Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Samoa

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

Department of Statistics, P.O. Box 1151, Apia, Western Samoa.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 5 November).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

One week (20-26 October 1991).

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: no

(g) Hours of work: no

(h) Other characteristics: no

Re (a): The age is defined both in terms of year of birth and in terms of age at last birthday.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 10 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The published results are restricted to persons aged 15 years and over. The definition excludes members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, when asked about their type of activity, stated that they had been working 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. seasonal or occasional workers;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
None of the above categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, were without work.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Based on the question: Type of industry, business or service?. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.2 was used.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What is your principal occupation?. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 was used to the minor-group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Four groups were used for coding this variable, namely: employer; employee; self-employed worker; unpaid worker.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

A special set of questions were asked in the 1992 Census to women who describe themselves as housewives which were not asked as on previous censuses.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final census data were issued in January 1993 in a publication entitled Report of the Census of Population and Housing - 1991.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Department of Statistics, P.O. Box 1151, Apia, Western Samoa.

The census results are not available in other forms.