This survey asks questions on a variety of topics, such as internet access, the environment, tourism, libraries, health, sport and education.
Background information / details of the survey
It has been running since 1983, with recent results covering housing characteristics, changing population, tourism, participation in sports, arts and culture and attitudes towards the environment. We are carrying-out this survey for a number of Government Departments and Agencies.
Received a letter?
The information leaflet explains all about the survey in detail. A letter is sent out to households who have been selected to take part in the survey to inform the residents that an interviewer will be calling at the address.
Our interviewers will present their official NISRA ID when they call.
The letter received by households is available in alternative languages.
Methodology
The sample for the survey consisted of a systematic random sample of addresses selected from the NISRA Address Register (NAR). The NAR is developed within NISRA and is primarily based on the Land and Property Services (LPS) Pointer database.
Data is collected by personal interview using an electronic tablet, and the interviews are spread equally over the 12 months from April to March.
NISRA suspended all face-to-face household interviews in the middle of March 2020 due to the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. The Continuous Household Survey returned to face-to-face household interviews in July 2022 but we continue to interview by telephone in some cases.
Information for users on changes to methodology is available on the CHS survey documents page.
Questionnaire
The current questionnaire and previous versions of the questionnaires are available to view on the CHS survey documents page.
Topics include:
- tenure
- household internet access
- car access
- children travel to school
- environmental issues and actions taken
- domestic tourism – overnight trips
- domestic tourism – day trips
- sports participation
- use of public library services/museum services
- participation in arts activities and arts events
- use of PRONI and inland waterways
- use of Irish and Ulster-Scots languages
- mobile phone ownership
- individual internet access and usage
- well being
- education
- general health
- smoking
- drinking
- road safety
- employment
- accidents/illness at work
- cycle/walk to work
- income and benefits
- religion, sexual identity, national identity
Results / Publications
The technical report is available to view on the CHS survey documents page.
CHS Result tables are available for the following topics:
| Household composition |
| Individual demographics |
| Accommodation and tenure |
| Families and children |
| Internet access |
| Access to cars |
Results for engagement in culture, arts, heritage and sport, volunteering, language, walking and cycling, water usage and wellbeing are published annually.
Archived CHS results tables are available for the following topics, please click on the topic name to be re-directed to the results tables:
Microdata/datasets
CHS datasets can be found on the ESRC UK data service
Contact us
If you have any questions, please phone or email us:
About household surveys and data collection