Belize

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

Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Finance, Belmopan.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2000. The present descriptions relates to the 2000 population census (held on 12 May).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: All areas within the national boundaries.

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

4. Reference period:

The day of the census, and the week ending 12 May for questions relating to economic activity.

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: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

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

Re (h): The census also collected information on income.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 14 years and over who, during the week ending on census day (12 May), were either employed or unemployed according to the definitions below (specifically, contributing or available to contribute to the production of goods and services according to the United Nation System of National Accounts). Armed forces residing in private households are included, whereas members of the armed forces residing in army camps are excluded.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, performed some work for wage or salary or payment in kind as well as persons with a formal attachment to their job but temporarily not at work (paid employment). Also considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, performed some work for profit or family gain, in cash or in kind, and persons with an enterprise but temporarily not at work (self-employment). The questions used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed are: (1) “Did you/… do any work for pay, profit, or family gain for at least one hour during the week ending May 12^th? This includes helping in a family business or farm, street vending, or work at home”; (2) “Did you/… engage in any economic activity on the following list, for pay, profit or family gain, for at least one hour, during the week ending May 12^th?” and (3) “Did you have a job during that week, from which you were temporarily absent?”.

It is reported that 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, if their work takes precedence over their studies;

v) seasonal or occasional workers;

vi) conscripts for military/civilian service.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, wanted and were available for work.

7. Classifications used:

Employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed were classified by industry and by occupation. Only employed persons were classified by status in employment.

(a) Industry: Based on the question “What type of business is/was carried on at your workplace?”. For coding industry, the national classification was used. Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the classes (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the question “What sort of work do/did you do in your main occupation?”. For coding occupation, the national classification was used. Links to ISCO-88 have been established to the unit group (4-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question “Did you carry on your own business, work for a wage or salary or work as an unpaid worker?”. Six groups were used for coding status in employment, namely: paid employee (Government); paid employee (private); unpaid worker; own business with paid help (employer); own business without paid help (own account); not stated.

(d) Level of education: Based on the question “What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that you earned?”. To code this variable the following groups of the national classification were used: i) None; ii) Primary school certificate; iii) High School diploma; iv) GCE ‘O’ levels or CXC; v) Sixth form diploma; vi) Teachers college diploma; vii) Nursing school diploma; viii) College of Agriculture diploma; ix) GCE ‘A’ levels; x) Bachelors Degree; xi) Masters Degree; xii) Ph.D Degree; xiii) Diploma (post graduate only). The national classification is not linked to ISCED.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

In the 2000 census the reference week was the week ending 12 May while in the 1991 census, a long reference period (12 months) was used for questions relating to economic activity.

9. Publication of the census results:

Preliminary data were issued in September 2000 in the publication entitled “Major Findings - 2000 Population and Housing Census”.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Finance, Belmopan.

Unpublished tables and data on diskettes are also available from the Central Statistical Office. Information on the census is available on the CSO’s website (www.cso.gov.bz).