Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Guatemala

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

Instituto Nacional de Estadística, 8a calle 9-55, Zona 1, Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala 010001.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1950, 1964, 1973, 1981 and 1994. The present description relates to the 1994 population census (held on 17 April).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week preceding the census date.

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, and in terms of year of birth.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 7 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition includes professional members of the armed forces, but excludes conscripts in military or civilian service.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who replied that they worked or did not work but had a job, when asked: What did you do the week before the date of the census?. The choices were: Worked; Did not work but had a job; Looked for work, having been employed previously; Looked for a first job; Lived off savings or pension and did not work; Studied and did not work; Kept a home and did not work; Other.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  3. working students with a part-time job.
All categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, when asked What did you do the week before the date of the census? replied that they had looked for work, whether or not previously employed.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons (excluding first-time jobseekers) are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

To determine industry group, persons were asked to indicate the activity of the factory, shop, office, farm, establishment, etc. where they were engaged in their stated occupation. Links to the ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the 4-digit level.

(b) Occupation

To determine occupation group, persons were asked to identify the occupation, type of work or function performed during the reference week or in their last job. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the unit group (4-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

To determine this variable, persons were asked to indicate the category of their primary occupation, which was coded in six categories (employer, self-employed with own business premises, self-employed without own business premises, public sector employee, private sector employee, unpaid family worker).

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

The only difference concerns the age limit, inasmuch as the 1994 census studied the economic characteristics of persons as from 7 years of age (compared to 10 years and over in the 1981 census).

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the final census data is Características Generales de Habitación y Población, October 1995.

The organization responsible for this publication is Instituto Nacional de Estadística, - INE - 8va. Calle 9-55 Zona 1.

The census results are also available in the form of diskettes.