Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Cook Islands

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

Statistics Office, P.O. Box 125, Rarotonga.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1945, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 1st December).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole area.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The month prior to the census.

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: no

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

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the total number of hours usually worked by employed persons during the week prior to the census (if not available, then to the number of hours usually worked in a week).

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference month, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition also includes temporary contract workers of other ethnic origin. There are no armed forces in Cook Islands.

(b) Employment

Employment is determined on the basis of the question: Activity status: (1) Employer, own business/plantation; (2) Own Account business/self employed and no employees; (3) Working full time for wages/salary; (4) Working part time for wage or on casual basis; (5) Unemployed and looking for work; (6) Family worker in plantation/store or other for own use or household consumption and not receiving wages; (7) Retired; (8) Full time student and not working for wage/salary; (9) Disabled; (10) Home duties. Those who classified themselves under 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 were counted as employed.

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. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to categories (i) and (ii) can be identified separately on the basis of their activity status.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, were without work and seeking work. The definition includes both unemployed persons with previous job experience and those who never worked before.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

The specific questions asked of employed persons both for principal occupation and secondary occupation to determine industry group relate to the name of employer, company, government, store or person worked for, as well as to the type of business or activity employed in, e.g. agriculture, fishing, retail store and to number of hours worked last week, or if not worked, to number of hours usually worked. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.2 has been used to the group (4-digit) level, but the data will only be published to the major division (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

The specific question asked of employed persons both for principal occupation and secondary occupation relates to the work done by the person in the place of work during the reference period, e.g. citrus grower, wharf labourer, accounts clerk, etc. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 has been used to the unit-group (4-digit) level, but the data will only be published to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the same question as that indicated under 6 (b) above. For coding status in employment, six groups were used: employer, own business or plantation; own account business, self employed and no employees; working full time for wages or salary; working part time for wage or on casual basis; family worker in plantation or store or other for own use or household consumption and not receiving wages (home duties is extended to cover production of fishing and agriculture); other.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

As for the 1986 census, various reports containing the 1991 census results were issued between 1992 and 1993 under the general title Cook Islands Census of population and dwellings 1991. They can be ordered from the Statistics Office in Rarotonga.

The organization responsible for the publication of the census results is the Statistics Office, P.O. Box 125, Rarotonga.

The census data are not available in other forms.