Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Gambia

1.Name and address of the organization responsible for the census:

Central Statistics Department, Central Bank Building, Buckle Street, Banjul.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1963, 1973, 1983 and 1993. The present description relates to the 1993 population census (held on 15 April).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The month prior to the census day.

5.Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(c) Industry: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: no

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of age at last birthday.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the number of days worked by employed persons, at work, during the reference period.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 10 years and over who, during the reference month, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition includes members of the armed forces, but excludes conscripts. Working students with a part time job and students seeking work also are excluded from the definition.

(b) Employment

The questions used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed are What were you doing most of the time (during the past 30 days)? 1) working; 2) had a job, but not at work; 3) did not work and did not have job; 4) home making; 5) student; 6) something else., and if answer is 4) or 6): Did you work at all for pay or profit? (includes work for family farm or business, including pay in kind).

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;
  3. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to categories (i) and (iii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference month, were without work and looking for work.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Based on the questions: What is the name of the establishment where you work (for unemployed: last establishment)? and What is the main product or service of this establishment?. For coding industry, ten groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the tabulation category (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What is your main job/work (for unemployed: last kind of work)?. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 has been used to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: What is/was your employment status in this establishment?. For coding status in employment, five groups were used, namely: employee for pay or wages; self-employed without employees; employer; unpaid family worker; other.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final results of the population census were expected to be issued in December 1995 in a publication entitled Population and Housing Census 1993, Economic Characteristics.

The organization responsible for the publication of the results is the Central Statistics Department, Central Bank Building, Buckle Street, Banjul.

The census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables.