Research data centres of the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder

Microdata sets | Public Use Files

Time use survey | Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure |
Statistics of public assistance | Population census German Democratic Republic

Absolutely anonymised microdata are available to a wide public in the form of standardised Public Use Files (PUF). On account of the anonymisation, Public Use Files contain only selected variables. As a rule, variables with a high degree of subject-related detail are aggregated. In most cases, detailed regional breakdowns cannot be made on the basis of Public Use Files.

Public Use Files are available for the following sets of statistics and survey years:

Time use survey

The time use survey provides detailed information about the time use of the respondents in the individual areas of life, such as households and families, employment, education and leisure time. Up to now, the survey has been conducted twice, i.e. in the years 1991/1992 and 2001/2002. The survey covers about 7000 households and their members. All household members aged 12 years or over record their activities in a diary. Due to the additionally collected socio-economic variables, the time use survey is a suitable instrument for differentiated analyses of the time use of various population groups and for analyses to examine the relationship between different activities, such as the division of labour in the family and labour force participation.

So far, such data records have been prepared e.g. for the statistics of public assistance and time use surveys. Efforts are made by the research data centres belonging to the statistical offices of the Federation and the Länder to extend this service.

Survey	Public Use File
Time use survey 1991/92	Available Metadata in German
Time use survey 2001/02	Available

The metadata of the Time use survey 2001/02 are available in the Metadatasystem (in German).

| top

Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure

The Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure (EVS) provides data on the living conditions of households in Germany. It supplies statistical information, for instance, about the equipment with consumer durables, the income, property and debt situation of households, and on private consumption expenditure. The EVS collects data on about 0.2% of all households in Germany at five-year intervals. It includes households in all social groups and therefore provides a representative picture of the living conditions of almost the whole population in Germany.

Survey	Public Use File
Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure 1962/63	Available Metadata in German

| top

Statistics of public assistance

The annually compiled statistics of recipients of continuous subsistence payments covers all beneficiaries who have received such benefits for at least one month.

Continuous subsistence payments are granted to persons who are not able to support themselves from their own resources or from benefits of other social benefit institutions. Persons, however, who are not able to meet the financial needs of their special situation (disability, sickness, need for long-term nursing care) will receive benefits known as assistance in special situations. Both types of benefits may be received at the same time.

The number of recipients of continuous subsistence payments has been affected by the introduction on 1 January 2003 of needs-based basic security as a separate type of social benefits in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity as well as by the introduction on 1 January 2005 of basic security benefits for job-seekers. The latter have replaced the continuous subsistence payments for all communities of need with at least one beneficiary who is capable of work.

The continuous subsistence payments include not only the relevant standard rates and any supplementary assistance payments which may have been granted, but also the reasonable, actual expenses for accommodation and heating. Apart from the benefit requirement in gross terms, the statistics cover the community of need's income that is taken into account, the net entitlement in terms of the actual continuous subsistence payments, and the period for which the benefits are granted. In addition, information on socio-demographic variables, such as age, sex and family affiliation, is collected for the individual members of communities of need.

The data include regional information on the social benefit institution and on the place of residence of the community of need. Accordingly, the information can be analysed in a breakdown by benefit institutions and by places of residence.

Survey	Public Use File
Statistics of public assistance 1998	Available Metadata in German
Statistics of public assistance 1999	Available Metadata in German
Statistics of public assistance 2000	Available Metadata in German

| top

Population census in the German Democratic Republic

The aim of the population censuses in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) was the reference day-based evaluation of the most important demographic, social and economic parameters of the inhabitants and households. The legal basis for the censuses was the Law on the Execution of Population, Occupation, Housing and Buildings Censuses in the GDR of 1 December 1967. Accordingly, the GDR population census of 1971 mainly contains information about the structure of households, the labour force participation, occupational structure, buildings and dwellings.

Survey	Public Use File
Population census German Demoratic Republic 1971	Available Metadata in English

| top