Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Peru

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

Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informtica, Av. 28 de Julio No. 1056, Lima.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1961, 1972, 1981 and 1993. The present description relates to the 1993 population census (held on 11 July).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week prior to 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: no

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of age at last birthday for persons aged 1 year and over (and in terms of months for infants under 1 year of age).

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 6 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition includes professional members of the armed forces, but excludes conscripts in military or civilian service.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who worked during the reference week. The questions used to determine if a person was employed are Last week, were you: Working for pay?, Temporarily absent from work? An unpaid helper to a family member?.

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. seasonal or occasional workers.
Only persons falling in categories (i) and (iii) can be identified separately by means of their replies to specific questions. As regards category (i), the question used is: An unpaid helper to a family member?, and as regards category (iii), the question used is: Temporarily absent from work?.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were seeking work, including both previously employed persons and first-time jobseekers.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

To determine industry group, persons were asked to indicate the activity of the business, organization or firm in which they work or last worked. For coding this variable, the ISCO-rev.3 was used to the class (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

To determine occupation group, persons were asked to indicate their primary occupation, post or trade in the reference week or in their last job. For coding this variable, the ISCO-88 was used to the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

To determine this variable, persons were asked to indicate their occupational category in the business, organization or firm in which they work. This variable was coded in six groups (labourer, employee, unpaid family worker, homemaker, self-employed or own-account worker, employer or proprietor).

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final results were published in November 1994.

The title of the publication is Resultados definitivos Perú Censos Nacionales 1993: IX de poblacion y IV de vivienda.

The organization responsible for this publication is Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informtica, av. 28 de Julio, No. 1056, Lima, Perú.

The census results are also available in the form of diskettes.