SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

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

Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, P.O. Box 186, Church Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2001. The present description relates to the 2001 population census (held on 13 May).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

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

4. Reference period:

The week and the year 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

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of date of birth.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to hours per week.

Re (h): The census also collected information on professional, vocational and technical training and its duration; housing; migration; crime; characteristics of respondents such as disability, health, birth place and residence, marital status and fertility.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 15 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 had a job during the reference period. The questions used to determine whether a person is to be counted as employed are: “What did you do most during the past 12 months?” and “What did you do most during the past week?”. Possible responses were: (i) Worked; (ii) Had a job but did not work; (iii) Looked for work; (iv) Wanted work and available; (v) Home duties; (vi) Attended school; (vii) Retired; (viii) Disabled, unable to work; (ix) Other (please specify); (x) Not stated.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

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

ii) persons engaged in production for own consumption;

iii persons temporarily absent from a job;

iv) seasonal or occasional workers;

v) apprentices and trainees.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who were without a job, were seeking work and were available for work.

7. Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry: Based on the question: “What type of business is/was carried on at your workplace?”. For coding industry, groups of the national classification were used. Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the class (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the question: “What sort of work did you/do you do in your main occupation?”. For coding occupation, groups of the national classification were used. Links to ISCO-88 have been established to the unit group (4-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question: “Did you carry on your business, work for a wage or salary or as an unpaid worker in a family business?”. For coding status in employment, the following eight groups were used: Paid employee – Government; Paid employee – private; Paid employee – statutory body; Unpaid family worker; Own business with paid employee; Own business without paid employee; Apprentice; Don’t know/not stated.

(d) Level of education: Based on the questions: 1.“What is the highest formal level of education that you have attained?”. For coding this variable, the following groups were used: Day-care/Nursery; Pre-school; Infant; Primary Grade/Standard (1 – 3 years); Primary Grade/Standard (4 – 7 years); Secondary; Pre-University/Post Secondary/College; University; Other; Other; None; Not Stated. 2. “What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that you have earned?”. For coding this variable, 15 groups were used.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

Questions on migration and crime were included in the 2001 census.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final results of the census have not yet been published; they should be available by the end of 2003. The title of the publication containing the results will be: “2001 Population and Housing Census St Kitts and Nevis”.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, P.O. Box 186, Church Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts.

The census data will also be available in the form of CD-ROM.