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2011 Census of Population & Housing - Jamaica
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BACKGROUND TO THE CENSUS
Legal Authority for the Census
The 2011 Population and Housing Census was taken under the provisions of the
Statistics (Amendment) Act 1984. In accordance with Section 4 of the Statistics Act, the
House of Representatives approved the Census Order, 2011 on January 5, 2011. This
Order authorized the taking of a Population and Housing Census in Jamaica between
April 5 and December 31, 2011. Also, under Section 6 of the Act, the Minister of Finance
and Planning made the Census Regulations, 2011 on January 5, 2011. These Regulations
outlined the conditions under which the census was to be conducted.
Coverage, Design and Methodology
Censuses of population are generally conducted on either a ‘de facto’ or ‘de jure’ basis.
A ‘de facto’ census seeks to determine the number and characteristics of the population
present in an area at the time of the census. The ‘de jure’ census identifies the
population usually resident in the area whether physically present or not, at the time of
the census. The 2011 census, like all since 1943, was conducted on a ‘de jure’ basis. The
‘de jure’ count includes all persons, Jamaicans and non-Jamaicans whose usual place of
residence was in Jamaica even if they were temporarily (less than six months) abroad at
the time of the census.
The following groups were excluded:
(i) All Jamaicans (including diplomatic personnel) who were away from the country
for six months or more;
(ii) All visitors to Jamaica who are usual residents of other countries; and
(iii) All foreign diplomatic personnel located in Jamaica.
One questionnaire was developed for use in the census to collect information from
individuals (Appendix VI – Form PC011B) and one for households (Appendix V – Form
PC011A). The data collecting method utilised was the “Interviewer Method”. One
census taker was assigned to each enumeration district (to be defined) to list every
building in the area assigned. Where the building was found to be the living quarters of
an individual or a group of individuals the form was completed for each household and
each person. Each census taker worked with a household form and an individual form.
Consideration was also given to the enumeration of persons who live in institutions as
well as persons who were located on the streets and this was taken into account in the
design.
The census design also included a Post Enumeration Survey planned as a coverage
assessment tool. The Post Enumeration Survey was conducted during the period
September 7-30, 2011 in all parishes and covered a 5 per cent sample of census EDs. A
total of 286 EDs were eventually canvassed.