PANAMA

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

Dirección de Estadística y Censo, Contraloría General de la República, Apartado 5213, Zona 5, Panamá, República de Panamá.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000. The present report refers to the 2000 population census (conducted 14 May).

3. Coverage of the census:

a) Geographical scope: Entire country.

b) Persons covered: The entire population except Panamanian nationals resident abroad.

4. Reference period:

The week preceding the date of the census.

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): Age defined in terms of completed years (at last birthday).

Re. h): Data were collected on permanent and casual jobs, and on total income during the month preceding the census date.

6. Concepts and definitions:

a) Economically active population: Includes all persons of 10 years of age and above who during the reference week were employed or unemployed according to the definitions given below. The definition also includes all the armed forces.

b) Employment:  Persons are defined as employed if they answered in the affirmative to the following question: “Did you work last week or do you have any employment from which you were absent last week?”.

The following categories are included:

i)         Persons working without pay in a family firm or business;

ii)        Persons involved in the production of primary goods for their own consumption;

iii)       Persons employed but temporarily absent from work;

iv)       Students who work part time;

v)        Seasonal or occasional workers;

vi)       Persons conscripted for military or civilian service;

vii)      Apprentices and persons enrolled in training courses.

Only persons in categories (i) and (v) can be separately identified by means of specific questions.

c) Unemployment: Persons are defined as unemployed if they had no work during the reference week and stated that they were seeking employment or that it was impossible to find work.

7. Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons who had been employed were classified by industry, occupation and status in employment.

a) Industry: In order to establish the industry, the following questions were asked: "Where do you work now, or where did you last work?”; and “What is the main activity of the business, establishment, firm, or institution where you work or worked?” This variable was codified using 18 groups from the national classification of economic activities. These groups are compatible with all the groups of ISIC Rev. 3.

b) Occupation: In order to establish occupation, the following question was asked: "What occupation, trade or work were you engaged in last week or the last time you worked?”. Ten groups from the national classification of occupations were used. These groups are compatible with ISCO-88 at the level of the major groups (one digit).

c) Status in employment: In order to establish this variable, the question used was whether the addressee in his or her current or previous work works or worked as: (i) a waged worker; (ii) an independent or self-employed worker; (iii) an unpaid family worker; (iv) an employer; (v) a member of a production cooperative. Status in employment was codified using the five groups referred to above.

d) Level of education: In order to establish this, the following question was asked: "What was the highest school grade or year you attained?” This was codified using the following groups: (i) No grade; (ii) Pre-school; (iii) Special education; (iv) Primary; (v) Vocational; (vi) Secondary; (vii) Higher education (non-university); (viii) Higher education (university); (ix) Postgraduate; (x) Masters (xi) Doctorate. No links were established with the CINE.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

No significant differences.

9. Publication of the census results:

The exact titles of the publications in which the final census data will be presented are: “Resultados finales básicos” (there are to be three publications per district: Panama, Colón and San Miguelito); “Compendios Provinciales” (one for each province); and “Resultados Finales Ampliados” (five volumes).

The publishing organization is Dirección de Estadísticas y Censo, Contraloría General de la República, Apartado 5213, Zona 5, Panama, Republic of Panama.

The census results are also available on magnetic tape and published charts.