Sample Size Calculator

Instructions: Complete the fields in green with the necessary information. Then read through the steps below
to attain your final sample size.
Level of Confidence Measure
Margin of Error (MOE)
Baseline levels of the indicators
Design effect (Deff)
Expected Response Rate
Number of age/sex Estimates
Describes the level of uncertainty in the sample mean or prevalence as an estimate of the population mean or
1.96 prevalence. Recommended value: 1.96 (for 95% confidence level)
The expected half-width of the confidence interval. The smaller the margin of error, the larger the sample size
0.05 needed. Recommended value: 0.05 (for small baseline levels, e.g. <.10, a smaller MOE of 0.02 or 0.01 is
appropriate)
The estimated prevalence of the risk factors within the target population. Values closest to 50% are the most
0.5 conservative. Recommended value: 0.5 if no previous data on population, else value closest to 0.5 from previous
data
Describes the loss of sampling efficiency due to using a complex sample design. A value of 1.0 is appropriate for
1.5 simple random samples.Recommended value: 1.5 (for most STEPS surveys)
The anticipated response rate. Recommended value: enter response rate from previous national/subnational
0.8 household surveys, else use 0.8 as an estimate
The number of age-sex groups for which estimates will be calculated. If age-sex estimates are desired for specific
8 states/regions/island, multiply the number of age-sex groups by the number of states/regions/islands to attain the
total number of estimates desired.

Population Size FPC Check: Step 1: Initial calculation:

Males initial n 10% ? n= 3.8416 * ( 0.5 * (1- 0.5 )) = 384.16
18-29 1 yes 0.05 * 0.05
30-44 2 yes
45-59 3 yes Step 2:
Complete the population table to the left to check if the Finite Population
60-69 4 yes
Correction (FPC) can be applied. If the initial n calculated above is 10% or
Females more of the size of the majority of the age groups, then the FPC can be
18-29 5 yes applied. If the FPC can be applied, continue calculating your sample size on
30-44 6 yes the FPC worksheet. If the FPC cannot be applied continue to Step 3 below.
45-59 7 yes
60-69 8 yes Step 3: Multiply by the design effect and number of age-sex estimates:

n= 384.16 * 1.5 * 8 = 4609.92

Step 4: Adjust for expected non-response to get your final sample size:

n= 4609.92 / 0.8 = 5762.4

FINAL SAMPLE SIZE
Instructions: This worksheet is only to be used if the Finite
Population Correction is applicable (i.e. the target population is
very small). Complete the population table in the lower left
corner of the START worksheet to confirm if the FPC is
applicable for your target population. Step 2: Apply FPC to sample s
n's together (see table t
Intitial n
Population Size (calculated on START n after FPC
Males worksheet) applied Step 3: Now, multiply the adju
18-29 1 384.16 1.00
30-44 2 384.16 1.99 n=
45-59 3 384.16 2.98
60-69 4 384.16 3.96 Step 4: Finally, adjust for expe

Females n=
18-29 5 384.16 4.94
30-44 6 384.16 5.91
45-59 7 384.16 6.87
60-69 8 384.16 7.84

Sum of n for all estimates: 35.48

Apply FPC to sample size for each estimate and sum these adjusted
n's together (see table to the left).

Now, multiply the adjusted n values by the design effect:

35.48 * 1.5 = 53.2164

Finally, adjust for expected non-response:

53.22 / 0.8 = 66.5205

FINAL SAMPLE SIZE