SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

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

Statistical Office of Serbia and Montenegro, Kneza Milosa 20, P.O. Box 203, 11000 Beograd.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2002.  The present description relates to the 2002 population census (held on 31 March).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Central Serbia and Vojvodina.  The census was not conducted in the province of Kosovo and Metohia or in the Republic of Montenegro.  However, a population census will be conducted in the Republic of Montenegro in November 2003 using the same methodology, content, standards and classifications as those used in the 2002 census in Central Serbia and Vojvodina.

(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 date of birth and year of birth.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the usual worked week, i.e. 42 working hours.

Re (h): The census also collected information on the sector that a person is engaged in.

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 employed persons officially registered by the Employment Office, except persons on compulsory military service.   Persons engaged in the police force are included in the definition. The question used to determine whether a person is to be counted as employed is “What was your activity in the last week?”.   Possible responses were grouped under (a) Performs an occupation:  Employed (employment); Works out of employment; Employer (founder or co-founder of enterprise or shop); Individual farmer; Performs activity individually; Helping member of household; Others performing occupation and (b) Does not perform an occupation: Unemployed – seeking work; Stopped working due to military service; Pensioner; Has income from property (rent, etc.); Other personal incomes (social, etc.); Housewife; Child, pupil or student; Unable to work;  Others not performing occupation. 

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.

Only persons belonging to category (i) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who during the reference period did not have a permanent job for obtaining subsistence and were seeking work through the Employment Bureau or independently by themselves.  The criterion used to determine whether a person is to be counted as unemployed is his/her reply to the question “What was your activity in the last week?”; persons answering “Unemployed – seeking work” are counted as unemployed.

7. Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry:   To determine industry group, employed persons are asked to specify their activity.  For coding industry, the National Classification of Activities was used.  Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established.

(b) Occupation:  To determine occupation group, employed persons are asked to specify their occupation.  For coding occupation, unit groups of the national classification were used.    Links to ISCO-88 have been established at the four-digit level.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question “What was your activity in the last week?”. For coding status in employment, the following groups were used:  Employer; Independently performing activity; Employed; Working as unemployed; Helping member of the household.

(d) Level of education: Based on the question “What is the highest completed education you have attained?”.  (Children attending pre-school or elementary school were not asked this question).  For coding level of education the following eight groups were used: i) No schooling;  ii) 1-3 years of elementary school;  iii) 4 years of elementary school;   iv) 5-7 years of elementary school;  v) Elementary school completed; vi) Secondary school;   vii) High school;  viii) Higher school and University.  Links to ISCED-97 have been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

-           The population living abroad for over a year is excluded.

-           The concept of “current activity” has been introduced for observing economic activity, employment, etc.

-           International classifications were applied.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final results of the census will be published at the end of 2003.

The title of the publication containing the final results will be “Population Census Results”.

The organizations responsible for the publication are the Statistical Office of Serbia and Montenegro and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia.

The census data will also be available in the form of diskettes, CD-ROM, magnetic tapes and on the website of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (www.statserb.sr.gov.yu).