GGS - Round I

Background

The GGS is a cross-national, longitudinal survey that studies families, life course trajectories, and gender relations. Round I, launched in the early 2000s under the coordination of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), was the first large-scale effort to provide comparable data on family dynamics and demographic change across Europe and beyond.

GGS-I laid the foundation for the programme, creating a harmonized cross-national dataset on fertility, partnerships, intergenerational exchanges, work–family balance, and ageing. With more than 200,000 respondents in over 20 countries, it became one of the most important resources for the study of demographic behaviour and social change.

Countries & Fieldwork

Between 2004 and 2012, more than 20 countries took part in Round I. In some countries the GGS was conducted as a stand-alone survey, while in others it was integrated into existing national studies, such as the Netherlands Kinship Panel Survey. National research teams were responsible for funding, translation, sampling, and fieldwork. This decentralized model made it possible to capture a wide range of national contexts, but it also led to differences in implementation, response rates, and data quality. Despite these challenges, Round I remains a unique resource, covering both Western and Eastern Europe as well as countries outside Europe.

Learn more about fieldwork procedures in GGS-I here and here.

Countries & fieldwork overview

Data Availability

All GGS Round I data have been released and are available for scientific use through the GGP Data Portal. In addition to the country-specific datasets, the GGP provides consolidated files that bring together data across participating countries. These files ensure harmonization and comparability, making it easier for users to work with the data in a cross-national perspective.

Survey Methodology

GGS Round I was designed as a longitudinal panel survey, with a baseline interview and follow-ups at three-year intervals. It targeted the resident, non-institutionalized population aged 18–79 and applied probability-based sampling to ensure nationally representative samples.

Most surveys were conducted face-to-face using paper-and-pencil interviewing (PAPI) or computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). In a few countries, telephone interviews (CATI) or mixed approaches were used. Fieldwork typically included interviewer training, translation of the standardized questionnaire, and pilot testing to adapt to local contexts while maintaining cross-national standards.

Response rates varied across countries, reflecting differences in survey infrastructures and national contexts. Despite these variations, the survey achieved large, representative samples of individuals aged 18–79, forming the foundation of the longitudinal design with follow-up interviews planned approximately three years later.

For more detailed information on key aspects such as sampling, fieldwork, response rates, weighting, and representativeness, see Fokkema et al. (2016).

Documentation

Comprehensive documentation is available for each participating country in the GGP Colectica Portal. This includes details on sampling, fieldwork procedures, questionnaires, and data processing. Users can browse metadata at variable level and explore differences across countries.

Survey Content

The GGS is grounded in the life course perspective and its multidisciplinary extension, which aim to capture diverse life paths and the interconnected roles individuals play in various domains, such as work and family. The survey examines the complexities of family life, demographic behaviour, and socio-economic influences on individuals, families, and households.

How to Access and Cite the Data

Data Access

Data from GGS Round I are freely available to registered researchers through the GGP Data Portal, together with detailed documentation and variable-level metadata in the GGP Colectica Portal . For most countries, access is granted through a simple online application. For Norway and Australia, however, a longer procedure applies, as data requests must follow additional national approval steps before access can be granted.

Citation

When using GGS-I data, please cite each dataset and acknowledge the funders of each participating country. This ensures transparency and supports continued data collection. Full details are provided in our Citation Guidelines.

If you are using the consolidated file, please use the following citation

• Generations and Gender Programme, 2019, "Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) - Wave 1", https://doi.org/10.17026/DANS-Z5Z-XN8G, DANS Data Station Social Sciences and Humanities, V1
• Generations and Gender Programme, 2019, "Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) - Wave 2", https://doi.org/10.17026/DANS-XM6-A262, DANS Data Station Social Sciences and Humanities, V1,