NAMIBIA

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

Central Statistics Office, National Planning Commission, Private Bag 13356, Windhoek.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1960, 1981,1991 and 2001. The present description relates to the 2001 population census (held on 27 August).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

(b) Persons covered: All persons of all ages.

4. Reference period:

The week prior to the census day (night) for activity status.

5. Main topics:

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

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: no

(h) Other characteristics: no

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

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 8 years and over who, during the reference week, i.e. the seven days before the reference night, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who, in reply to the question: “During the seven days preceding the census day, did you work for pay, profit or family gain?” answered either “Yes” or “No, but had a job or business”.

The following categories are included:

i) persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;

ii) persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;

iii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iv) working students with a part-time job;

v) seasonal or occasional workers;

vi) apprentices and trainees.

Only persons belonging to categories (i), (iii) and (iv) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who, to the question asked under 6 (b) above, replied either “Unemployed (worked before)” or “Unemployed (first time job seeker)”. Students seeking work are excluded from this definition.

7. Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry: Based on the questions: “What kind of activity is carried out at your workplace?” and “What are the main products produced or services offered at your workplace?”. For coding industry, 307 groups of the national classification were used.

(b) Occupation: Based on the questions: “What type/kind of work did you do at your place of work?” and “What are the main duties at this job?”. For coding occupation, 396 groups of the national classification were used.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question: “In this job, did you work as: subsistence/communal farmer (with paid employees); subsistence/communal farmer (without paid employees); other employer (with paid employees); other own-account worker (without paid employees); employee (government or parastatal); employee (private); unpaid family worker (subsistence/communal farmer); other unpaid family worker; other?”. For coding status in employment, the above-mentioned nine groups were used.

(d) Level of education: Persons aged six years and above were asked whether they can read or write in any language, whether they have been to school and the highest grade/standard or level of education completed.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

The age limit used in the 2001 census for employment were eight years and above.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final data will be published in the form of posters, leaflets, Regional and National Profiles.

The organization responsible for the publications is the Central Statistics Office, National Planning Commission, Private Bag 13356, Windhoek.

The summary results and methodology are available on the website [http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm] of the Central Statistics Office.