PERNUM is a 2-digit numeric variable.

Description

PERNUM is an IPUMS NHIS-constructed variable that numbers all persons within each family or within each household consecutively (starting with "1") in the order in which they appear in the original NHIS data. PERNUM was created by IPUMS NHIS during the process of reformatting the original NHIS public use files.

Prior to 2019, PERNUM numbers all persons within each family. Beginning in 2019, PERNUM numbers all person within a household and has a maximum of "2," as only the sample child and sample adult are identified in the original NHIS data. For more information, see the Comparability section.

Comparability

This variable is comparable prior to 2019. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. The survey now interviews a sample adult and sample child from each household instead of collecting detailed information on all members of the household, so there is a maximum of two people per household as reported in PERNUM beginning in 2019. There may be more than two people in the household, but only a maximum of two people are numbered in PERNUM, as they are the only individuals who appear in the original NHIS data. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

Universe

Availability

• 1963-2023

Weights

• No weights are available for this variable. Please refer to PERNUM for more information.