Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Zimbabwe

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

Central Statistical Office, Box CY342, Causeway.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1969, 1982 and 1992. The present description relates to the 1992 population census (held on 17 August).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages, present in Zimbabwe on the census night (de facto). Nationals abroad were not included.

4.Reference period:

The 12 months preceding the census day.

5.Main topics:

TZW

Re (a): The age is defined 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 period, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. However, the census results will be published with minimal information on 10-14 age group. The definition includes all members of the armed forces but excludes working students with a part time job and students seeking work.

(b) Employment

Employment is determined on the basis of the question: What was your main activity for the last 12 months? Paid employee; Employer; Own account worker; Unpaid family worker; Looking for work/unemployed; Student; Homemaker; Retired/sick/too old; Others.

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. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. conscripts for military/civilian service.
Only categories (i) and (ii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, had done no work, or were looking for work, or were available for work.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons were classified by occupation, whereas all persons aged 10 years and over were classified by status in employment.

(a) Industry

No classification by industry was made.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What was your main occupation during the last 12 months?. For coding occupation, 109 groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: What was your main activity for the last 12 months?. For coding status in employment, four groups were used, namely: paid employee; employer; own account worker; and unpaid family worker.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

A long reference period (i.e. 12 months) was used in the 1992 census whereas a short period (i.e. one week) was used in the 1982 census.

The question asked of employed persons to determine their occupation group and status in employment was different in the 1992 census from that of the 1982 census.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final results were published in December 1994 in a publication entitled Census 1992: National Profile - Zimbabwe. All provincial final results have also been published.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Central Statistical Office, Box CY342, Causeway.

Unpublished tables and data in other forms are also available.