Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Vanuatu

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

Statistics Office (NPSO), Private Mail Bag 19, Port-Vila.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1967, 1979 and 1989. Also urban censuses were conducted in 1972 and 1986. The present description relates to the 1989 census (which took place on 16 May).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages, except residents abroad at the time of census.

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: no

(h) Other characteristics: no

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

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 10 years and over who, at the time of the census, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The data actually published relate to persons aged 15 years and over, since the 10-14 age group was found to contain so many students.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who had worked for one hour or more during the previous week. Working students with a part-time job are excluded from the definition.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  3. multiple-job holders;
  4. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to categories (i), (ii) and (iii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who were without work but actively seeking a job during the previous week. The question used was Did he/she actively look for work in the last 7 days?.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Based on the question: What kind of industry does he/she work for?. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.2 has been used to the 1-digit level, but the codes were expanded to 2-digits to meet local needs.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What kind of work did he/she do?. For coding occupation, the ISCO-68 has been used to the unit group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the questions: What was his/her employment status? or Who was he/she working for?. For coding status in employment the following four groups were used: self-employed; family business (no pay); employee in private company; working for Government.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

In 1979, respondents were asked to describe their occupation during the past year, whereas this was not required in 1989.

9.Publication of the census results:

The publication containing the final census results is Vanuatu National Population Census - May 1989 - Main Report, July 1991.

The organization responsible for this publication is the Statistics Office, Private Mail Bag 19, Port Vila.