EGYPT

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

Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), Salah Salem Street, Nasr City, Cairo.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1960, 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996.  The present description relates to the 1996   population census (held on 18-19 November).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.     

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

4. Reference period:

The day of 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:  no

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is determined both in terms of date of birth and age at last birthday.

Re (h): The census also collected information on the economic sector to which an in- or outworker belongs.  Sectors are classified as governmental, public, private or foreign. 

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged six years and over who, during the reference period, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, were of working age and classified as: own-account worker, employer, employee, unpaid worker.  The question used to determine whether a person is to be counted as employed is “Was he/she employed or engaged in work on census day?  If so, what was his/her employment status?”.

It is reported that the following categories are included: 

i)         persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;

ii)        persons, temporarily absent from a job;                                 

iii)       working students with a part-time job;                                   

iv)       seasonal or occasional workers;                                            

v)         conscripts for military/civilian service.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who during the reference period were of working age, seeking work and had not yet found work.  Also included are all persons who had previously worked but were now not working.  The question used for a person who is not employed to determine whether he/she is to be counted as unemployed is “Is he/she available for work and seeking work?”.

7. Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are classified by industry, occupation and status in employment.

(a) Industry:  Based on the question: “What is the main activity of your establishment or your work outside the establishment?”.  For coding industry, main and sub-groups of the national classification were used.  Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established at the class (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the questions:  For employed persons: “What is your current occupation?” and for unemployed persons previously employed: “What was your last occupation?”.  For coding occupation, main and sub-groups of the national classification were used.  Links to ISCO-88 have been established at the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment:  Based on the question:  “What is your status in employment?”.  For coding status in employment the following groups were used:  i) under age; ii) employer; iii) self-employed; iv) employee; v) unpaid worker; vi) seeking work (old); vii) seeking work (new); viii) student; ix) housewife; x) not willing to work; xi) retired; xii) not working age; xiii) unable to work. 

(d) Level of education:  Based on the question (for persons 10 years and over): “What is your educational status?”.  For coding level of education the following groups were used: i) under age; ii) illiterate; iii) read and write; iv) less than intermediate; v) intermediate; vi) above intermediate; vii) university and higher.  No links to ISCED-97 have been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major differences.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final results of the census were published in December 1998.

The title of the publication containing the final results is “Housing conditions, population characteristics, establishment census and building census”.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), Salah Salem Street, Nasr City, Cairo.

The census data are also available in the form of diskettes, CD-ROM, magnetic tapes and on the CAPMAS website (www.capmas.gov.eg).