Codes and Frequencies
An 'X' indicates the category is available for that sample
Code | Label |
23
|
22
|
21
|
20
|
19
|
18
|
17
|
16
|
15
|
14
|
13
|
12
|
11
|
10
|
09
|
08
|
07
|
06
|
05
|
04
|
03
|
02
|
01
|
00
|
99
|
Code | Label |
98
|
97
|
96
|
95
|
94
|
93
|
92
|
91
|
90
|
89
|
88
|
87
|
86
|
85
|
84
|
83
|
82
|
81
|
80
|
79
|
78
|
77
|
76
|
75
|
74
|
Code | Label |
73
|
72
|
71
|
70
|
69
|
68
|
67
|
66
|
65
|
64
|
63
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Male | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 1 | Male | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 1 | Male | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
2 | Female | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 2 | Female | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 2 | Female | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
7 | Unknown-refused | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 7 | Unknown-refused | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 7 | Unknown-refused | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
8 | Unknown-not ascertained | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 8 | Unknown-not ascertained | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 8 | Unknown-not ascertained | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
9 | Unknown-don't know | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 9 | Unknown-don't know | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 9 | Unknown-don't know | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Can't find the category you are looking for? Try the Detailed codes
Description
SEX indicates whether the person was male or female.
Starting in 2019, "Unknown-refused" and "Unknown-don't know" responses are allowed. Prior to 2019, SEX is not coded as "unknown" for any persons included in the IPUMS NHIS data.
According to the 2020 Survey Description, for some variables, including SEX, the 2020 responses of sample adults that were part of the 2020 longitudinal sample were overwritten with their 2019 responses "to mitigate disclosure risks associated with differences in response from repeated measures among the same Sample Adults" (33). The sample adults' actual 2020 responses can be accessed through a Research Data Center (RDC). For more information on the 2020 longitudinal sample, please see SALNGPRTFLG.
Comparability
Comparability is affected by changes including the 2019 redesign. For 1968 forward, SEX, for most persons, was inferred from the individual's first name or reported relationship to the head of the household. If there was any doubt (e.g., when the respondent gave a name for a household member--such as Marion or Lynn--that is used for both males and females), interviewers were to ask the person's sex (i.e., "Is [FULLNAME] male or female?").
Beginning in 1998, the survey instrument explicitly directed interviewers to "enter your best guess" when the respondent either did not know or refused to answer the direct question about the person's sex that was asked in ambiguous cases. Beginning in 1998, a check item related to SEX was included in the Basic Module, Family Core questionnaire that asked respondents to verify whether their reported sex was correct.
Because explicit questions about the individual's sex were only asked in ambiguous cases, it is unlikely that the presence or absence of these additional directions to fieldworkers compromises the comparability of the SEX variable over time.
The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Universe
- 1963-2018: All persons.
- 2019-2023: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children age 0-17.
Availability
- 1963-2023
Survey Text
Variable: SEX
Interview Module: Roster
Content Type: Annual Core
Question text:
Read if necessary: What sex ^wereyouwasALIAS assigned at birth, on ^yourtheir original birth
certificate?
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "Are", else if subject NE respondent, fill "Is"
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "you"; else if subject ne respondent, fill "^ALIASNAME"
Instruction:
Fill value from Roster.HHC.ALIAS[PX]
Instruction:
If PX=LNO_HHRESP, fill: "were you" else fill: "was ALIAS[PX]"
Instruction:
If PX=LNO_HHRESP, fill: "your" else fill: "their"
2 - Female
7 - Refused
9 - Don't Know
else [goto SEX for next non-deleted person on roster]
Variable: SEX
Interview Module: Roster
Content Type: Annual Core
Question text:
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "Are", else if subject NE respondent, fill "Is"
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "you"; else if subject ne respondent, fill "^ALIASNAME"
Instruction:
Fill value from Roster.HHC.ALIAS[PX]
2 - Female
7 - Refused
9 - Don't Know
else [goto SEX for next non-deleted person on roster]
Variable: SEX
Interview Module: Roster
Content Type: Annual Core
Question text:
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "Are", else if subject NE respondent, fill "Is"
Instruction:
If subject=respondent, fill "you"; else if subject ne respondent, fill "^ALIASNAME"
Instruction:
Fill value from Roster.HHC.ALIAS[PX]
2 - Female
7 - Refused
9 - Don't Know
else [goto SEX for next non-deleted person on roster]
Variable: SEX
Interview Module: Roster
Content Type: Annual Core
Question Text:
Instruction: If subject=respondent, fill "Are", else if subject NE respondent, fill "Is"
Instruction: If subject=respondent, fill "you"; else if subject ne respondent, fill "^ALIASNAME"
Instruction: Fill value from ALIAS
2 - female
7 - Refused
9 - Do not know
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess.
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
QuestionText:
* If don't know or refused enter your best guess. [Are you/Is ALIAS] male or female?
2 Female
SkipInstructions:
I recorded {your/name's} sex as [fill SEX].
What is {your/name's} correct sex?
(2) Female
FR: ASK IF NOT APPARENT.
(2) Female (HHC.050)
HHC.140
FR: ASK IF NOT APPARENT. IF DON'T KNOW OR REFUSED, ENTER YOUR BEST GUESS.
(2) Female (HHC.150)
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Date of birth
Date ___
Year ___
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Mid. Init. _
Last name ____
Age ____
Sex
2 [] F
Last name ____
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Last name ____
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
Last name ____
Age ____
Sex
2[] F
____ Date
____ Year
2[] B
3[] OT
2[] F
____ Date
____ Year
2[] B
3[] OT
2[] F
Race
2 [] B
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Date ____
Year ____
Race
2 [] B
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Date ____
Year ____
Race
2 [] B
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Date ____
Year ____
Race
2 [] B
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Date ____
Year ____
Date ____
Year ____
RACE ____
2 [] B
3 [] OT
2 [] F
3. How old was -- on his last birthday? -- Enter Age and circle Race and Sex
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Age ____
RACE
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
RACE
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
RACE
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
RACE
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
RACE
2 [] N
3 [] OT
2 [] F
Also mark Race and sex
Race
1[] N
2[] OT
1[] F
Also mark Race and sex
Race
1[] N
2[] OT
1[] F
Weights
- 1963-2018 : PERWEIGHT
- 2019-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT