Abstract

The Republic of Sierra Leone is a small coastal West African country bordered by Guinea and Liberia. Sierra Leone has an area of 71,620 square kilometers (about 28,000 square miles). The country is divided into four major Administrative Areas namely, The Western Area, Northern Province, Southern Province and Eastern Province.

The Provinces are divided into twelve districts and the districts are divided into one hundred and forty nine chiefdoms. Western Area is divided into (Western Urban) Freetown and Western Rural Areas. Freetown is divided into wards.

There are five Physical Regions in Sierra Leone: (i) The Central Plains, (ii) The Northern Woodlands Savannah, (iii) The South Western Upland, (iv) The Western Coastal Swamps and (v) the Western Peninsula Upland Region.

The country is mountainous; about 50% of the terrain is covered by mountains including the Capital, Freetown. Agriculture is the main occupation for the people of Sierra Leone; especially rice farming in which about 60% of the people are engaged through the practice of shifting cultivation.

Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with two very different seasons - the Dry Season, traditionally from November to April and the Rainy Season from May to October with July and August being the wettest months of the year. In 2004, the census was taken in December.

BACKGROUND OF AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THE 2004 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS

The first population count in Sierra Leone was undertaken in 1802 in what is now the Western Area. Subsequently, a number of population counts in various parts of the country were conducted. However, it was not until 1963 that the whole country was covered for the first time and, since then, censuses have been carried out at intervals ranging from 10 to 17 years.

The first full-scale modern Population Census, however, was that of April 1963. It was also the first post independence census and it was conducted with the expectation that a decennial census programme would be maintained. Due to various constraints, however, the next two censuses were conducted at eleven-year intervals in 1974 and 1985. Due to the war situation, a census was not conducted in 1995. The next Population Census was conducted in December 2004.

The 1985 census showed a total population of about 3.5 million. It was a de facto count with December 1, 2004 as the reference date. The topics covered in the census were: Relationship, sex, age, maternal orphan hood, birth place, nationality, place of residence, level of education, marital status, type of economic activity, occupation, industry, employment status, children ever born to women aged 10 years and above, particulars of most recent birth and housing conditions.

The census data was processed on a Wang Vs 80 mini-computer and data entry was done on 19 workstations.

The publication plan relating to the 1985 Census results proposed the following:

· The Preliminary Reports · National Statistical Tables · Summary Statistics on Settlements of 1000 or more people · Analytical Report · Report of Seminar on the use of census data

The provisional census results indicating a total population of 3,515,812 was announced in January 1986 and The Preliminary Report published in August 1986. Due to delay in the installation of the data processing equipments, however, there were delays in the production of the final statistical tables. Further, considerable time was spent investigating a significant difference (about 9 percent) between the provisional results and the total population figure of 3,222,901 obtained after the computer processing of the census returns. On the basis of the investigation, the Sierra Leone Government endorsed the 3, 515,812 as the total population of the 1985 Census.

Following the acceptance of the census results, a team of local consultants carried out the analysis of the census data on the following themes:

· The Land and The People · Population size, growth, age and sex structure · Education and Literacy · Employment and Labour Force · Nuptiality and Fertility · Mortality Levels and Differentials · Household and Dwelling Characteristics · The Census Operations

The following reports were published as a result of these consultant reports:

· Volume 1: Summary Results; May 1992 · Volume 2: National Dissemination Seminar Report; July1992 · Volume 3: Analytical Report, 1996

In addition to the published reports, census data including computer printout of tabulations were sent out to some Ministries, Departments and Agencies and various other data users such as the University of Sierra Leone.

Since the 1985 Population and Housing Census, a number of nation-wide surveys in the area of education, health, HIV/AIDS etc. have been conducted by the National Statistical Agency (formerly Central Statistics Office and now Statistics Sierra Leone) and other stakeholders: These include the following:

· Labour Force Survey (1988/89) · Survey on Household Expenditure and Household Economic Activities (1989/90) · Demographic and Social Monitoring Survey (1992) · National Nutrition Survey by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with support from UNICEF (1989) · Multi Indicator Cluster Survey II with support from UNICEF (2000)

The National Population Commission (NPC) which was established in 1982 also used the 1985 Census data to adopt a “National Population Policy for Development Progress and Welfare” in August 1989. Even before the development of the National Population Policy, the first five-year Development Plan (1974 - 1979) had drawn attention to the “interactive role of population and development planning generally”.

Population data is therefore needed on a continuous basis for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the country's population programme and development planning. Thus, Population Censuses and Household Sample Surveys constituted the major sources of national population data in the country. The decennial Population Censuses and the Central Statistics Office/Statistics Sierra Leone inter-censual programme of household Surveys are therefore regarded as essential elements in the country's population programme and development plans.

The Population Censuses together with the related Enumeration Areas (EA) maps provide a sampling frame for the Household Sample Surveys. Therefore, the two data collection systems are considered complementary. Prior to the 2004 Census, the available EA maps were those prepared for the 1974 Census because it had been planned to update the EAs for the 1985 Census and some field work was initiated but due to time constraint and inadequate planning, the exercise could not be completed. Thus, the 1974 EA maps were used for the 1985 Census Enumeration and two or more enumerators assigned to each EA. This might have contributed to the suspected under-enumeration in the 1985 Census. Therefore, the cartographic exercise for the 2004 Census was thoroughly done.

The 2004 Population and Housing Census together with the cartographic work was, therefore, undertaken not only to maintain a regular census programme but also to provide a more accurate updated bench-mark population data as well as a geographic frame for inter-censual surveys and related statistical sample enquiries.

Please note that because of the difference in the methodology used in the censuses prior to 1963, the population totals of the country prior to 1963 can not be compared with the more recent censuses. The population totals for the period 1901 to 2004 were as follows:

· 1901 1,024,178 · 1911 1,400,132 · 1921 1,540,554 · 1931 1,768,480 · 1948 1,858,275 · 1963 2,180,355 · 1974 2,735,159 · 1985 3, 515,812 · 2004 4,976,871

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 2004 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS

The last census that was held in Sierra Leone was in 1985 and according to normal procedure, there should have been another census in 1995 but due the eleven-year war, it was not possible and the 1985 census data had become completely obsolete and needed to be updated. Therefore the main objectives of the 2004 population and Housing Census were: · To help ensure the availability of a time series of population data to support socio-economic development planning and population programmes as well as to contribute to the development of national capacity for statistical enquiries.

· Continue the regular pattern of the conduct of censuses in Sierra Leone as a continuing scheme of statistical data collection.

· Provide information on housing conditions in the country after the eleven-year war.

FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

A census requires substantial financial, material and human resources. Because of the security situation in the country for the last eleven years, the Sierra Leone Government had to play a greater leadership role than it had in previous censuses as a confidence building measure so as to attract foreign Donors. The Sierra Leone Government demonstrated this by providing funding for the locality listing exercise, which started in January 2001. The Government of Sierra Leone also provided funds for the purchase of vehicles, office and data processing equipments needed for the start of cartographic field work.

Donors started coming on board after they were satisfied that the security situation had improved to the level that can justify their confidence. In the end, the project benefited from two major Donors, UNFPA whose support was mainly in the area of cartography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and capacity building at SSL and European Union who supported data collection, data processing, data analysis , evaluation and dissemination.
The objectives were expected to be realized through a number of interrelated activities, which were carried out in the

Abstract

The Republic of Sierra Leone is a small coastal West African country bordered by Guinea and Liberia. Sierra Leone has an area of 71,620 square kilometers (about 28,000 square miles). The country is divided into four major Administrative Areas namely, The Western Area, Northern Province, Southern Province and Eastern Province.

The Provinces are divided into twelve districts and the districts are divided into one hundred and forty nine chiefdoms. Western Area is divided into (Western Urban) Freetown and Western Rural Areas. Freetown is divided into wards.

There are five Physical Regions in Sierra Leone: (i) The Central Plains, (ii) The Northern Woodlands Savannah, (iii) The South Western Upland, (iv) The Western Coastal Swamps and (v) the Western Peninsula Upland Region.

The country is mountainous; about 50% of the terrain is covered by mountains including the Capital, Freetown. Agriculture is the main occupation for the people of Sierra Leone; especially rice farming in which about 60% of the people are engaged through the practice of shifting cultivation.

Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with two very different seasons - the Dry Season, traditionally from November to April and the Rainy Season from May to October with July and August being the wettest months of the year. In 2004, the census was taken in December.

This is the final report of the 1985 National Population and Housing Census. It is an analytical report and provides a detailed picture of the demographic, socio-economic and household-housing situation in the country. The entire exercise was carried out by local analysts. Finally whereas the total population counted was 3,515,812, some characteristics like education, economic activity, fertility etc. are tabulated and therefore analysed for a total population of 3,222,901.

A number of volumes have preceded this final report. These volumes have presented data on various aspects of the country's population and the general housing conditions. These include data on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the population; the analysis of age and sex structure; fertility and mortality; migration and housing. Furthermore, detailed and small-area statistics will be available on request at the Central Statistics Office.

The ultimate objective of the census was to enhance national capacity in planning by providing estimates of total population and its growth rates, fertility, mortality, and other related socio-economic indicators. Data collection was completed within the first two weeks of December 1985 and the provisional results submitted and accepted by Government in January 1986. Thereafter, machine processing of the data was carried out until April 1990 when the final statistical tables were produced. The results were finally endorsed by the Government of Sierra Leone in May, 1992 and a National Seminar for dissemination of the results was held in that same month.

A national undertaking of this magnitude depends for its accomplishment on a great number of factors. Adequate financial resources, technical know-how, national and unflinching public co-operation are among the most important ingredients for success.

In presenting this final report, the Central Statistics Office would again like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contributions made to the success of the project by various national and international organizations, government agencies and institutions and the general public. Financial assistance, material and human resources for the census project were provided by the Sierra Leone Government, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Republic of Germany and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Special mention must be made of the authors who worked on areas of speciality and who inspite of all the odds continued to support every stage of the census up to its final conclusion. The final editing of this report was jointly concluded by the Census Analyst, Professor H.B.S. Kandeh and UNFPA/Country Support Team (CST) Regional Adviser Dr. K. V. Ramachandran of the Economic Commission for Africa, whose dedication is greatly appreciated.

Finally, the resourcefulness and dedication demonstrated by Dr. Peter L. Tucker, Census Commissioner, staff of the National Population Secretariat and the Central Statistics Office have been acknowledged by all.

This publication marks the successful conclusion of the 1985 census and I now look forward to your continued support as the Government prepares for the 1996 National Population and Housing Census.

Geographic coverage

Country-Wide

Analysis unit

Household and individuals

Universe

Everybody that slept within the boundaries of Sierra Leone on Census Night (2nd - 3rd December 1985)

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

There was no sampling procedures as it was a national survey

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The scope of a census as finally determined is reflected in the questionnaire which contains the topics to be investigated in the census. The selection of topics for the 1985 census was based on a balanced consideration of all the major factors involved, such as the requests for data submitted by the various Government Ministries; Local and International Organizations; the ability of the Enumerators to ask questions correctly and the respondents to furnish reasonably accurate answers; the need to keep the questionnaire of reasonable length and so on.

Because of the wide variety of data sought, the possibility of collecting some of the data by means of sampling methods was considered. The idea was, however, abandoned, because it was feared that this might introduce too many complications into the processing and yield results of doubtful quality. It was decided that the entire population was to be treated uniformly during the enumeration. The proposed questionnaire for the census was fully tested in the Pilot Census and the results provided the basis for the preparation of the final questionnaire (Appendix 1.1).

The questions on relationship within household, sex, age, nationality and place of birth are standard questions in African Censuses. In view of the great need for information on fertility and mortality, questions on children born and survival of parents were also included; data from which would yield reasonable estimates of these parameters by the use of special well-known techniques, since information on fertility and mortality had been collected in the 1974 Census. The inclusion of questions on housing represented a significant improvement over the 1963 and 1974 censuses. Questions on level of education and school attendance asked in 1963 and 1974 were repeated. No question was included on literacy, as experience had shown that this topic usually poses problems under enumeration conditions as there are other ways of obtaining reasonable estimates of literacy level.

Questions on the economic characteristics of the population are also regarded as basic in any census, although these topics are amongst the most difficult to investigate properly in African censuses. Much consideration was therefore given to the economic questions which were included in the questionnaire. There was a great demand for data on employment status and on the distribution of the working population by occupation and industry.

In the interest of ease of handling and economy, it was decided after the Pilot Census experience that the questionnaires should be bound up into pads of 50 questionnaires each consisting of 10 lines. Since the vast majority of household comprised less than 10 persons, the arrangement was very convenient as it allowed all the particulars for a household to be accommodated on one page in the majority of cases. This made for easier cross-checking of answering to questions pertaining to the members of the same household and promoted more accurate reporting.

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages through the processing, including:

• Office editing and coding
• Secondary editing

Detailed documentation of the editing of data can be found in the "Census Coding Schedule" document provided as an external resource

Sampling error estimates

Not Applicable. Entire population was covered country-wide

Data appraisal

A Post-Enumeration survey was conducted to assess the reliability of data or any observations regarding data quality.