Variables and Formats

SwedPop data can be retrieved in two formats -IDS and rectangular. The variables included differ depending on which format is selected. Detailed specifications of the variables included in each format are provided below.

IDS -Intermediate Data Structure

SwedPop data is structured by the principles of IDS – Intermediate Data Structure, a common format for databases containing longitudinal and non-aggregated information on persons, families and households. IDS has been developed by scholars in an ESF Research Networking Programme called European Historical Population Samples Network, EHPS-Net (see https://ehps-net.eu/). It forms an integrated and joint interface between databases in order to transcend regional and national differences.

Rectangular Format

SwedPop datasets in rectangular format are organized in a spreadsheet-style structure where each row represents an individual record and each column represents a fixed attribute. This is a standard data format that can easily be imported into statistical software and works well with tools such as SQL, Python and R.