Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Zambia

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

Central Statistics Office, P.O. Box 31908, Lusaka.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1969, 1980 and 1990. The present description relates to the 1990 census (held on 20 August).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages, except nationals living abroad and foreign diplomats.

4.Reference period:

The week and the 12 months 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.

Re (g): Only multiple-job holders were asked to specify the total period worked during the last 12 months (expressed in number of months).

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 12 years and over who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Employment is determined on the basis of the questions: What was X mainly doing in the last seven days? (the possible responses were: working for pay or profit; on leave; unpaid work on household holding or business), and What has X mainly been doing since 1989? (the possible responses were as indicated for the first question).

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. conscripts for military/civilian service;
  7. multiple-job holders.
Only persons belonging to categories (i), (ii) and (iii) can be identified separately through specific questions and on the basis of their status in employment.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference periods, were without work and seeking work, or not seeking work but available for work. To determine whether or not a person was to be counted as unemployed, the questions under 6 (b) above were also used. For the unemployed, the specific possible responses were: unemployed and seeking work and not seeking work but available for work. Persons replying Full-time housewife/homemaker, Full-time student or Not available for work for other reasons were classified among the economically inactive population.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Based on the question: What kind of main product or service is produced where X works (or worked)? For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.2 has been used to the major division (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What was X's main occupation since 1989?. For coding occupation, 91 groups of the national classification of occupations were used. Links to the ISCO-68 have been established to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Since 1989, has X been mainly: an employer; an employee; a self-employed; an unpaid family worker?. For coding status in employment, the above four categories were used.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

While in 1980 questions on persons' economic activity were only asked on a sample basis, in the 1990 census such questions were asked of all persons aged 12 years and over.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the final census results is Economic and Social Tables, issued in August 1994.

The organization responsible for this publication is the Central Statistics Office, P.O. Box 31908, Lusaka.

The census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables and on diskettes.