Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Sao Tome and Principe

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

Direcçao de Economia e Estatística, C.P. 256, Sao Tomé.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1950, 1960, 1970, 1981 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 census (held on 4 August).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole territory.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week preceding the census day. A short period (the week preceding the census) and a long reference period (the 12 months preceding the census) are used in the questions put to employed persons regarding their hours of work.

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: yes

Re (a): The age is defined both in terms of year of birth and in terms of age at last birthday;

Re (g): The hours of work relate to the usual hours of work of employed persons, and to the actual hours worked by employed persons at work during the week preceding the census, and to the total period of work (in months) during the 12 months preceding the census.

Re (h): Active persons were also asked a specific question concerning their income.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 10 years and over who, during the reference period, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, in reply to a question concerning their employment situation during the reference week, stated that they were working.

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. working students with a part time job;
  5. seasonal or occasional workers;
  6. conscripts for military/civilian service;
  7. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons falling in categories (i) and (vii) can be identified separately by means of their responses to specific questions.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, in reply to a question concerning their employment situation during the reference week, stated that they were seeking either a new job or their first job. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

The question used to determine industry group relates to the nature of the workplace (farm, public or private enterprise, etc.) and the economic sector. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.2 was used to the division (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

The questions used refer to the person's occupation during the reference week (or, in respect of unemployed persons, to their most recent occupation). For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 was used to the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

For coding this variable, five categories were used, namely: employee; self-employed person; employer; unpaid family worker; other, not specified.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No specific questions were asked in the 1981 census regarding the total working time or the income of employed persons.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the final census results is: Principais Resultados do II. Recenseamento Geral da Populaçao e da Habitaçao.

The organization responsible for this publication is Direcçao de Economia e Estatistica, C.P. 256, Sao Tomé.

The 1991 census results are also available in other forms, including diskettes.