Household surveys are one of the main sources of official statistics and play a fundamental role in measuring social, economic, and demographic indicators. In a context where demands for quality, comparability, and timeliness of statistical information are increasing, National Statistical Offices and other public agencies face the challenge of adapting these instruments to new realities.

The Statistics Division of ECLAC provides continuous support to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the design, implementation, and analysis of household surveys, both through direct technical assistance and by promoting the exchange of experiences. It also compiles and processes information from these surveys, particularly multipurpose and living conditions surveys, in order to generate regionally comparable statistics.

Based on this experience, ECLAC has identified the relevance of consolidating a regional space in which common challenges faced by household surveys can be addressed, methodological innovations can be shared, and practical solutions to recurring problems can be discussed. For this reason, in November 2024 the “Regional Seminar on Innovations and Challenges in Household Surveys” was held in Santiago, Chile. Its purpose was to analyze advances and difficulties in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of household survey information, promote the exchange of good practices, and explore the use of new methodologies and technologies.

This meeting continues that effort, focusing on four thematic areas: 

1. Definition of new sampling frames and linking of time series;
2. Questionnaire design and management;
3. Non-response: prevention, treatment, and analysis;
4. Applications of large language models (LLMs) in statistical production processes.
    

Participants

Officials from National Statistical Offices, Central Banks, and other public entities related to the production and use of household surveys are expected to participate.