New Caledonia

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

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), 18, boulevard Adolphe Pinard, 75675 Paris CEDEX 14.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1963, 1969, 1976, 1983, 1989 and 1996. The present description relates to the 1996 census (held on 16 April).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope : Whole territory.

(b) Persons covered

Entire population.

4. Reference period:

The week preceding the census day.

5. Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Economically active population by sex and age group: yes

(c) Economically active population by industry and sex: yes

(d) Economically active population by occupation and sex: yes

(e) Economically active population by status in employment and sex: yes

(f) Economically active population by highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes.

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

Re (g): Hours of work refer to usual hours of work of employed persons and mode of employment (permanent, seasonal or temporary, or casual).

Re (h): The census also collected detailed information on duration of unemployment (less than three months; three months to less than one year; one year to less than two years; two years and over).

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 14 years and over who during the reference period were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Members of the armed forces (career members and conscripts) are included in the definition but working students with a part-time job and students seeking work are excluded.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who during the reference period were at work or absent from work for temporary reasons (holiday, illness, maternity leave).

It is reported that the following are included in this definition:

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

ii) persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;

iii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iv) seasonal or occasional workers;

v) conscripts for military/civilian service;

vi) apprentices under contract and trainees.

The above categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are persons who stated that they were looking for work and taking steps to find work.

7. Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Employed persons were asked specific questions on the name, address and activity of the establishment which employs them or which they manage. For coding industry, 14 groups of the national industry classification were used. Links to ISIC have not been established.

(b) Occupation

Employed persons were asked to specify their occupation (for example, maintenance electrician, heavy goods vehicle driver, domestic appliance salesperson, chemical engineer, self-service cashier, etc.). For coding occupation, 33 detailed groups were used, these being subsequently reclassified into six major groups. Links to ISCO have not been established.

(c) Status in employment

To determine status in employment, employed persons were asked to indicate their occupational status. Nine groups were used: farmer and/or livestock breeder, hunter, fisherman; family helper; professional; craftsperson, trader, manufacturer; other employer or self-employed worker; home worker for a business; apprentice under contract; private sector employee; public sector employee.

(d) Level of education

Based on the questions: What educational level did you attain? For coding this variable, the following groups were used: (1) no schooling; (2) primary; (3) lower secondary; (4) upper secondary; (5) university. The following question was also asked: What is the highest qualification that you hold? For coding answers to this question, eight groups were used. Links to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) have not been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

All persons aged 14 years and over are asked to indicate whether they perform an ancillary activity in farming, fishing, hunting or craftwork and to state whether any monetary income is connected with such activity.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final census results were published in 1997.

The titles of the publications containing the final results are:

- Images de la population de Nouvelle-Calédonie: Principaux résultats du recensement 1996, INSEE/ITSEE;

- Recensement de la population de Nouvelle-Calédonie 1996: Principaux tableaux, ITSEE;

- Panorama des tribus de la province Iles loyauté, de la province Nord et de la province Sud, ITSEE.

The organization responsible for these publications is ISEE, the Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (formerly ITSEE), 5 rue du Général Galliéni, P.O. Box 823, Nouméa, New Caledonia.