Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

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

Statistical Centre of Iran, Dr. Fatemi Avenue, Tehran 14144.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1956, 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 11 September).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The seven days preceding the census day.

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 defined both in terms of year of birth and age at last birthday.

Re (h): The census also registered the duration of unemployment in months.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 10 years and over who, during the reference period, were either employed or unemployed according to the definitions given below. The census is combined with a household survey based on a 10 per cent sample; all persons aged 10 years and over in the sample were asked questions on economic activity. Members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons in the sample who, during the reference week, performed any work for wages, profit or family gain, at home or out of home. Persons without permanent job who worked at least two days during the reference period are included in the definition.

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;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers, provided they were not seeking work;
  5. conscripts for military/civil service;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
Categories (i) and (iii) can be identified separately by means of specific answers to questions on their employment and educational status.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons in the sample who, during the reference week, were without work and seeking work.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons in the sample were classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Employed persons were asked to indicate the location and major activity of their work place in order to determine industry group. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.3 was used to the class (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Respondents were asked to indicate their occupation accurately. For coding occupation, the ISCO-68 was used to the unit group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Employed persons were registered under one of the five codes: employer; own-account worker; wage and salary earner (public sector); wage and salary earner (private sector); and unpaid family worker.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

The 1986 census was a complete census of all households in which questions relating to the economically active population and its components were asked of all persons aged 6 years and over. No questions were asked in the 1986 census on the duration of unemployment.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final results of the population census have been published in 1992 in the publication entitled National Results of the 1991 Multi-Round Population Census.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Statistical Centre of Iran, Dr. Fatemi Ave., Tehran 14144.

Data is available as a printed form and also on diskette or magnetic tape.