National Statistical and Census Institute (INEC), P.O. Box 10163-1000, San José.
1950, 1963, 1973, 1984 and 2000. The present description relates to the 2000 population census (held from 28 to 30 April).
Whole country.
All persons who are usually resident and who are not absent for periods of more than six months.
The week preceding the census day.
(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: yes.
Re (a): The age is defined in terms of year of birth and age at last birthday.
Re (h): The census also collected information on occupational category, education, nationality, incapacity, marital status and fertility.
It comprises all persons aged 12 years and over who during the reference week were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below.
Considered as employed are persons who during the reference week worked for at least one hour in any economic activity for which they received pay or income in cash or in kind or both. The following questions were used to determine whether a person should be counted as employed: Last week, did you: (1) work? (2) work or help a family member without pay? (3) not work but have a job?
It is reported that the following categories are included:
i) persons doing unpaid work in a family firm or business;
ii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
iii) working students with a part-time job;
iv) seasonal or occasional workers.
Excluded from the definition are voluntary work, unpaid help with domestic tasks in another’s household, assistance rendered as a favour, begging and practical work experience which students are required to undertake in enterprises as a graduation requirement.
Considered as unemployed are persons who during the reference week were without work in accordance with the following two categories: (1) seeking work and having previously worked, and (2) looking for work for the first time. Persons expecting replies to recent applications or momentarily not seeking work owing to temporary illness are included. Also counted as unemployed are persons who had found a job but would begin working after the census interview date.
Only employed persons were classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.
To determine industry, the question asked was: What is the main activity carried on at your place of work? This variable is coded to the 5-digit level and links to ISIC Rev.3 have been established.
The following question was used to establish occupation: What occupation or trade do you perform in this job? For coding this variable, nine groups of the national classification were used. Links to ISCO-88 have been established.
To determine this characteristic, the question asked was: In this job, are you: (1) an employer; (2) an own-account worker; (3) a paid employee; (4) an unpaid family worker?
The question used to determine this is: What is the final level or grade you successfully completed in regular education? For coding this variable, the following groups were used: (1) no level; (2) pre-school or kindergarten; (3) primary; (4) academic secondary; (5) technical secondary; (6) para-university; (7) university. Links to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) have not been established.
- Industry classification linked to ISIC Rev.3;
- Occupation classification linked to ISCO-88;
- Segmentation structure changes as a result of urban and rural growth;
- More ethnic questions;
- Questions on institutional sector;
- Expanded census form used in indigenous territories;
- No questions on hours worked.
The titles of the publications in which the final census results are presented are:
- IX Censo Nacional de Población y V de Vivienda, Resultados Generales, Costa Rica, August 2001;
- IX Censo Nacional de Población, Características Sociales y Demográficas, November 2002;
- IX Censo Nacional de Población y Características Económicas, November 2002;
- V Censo Nacional de Vivienda, November 2002.
The organization responsible for publication is the National Statistical and Census Institute (INEC), P.O. Box 10163-1000, San José.
The census results are also available in the form of diskettes and CD-ROMs and on the INEC website (www.inec.go.cr).