Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Nauru

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

Department of Island Development and Industry, or Bureau of Statistics, Government Office, Yaren District, Rep. of Nauru.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1977, 1983 and 1992. The present description relates to the 1992 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 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: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

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

Re (g): Employed persons were asked to specify their usual and actual hours of work during the reference period.

Re (h): The census also collected information on secondary employment, on principal and secondary income, on reason for unemployment and on type and hours spent on traditional work (fishing, diving, crafts, etc).

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The minimum age limit used for inclusion in the economically active population was 10 years. However, in the published results, the minimum 10 years age limit was applied to the general tables on Employment status and Type of employer, while a minimum 15 years age limit was used in specific tables on Occupational classification, etc. There are no armed forces in Nauru, except for the local police.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who worked for at least one hour during the reference week.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;
  3. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  4. working students with a part time job;
  5. multiple-job holders;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
Except category iv), all above categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were without work, eligible for work but unable to find at least one hour of work within the last seven days. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Five Broad Industry Groups (all subdivised into Departments, Sections, Type of business, etc) were used for coding industry, namely: Government; Local Council; Nauru Phosphate Corporation; Business; Other. No links have been established to the ISIC.

(b) Occupation

Employed persons were asked to describe their occupation in at least two words. For coding occupation, the national classification was used. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: For whom do you work?. Status in employment is given by a combination of place of employment and of occupation. For coding this variable, seven groups were used, namely: employee of Government; employee of local council; employee of Nauru Phosphate Corporation (NPC); sale trader/own-account worker/employer; business partner (employee/employer); Business co-operative (employee/employer); other.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

Data on economic activity were not collected in previous censuses.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final census data on the economically active population and its components were issued in December 1993 in a publication entitled 1992 National Census of Nauru: Main Report.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Bureau of Statistics, Government Offices, Yaren District.

The census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables, but with Cabinet approval.