Description

LIT indicates whether the respondent could read and/or write in any language.

Comparability

Universe differences aside, this variable is largely comparable across years.

The 1850 and 1860 censuses used a single question to identify persons who could not both read and write in any language. Therefore, there are no "Can't read, can write" or "Can't write, can read" responses for these years. In later years, separate questions were used for reading and writing.

In 1870 and 1880, enumerators were not explicitly instructed to count as literate persons who could read and/or write languages other than English, but they may have done so anyway; in all other years, they were instructed to do so.

For the 1970-1990 Puerto Rican Censuses, a similar variable, PRLIT exists. PRLIT is a dichotomous variable that indicates whether the respondent was illiterate or literate.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2004: --
• 2003: --
• 2002: --
• 2001: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: All samples
• 1920: All samples
• 1910: All samples
• 1900: All samples
• 1880: All samples
• 1870: All samples
• 1860: All samples
• 1850: All samples

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: All samples
• 1920: All samples
• 1910: All samples

Flags

Editing Procedure

There is no editing procedure available for this variable.