findings of the NLSS-II helped the government to monitor progress in improving national living standards and the survey became a good basis for monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over time.
Realizing the importance of time series data, the Government of Nepal decided to conduct another round of the Nepal Living Standards Survey. Accordingly, the Central Bureau of Statistics for the third time conducted the survey in 2010/11 (NLSS-III). The survey was carried out with the assistance from the World Bank.
Objective of the Survey
The main objective of the NLSS-III is to update data on the living standards of the people. The survey aims to assess the impact of various government policies and programs on the socioeconomic changes in the country during the last 7 years. Further, the survey aims to track changes experienced by previously enumerated households during the past fifteen and seven years.
Kind of Data
Sample survey data [ssd]
Unit of Analysis
- Household
- Individuals
- Consumption Expenditure Commodities/Items
- Individuals
- Consumption Expenditure Commodities/Items
Scope
Notes
The 2010-2011 Nepal Living Standards Survey covered the following topics:
- Household Identification and Survey Information
- Household Roster / Demographic Characteristics
- Housing
- Access to Facilities
- Migration (for all household members aged 5 years and over)
- Consumption and Expenditure
- Food Expenses and Home Production (during past 12 months and past 7 days)
- Non-food Expenditures and Inventory of Durable Goods (over a period of 12 months)
- Education (for all members aged 3 years and over)
- Health
- Marriage and Maternity History
- Jobs and Time Use
- Unemployment and under Employment
- Wage and Salary
- Farming and Livestock
- Non-agricultural Enterprises/Activities
- Credit and Savings
- Absentees Information
- Other Remittances
- Transfers, Social Assistances and Other Income
- Adequacy of Consumption and Government Services/Facilities
- Anthropometrics and Breastfeeding Practices
- Panel Sample Household Tracking
RURAL COMMUNITY
- Community Identification
- Population Characteristics and Infrastructure
- Access to Facilities
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Migration
- Development Programmes, User Groups, and Quality of Life
- Rural Primary School
- Rural Health Facilities
- Market and Prices
URBANL COMMUNITY
- Community Identification
- Population Characteristics and Infrastructure
- Access to Facilities
- Market and Prices
- Quality of Life
- Household Identification and Survey Information
- Household Roster / Demographic Characteristics
- Housing
- Access to Facilities
- Migration (for all household members aged 5 years and over)
- Consumption and Expenditure
- Food Expenses and Home Production (during past 12 months and past 7 days)
- Non-food Expenditures and Inventory of Durable Goods (over a period of 12 months)
- Education (for all members aged 3 years and over)
- Health
- Marriage and Maternity History
- Jobs and Time Use
- Unemployment and under Employment
- Wage and Salary
- Farming and Livestock
- Non-agricultural Enterprises/Activities
- Credit and Savings
- Absentees Information
- Other Remittances
- Transfers, Social Assistances and Other Income
- Adequacy of Consumption and Government Services/Facilities
- Anthropometrics and Breastfeeding Practices
- Panel Sample Household Tracking
RURAL COMMUNITY
- Community Identification
- Population Characteristics and Infrastructure
- Access to Facilities
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Migration
- Development Programmes, User Groups, and Quality of Life
- Rural Primary School
- Rural Health Facilities
- Market and Prices
URBANL COMMUNITY
- Community Identification
- Population Characteristics and Infrastructure
- Access to Facilities
- Market and Prices
- Quality of Life
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
National
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | National Planning Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| The World Bank | Technical assistance |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
Sampling Frame
The initial frame for the NLSS-III survey was based on the frame prepared for the 2008 Nepal Labour Force Survey (NLFS-II). This was done “to take advantage of the cartographic segmentation and household listing operations” conducted by the CBS for the NLFS-II. Number of households at ward level was obtained from the 2001 Population Census. CBS has constructed a data set with basic information (number of households, total population, and male and female population) at the ward level. This data set was used to construct the frame for the selection of primary sampling units (PSUs).
The PSU for the NLFS-II were either individual wards or sub-wards or groups of contiguous wards in the same VDC. A group of wards was considered as single PSU, to ensure that each unit continued at least 30 households.
For the ultimate sample selection of households in the NLFS-II, a frame was prepared in each ward selected at the earlier stage of sampling. A list of all households was prepared in all the wards selected for the survey. Selection of households was carried out from these listings using systematic sampling with a random start. Before the listing, an intensive cartographic work was undertaken (in the urban areas and some of the rural areas) to form appropriate enumeration block having around 200 households.
Stratification
For the NLFS-II sample selection, 75 districts along with the urban and rural areas were grouped into six strata – mountains, urban areas of the Kathmandu valley, other urban areas in the hills, rural hills, urban hills, urban Tarai and rural Tarai. These six strata of the NLFS-II were further regrouped into 14 strata for the NLSS-III purposes. The “explicit” strata formed for the NLSS-III were as follows: mountains, urban areas of the Kathmandu valley, other urban areas in the hills, rural eastern hills, rural central hills, rural western hills, rural mid-western hills, rural far-western hills, urban Tarai, rural eastern Tarai, rural central Tarai, rural western Tarai, rural mid-western Tarai, and rural far-western Tarai.
Sample Design
The sample design adopted in NLSS-III was modified sub-sample of the sample adopted in NLFS-II. For the NLFS-II, 800 PSUs were selected – 400 PSUs each from urban and rural areas. As mentioned earlier, the PSU for the NLFS-II was a ward or a sub-ward or a combination of wards. The PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size, the measure of size being the number of households.
For the NLSS-III, two independent samples were selected: the first was a cross sectional sample and the second was a panel. The panel sample consisted of PSUs and households previously enumerated in one or both of the past two rounds of the survey.
Cross-section Sample
The cross-section sample was selected in three stages:
• In the first stage, the enumeration area units (primary sampling units, PSUs) are identical to that of NLFS-II. NLFS selected a sample of 800 PSUs allocated into six explicit strata. Within each stratum, the PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size (pps), the number of households being the measure of size (mos).
• In the second stage, 500 of the 800 NLFS PSUs were selected to form the NLSS-III PSUs. As mentioned earlier, for this selection purpose the six strata of NLFS-II were further divided into 14 sub-strata (Box 1.2). Within each sub-stratum, the sample was selected with equal probability.
• In the third stage, 12 households were selected with equal probability in each PSU (using the computerized household listings generated by the NLFS-II as a sample frame). An additional 6 households were selected in each PSU, to be used as replacement household for non-response among the 12 originally selected households.
Panel Sample
The panel sample of the NLSS-III is composed of all households visited by the NLSS-II in 100 of its primary sampling units (PSU). Fifty of them were taken from the cross-sectional component of the NLSS-II, and the remaining fifty from its panel component. In other words, one half of the NLSS-III panel households were households visited for the first time during the NLSS-II, whereas the other half were the households visited during both the NLSS-I and the NLSS-II.
Sample Size
The sample size for the survey was estimated at 7200 households in 600 PSUs. Among them, 100 PSUs with 1200 households interviewed in the NLSS-I or NLSS-II were selected for reinterviewing in the NLSS-III. And, 500 PSUs with 6000 households were selected as the crosssection sample. The PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size, the measure of size being the number of households in each ward. As mentioned earlier, twelve households were selected for the enumeration from each of the selected PSU.
The initial frame for the NLSS-III survey was based on the frame prepared for the 2008 Nepal Labour Force Survey (NLFS-II). This was done “to take advantage of the cartographic segmentation and household listing operations” conducted by the CBS for the NLFS-II. Number of households at ward level was obtained from the 2001 Population Census. CBS has constructed a data set with basic information (number of households, total population, and male and female population) at the ward level. This data set was used to construct the frame for the selection of primary sampling units (PSUs).
The PSU for the NLFS-II were either individual wards or sub-wards or groups of contiguous wards in the same VDC. A group of wards was considered as single PSU, to ensure that each unit continued at least 30 households.
For the ultimate sample selection of households in the NLFS-II, a frame was prepared in each ward selected at the earlier stage of sampling. A list of all households was prepared in all the wards selected for the survey. Selection of households was carried out from these listings using systematic sampling with a random start. Before the listing, an intensive cartographic work was undertaken (in the urban areas and some of the rural areas) to form appropriate enumeration block having around 200 households.
Stratification
For the NLFS-II sample selection, 75 districts along with the urban and rural areas were grouped into six strata – mountains, urban areas of the Kathmandu valley, other urban areas in the hills, rural hills, urban hills, urban Tarai and rural Tarai. These six strata of the NLFS-II were further regrouped into 14 strata for the NLSS-III purposes. The “explicit” strata formed for the NLSS-III were as follows: mountains, urban areas of the Kathmandu valley, other urban areas in the hills, rural eastern hills, rural central hills, rural western hills, rural mid-western hills, rural far-western hills, urban Tarai, rural eastern Tarai, rural central Tarai, rural western Tarai, rural mid-western Tarai, and rural far-western Tarai.
Sample Design
The sample design adopted in NLSS-III was modified sub-sample of the sample adopted in NLFS-II. For the NLFS-II, 800 PSUs were selected – 400 PSUs each from urban and rural areas. As mentioned earlier, the PSU for the NLFS-II was a ward or a sub-ward or a combination of wards. The PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size, the measure of size being the number of households.
For the NLSS-III, two independent samples were selected: the first was a cross sectional sample and the second was a panel. The panel sample consisted of PSUs and households previously enumerated in one or both of the past two rounds of the survey.
Cross-section Sample
The cross-section sample was selected in three stages:
• In the first stage, the enumeration area units (primary sampling units, PSUs) are identical to that of NLFS-II. NLFS selected a sample of 800 PSUs allocated into six explicit strata. Within each stratum, the PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size (pps), the number of households being the measure of size (mos).
• In the second stage, 500 of the 800 NLFS PSUs were selected to form the NLSS-III PSUs. As mentioned earlier, for this selection purpose the six strata of NLFS-II were further divided into 14 sub-strata (Box 1.2). Within each sub-stratum, the sample was selected with equal probability.
• In the third stage, 12 households were selected with equal probability in each PSU (using the computerized household listings generated by the NLFS-II as a sample frame). An additional 6 households were selected in each PSU, to be used as replacement household for non-response among the 12 originally selected households.
Panel Sample
The panel sample of the NLSS-III is composed of all households visited by the NLSS-II in 100 of its primary sampling units (PSU). Fifty of them were taken from the cross-sectional component of the NLSS-II, and the remaining fifty from its panel component. In other words, one half of the NLSS-III panel households were households visited for the first time during the NLSS-II, whereas the other half were the households visited during both the NLSS-I and the NLSS-II.
Sample Size
The sample size for the survey was estimated at 7200 households in 600 PSUs. Among them, 100 PSUs with 1200 households interviewed in the NLSS-I or NLSS-II were selected for reinterviewing in the NLSS-III. And, 500 PSUs with 6000 households were selected as the crosssection sample. The PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size, the measure of size being the number of households in each ward. As mentioned earlier, twelve households were selected for the enumeration from each of the selected PSU.
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2010-02 | 2011-02 |
Data Collection Mode
Face-to-face [f2f]
Supervision
The team supervisor was charged with day to day field supervision. Besides, there was a provision for the supervision from the CBS (central level) as well as from the BSOs. Central level supervisory visits began immediately after the start of the field work which was carried out by the core team members of Household Survey Section.
During the survey period, the field work was constantly supervised and monitored by the core team members. Besides the core team members, at times central supervisions were carried out by the Director General and Deputy Director General of the Bureau. The core team members prepared a list of instructions based on the observations of the central supervision. A supervision form was developed for the purpose of field supervision.
During the survey period, the field work was constantly supervised and monitored by the core team members. Besides the core team members, at times central supervisions were carried out by the Director General and Deputy Director General of the Bureau. The core team members prepared a list of instructions based on the observations of the central supervision. A supervision form was developed for the purpose of field supervision.
Data Collection Notes
Data collection was carried out over a period of 12 months to cover a complete cycle in agricultural activities and to capture seasonal variations in other variables. Fieldwork took place in four subsequent phases.
The first phase started on February 21, 2010 and 69 PSUs (including 7 panel PSUs) were covered during a period of 29 days. After the completion of the first phase, a 5-day review meeting of the field workers commenced on March 29, 2010. This review meeting was used for discussions about difficulties in the field and preparations for the second phase. During the review meeting, instructions were issued to rectify the errors and inconsistencies found in the field work (especially in the computer data entry programmes).
The second phase of data collection work started from April 3, 2010 and continued till the June 26, 2010. During this phase, work on 131 PSUs was completed. The third phase of the field work continued from July 1, 2010 through October 24, 2010 and 200 PSUs were completed in this period. The fourth phase began on October 29, 2010 and was completed by the first week of February, 2011. Field review meetings were held in the break periods between these phases and they were basically used for discussions of field difficulties and for rectifying the errors.
The first phase started on February 21, 2010 and 69 PSUs (including 7 panel PSUs) were covered during a period of 29 days. After the completion of the first phase, a 5-day review meeting of the field workers commenced on March 29, 2010. This review meeting was used for discussions about difficulties in the field and preparations for the second phase. During the review meeting, instructions were issued to rectify the errors and inconsistencies found in the field work (especially in the computer data entry programmes).
The second phase of data collection work started from April 3, 2010 and continued till the June 26, 2010. During this phase, work on 131 PSUs was completed. The third phase of the field work continued from July 1, 2010 through October 24, 2010 and 200 PSUs were completed in this period. The fourth phase began on October 29, 2010 and was completed by the first week of February, 2011. Field review meetings were held in the break periods between these phases and they were basically used for discussions of field difficulties and for rectifying the errors.
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | CBS | National Planning Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal |
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
As in the previous two surveys, NLSS-III used two types of questionnaires: household questionnaire and community questionnaire. There are two separate community questionnaires one each for rural and urban communities.
As many of the NLSS-II questions as possible were retained in the NLSS-III. However, some important additions and modifications were made in these questionnaires to address the contemporary issues.
A new section with questions on anthropometry and breastfeeding was added in the NLSS-III household questionnaire. Other two new sections added were on “jobs and time use” and “employment and unemployment”. Additional questions on food consumption during the past 7 days were introduced in "food expenses and home production" section. For some other questions of the NLSS-II, answer categories were modified, expanded or elaborated.
As many of the NLSS-II questions as possible were retained in the NLSS-III. However, some important additions and modifications were made in these questionnaires to address the contemporary issues.
A new section with questions on anthropometry and breastfeeding was added in the NLSS-III household questionnaire. Other two new sections added were on “jobs and time use” and “employment and unemployment”. Additional questions on food consumption during the past 7 days were introduced in "food expenses and home production" section. For some other questions of the NLSS-II, answer categories were modified, expanded or elaborated.
Data Processing
Data Editing
As in the previous two rounds of the survey, a distinctive feature of the NLSS-III was the use of personal computer in the field. A data entry programme developed specifically for the survey was installed on each computer provided to the field teams.
The data entry programme enabled the data entry operator as well as the team supervisor to find out mistakes and missing data (if any) and to perform inconsistency checks. When problems or errors were found, the interviewers returned to the households to correct the errors. The field supervision from the CBS included the real time check and verification of data entry work in the field.
This process of real time entering, checking and correcting data in the field helped to enhance the quality of data collected. It also reduced the time lag between data collection and data processing. This also helped to make data available for processing shortly after the completion of the collection phase.
After the completion of the field work, the data diskettes were sent back to the CBS from the field. Data processing and analysis was done in the CBS using STATA statistical software package.
The data entry programme enabled the data entry operator as well as the team supervisor to find out mistakes and missing data (if any) and to perform inconsistency checks. When problems or errors were found, the interviewers returned to the households to correct the errors. The field supervision from the CBS included the real time check and verification of data entry work in the field.
This process of real time entering, checking and correcting data in the field helped to enhance the quality of data collected. It also reduced the time lag between data collection and data processing. This also helped to make data available for processing shortly after the completion of the collection phase.
After the completion of the field work, the data diskettes were sent back to the CBS from the field. Data processing and analysis was done in the CBS using STATA statistical software package.
Access policy
Access authority
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | National Planning Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal | hhss@cbs.gov.np | http://www.cbs.gov.np |
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | National Planning Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal | info@cbs.gov.np | http://www.cbs.gov.np |
| LSMS Data Manager | The World Bank | lsms@worldbank.org | http://go.worldbank.org/QJVDZDKJ60 |
Access conditions
All potential users of the NLSS data set will be required to adhere to the following conditions:
1. NLSS data is given to all users subject to the provision that (i) they duly acknowledge that the data used has been provided to them by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), and that (ii) CBS be provided with one copy of all publications in which NLSS data is used.
2. They provide an undertaking that they will not pass copies of the data received to other individuals or organizations without first obtaining written permission from CBS allowing them to do so.
3. A fee will be charged to all users for NLSS I, NLSS II and NLSS III data set (with supporting documents). In the interests of encouraging as many users as possible to use the NLSS data, this fee will be charged at a differential rate to users according to the following criteria.
1. NLSS data is given to all users subject to the provision that (i) they duly acknowledge that the data used has been provided to them by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), and that (ii) CBS be provided with one copy of all publications in which NLSS data is used.
2. They provide an undertaking that they will not pass copies of the data received to other individuals or organizations without first obtaining written permission from CBS allowing them to do so.
3. A fee will be charged to all users for NLSS I, NLSS II and NLSS III data set (with supporting documents). In the interests of encouraging as many users as possible to use the NLSS data, this fee will be charged at a differential rate to users according to the following criteria.
Citation requirements
Use of the dataset must be acknowledged using a citation which would include:
- the Identification of the Primary Investigator
- the title of the survey (including country, acronym and year of implementation)
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download
- the Identification of the Primary Investigator
- the title of the survey (including country, acronym and year of implementation)
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Metadata production
DDI Document ID
DDI_NPL_2010_LSS-III_v01_M
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Economics Data Group | DECDG | The World Bank | Ducumentation of the DDI |
Date of Metadata Production
2012-03-22
DDI Document version
Version 01: (March 2012)