Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Bolivia

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

Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Plaza Mario Guzman Aspiazu No. 1, Casilla 6129, La Paz.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1950, 1976 and 1992. The present description relates to the 1992 population census (held on 3 June).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages, except nationals residing abroad.

4.Reference period:

The week preceding the census date.

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: ...

(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 7 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition excludes conscripts in military or civilian service, but includes professional members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons aged 7 years and over who reported that they had worked during the reference week.

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. multiple job holders;
  7. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons falling in categories (i), (iii) and (vi) can be identified separately by means of their responses to specific questions.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were without work and seeking work. The questions used to determine if the person was unemployed are Were you seeking work and have you been previously employed? and Were you seeking work for the first time?.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons were classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Based on the question: What does the establishment where you work (or last worked) produce, or what is its activity?. To determine industry group, employed persons were asked to give the name, address and economic sector of the enterprise, establishment or administration in which they were employed or which they managed. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.3 was used to the 4-digit level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What was your primary occupation last week (or your most recent occupation, if then unemployed)?. To determine occupation group, employed persons were asked to identify as accurately as possible their occupation or activity at that time. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 was used to the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

The following seven categories were used to determine status in employment: employee, worker, self-employed, proprietor or employer, member of a cooperative, self-employed professional, family worker.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major differences.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final census data were published in May 1993.

The title of the publication containing the final census results is Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda 1992: Resultados finales.

The organization responsible for this publication is Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Plaza Mario Guzman Aspiazu No. 1, Casilla 6129, La Paz.

The census data are also available in other formats: archives (working papers); published detailed results (sociodemographic indicators of regional capitals, broken down by census zones, and of provinces); and data base on diskettes.