Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Botswana

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

Central Statistics Office, Private Bag 0024, Gaborone.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1981 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held during the period 14-28 August).

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 day of interview.

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: 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 12 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.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference month, performed any work for cash, either for themselves or for someone else. The definition also includes those persons working at the family lands or at the cattleposts.

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.
Only persons belonging to the categories (i) and (ii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference month, were without work and actively seeking work. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Based on the question: What was the main product, service or activity of X's place of work?. For coding industry, nine groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.2 have been established to the major division (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What type of work did X do?. For coding occupation, 10 groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Employed persons were asked to specify their status in employment. For coding status in employment, the two main following groups were used: employees (i.e. persons who have worked for somebody else for wages, salaries, fees, commission and the like) and self-employed (i.e. those who are in business for themselves, for example: farmers who farm with specific intention of selling their products, store owners, hawkers and people such as those who repair shoes or cut hair under a tree, etc.).

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

1991 information included occupation of people who were reported working in family business and at lands/farm/cattlepost.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final data have been issued in 1994 in a publication entitled 1991 Population and Housing Census Administrative/Technical Report and National Statistical Tables.

The organization responsible for this publication is the Central Statistics Office, Private Bag 0024, Gaborone.

The census data is also available in other forms, such as diskettes and unpublished tables.