BULGARIA

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

National Statistical Institute, Demographic and Social Statistics Department, 2, rue P. Volov, Sofia.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1956, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1992 and 2001.  The present description relates to the 2001 population census (conducted on 1 March).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

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

4. Reference period:

The census day (1 March).

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) Educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: no

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a):  The age is defined in terms of day, month and year of birth.

Re (h):  The census also collected information on the place of work.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons between the ages of 10 and 90 years who, on the census day, were either employed or unemployed (16 – 65 years), according to the definitions given below.  Regular members of the armed forces and conscripts on military service are included in the definition.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who gave an affirmative reply to the question “Were you working on 1 March 2001?”.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

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

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

iii)       employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iv)       working students with a part-time job;

v)         seasonal workers not at work during the off-season;

vi)       regular members of the armed forces;

vii)      conscripts on military/civilian service;

viii)     apprentices and trainees;

ix)        persons temporarily laid-off (with formal job attachment).

Persons belonging to categories (i), (ii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who stated that they were not working on the day of the census, and that they were without work and seeking work. Students seeking work are included in the definition. It is reported that future starts and persons temporarily laid-off (without formal job attachment) are included in the definition.

7. Classifications used:

Employed persons are classified by industry and by status in employment.  Both employed and unemployed persons are classified by occupation and educational level.

(a) Industry: Based on the question “What is the name, main activity and address of your place of work?”.  For coding industry, 17 sections, 60 groups and 159 minor groups of the national classification were used.  Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established at the division (3-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the question “What is your occupation or function?”.  For coding occupation, 113 major groups and 550 minor groups were used.  Links to ISCO-88 have been established at the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment: For coding this variable the following groups were used: 1) Employer; 2) Self-employed; 3) Employee; 4) Family worker; 5) Member of a co-operative; 6) Agricultural non-market producer; 7) Other.

(d) Level of education: Based on the question “Level of completed education?”.  For coding the population’s educational attainment, the following levels of education were used: University-doctor (ISCED 6), University–master (ISCED 5a), University-bachelor (ISCED 5a), College (ISCED 5b), Secondary professional (ISCED 3+4), Secondary vocational (ISCED 3+4),  Secondary general (ISCED 3+4), Vocational (ISCED 2), Primary: 5-8 grade  (ISCED 2), Primary: 1-4 grade (ISCED 1), Primary-not completed (ISCED 1), Illiterate (ISCED 0). Links to ISCED have been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

The 2001 census was the first census to identify a person’s status in employment.

9. Publication of the census results:

The census results were published between 2001 and 2004 in “Demographic and Social Characteristics” (Volume I) and ”Economic Characteristics” (Volume II).

The organization responsible for these publications is the National Statistical Institute, Demographic and Social Statistics Department, 2. rue P. Volov, Sofia (website address: www.nsi.bg).

The 2001 census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables, diskettes and CD.