National Population Census 1961
Nepal, 1961
Central Bureau of Statistics
Identification
Survey ID Number
NPL-CBS-NPC-1961-v0
Title
National Population Census 1961
Translated Title
Rastriya Janaganana 2018
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Nepal | NPL |
Study type
Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]
Series Information
Nepal has a long history of Census taking. The first population Census of Nepal was taken in 1911 and this practice was continued roughly every ten years. However, there is some evidence to show that a population count in one form or another took place even before 1911. An enumeration covering adult males reportedly took place during the regime of Bhimsen Thapa (1806-1838). This was possibly done with a view to recruiting adult men into the army. The existence of a Guthi (Cooperative Society) indicates the practice of counting houses in Kathmandu Valley even before the Bhimsen Thapa period (1806-I838). However, these censuses were conducted for limited purposes and were also confined to small areas of the country. Even the scope of four censuses (1911, 1920, 1930 and 1941) which were conducted during the Rana Regime (1846-1950) was also limited. Although, these censuses used a short census schedule to collect information on the name of the head of the household, age of persons by sex, occupation, ability to work, number of livestock and means of transportation, the final results were presented in aggregates, i.e. head counts only.
The first scientific census taken in the modern sense of the term started with the 1952/54 census which was conducted in two parts of the country separated by two years in tine. The eastern part of the country with the exception of Mahottari district was covered in 1952. Mahottari district was counted along with the rest of the country in 1954.
The need for a separate organization for conducting censuses was realized only at the time of the first modern census of 1952/54 and accordingly, a central office was set up to carry out the tasks of census taking. Under the Central Office separate field offices and sub-divisional offices were created for the purpose of conducting censuses. The field level officers were in charge of recruiting and training the enumerators. In 1952/54 village chiefs and revenue agents acted as enumerators. Their work was supervised and thoroughly checked by trained workers (supervisors) employed by the census organization temporarily for this purpose.
Village chiefs and land revenue collectors/agents were also involved in the tasks of census taking in 1961. Village chiefs (Mukhiyas) and revenue agents (Patwaris) acted either as enumerators or assisted in the tasks of field supervisors. The supervisors were recruited from local people in each district and had been given theoretical and practical training at the same district headquarters. There was one supervisor on average for each census sub-zone. The tasks of a supervisor were closely scrutinized by a section officer deputed to each census zone. In 1961, 15,933 enumerators were involved in the tasks of census taking. The fifty-five (55) administrative districts of the time were divided into 18 census zones and 102 sub-zones comprising 456 census areas and 28,400 villages. The village was the unit of enumeration in 1961 but the district was the smallest unit for which data was made available.
The first scientific census taken in the modern sense of the term started with the 1952/54 census which was conducted in two parts of the country separated by two years in tine. The eastern part of the country with the exception of Mahottari district was covered in 1952. Mahottari district was counted along with the rest of the country in 1954.
The need for a separate organization for conducting censuses was realized only at the time of the first modern census of 1952/54 and accordingly, a central office was set up to carry out the tasks of census taking. Under the Central Office separate field offices and sub-divisional offices were created for the purpose of conducting censuses. The field level officers were in charge of recruiting and training the enumerators. In 1952/54 village chiefs and revenue agents acted as enumerators. Their work was supervised and thoroughly checked by trained workers (supervisors) employed by the census organization temporarily for this purpose.
Village chiefs and land revenue collectors/agents were also involved in the tasks of census taking in 1961. Village chiefs (Mukhiyas) and revenue agents (Patwaris) acted either as enumerators or assisted in the tasks of field supervisors. The supervisors were recruited from local people in each district and had been given theoretical and practical training at the same district headquarters. There was one supervisor on average for each census sub-zone. The tasks of a supervisor were closely scrutinized by a section officer deputed to each census zone. In 1961, 15,933 enumerators were involved in the tasks of census taking. The fifty-five (55) administrative districts of the time were divided into 18 census zones and 102 sub-zones comprising 456 census areas and 28,400 villages. The village was the unit of enumeration in 1961 but the district was the smallest unit for which data was made available.
Abstract
The need and importance of the data provided by the census have been increasingly recognized since the preliminary figures were first published. Requests for more and more data have come, not only from governmental agencies but also from the general public, political parties and social organizations at home and abroad. The data supplied have been used for different purposes among which has been to help in the preparation of a Five Year Development Plan. The population figures and maps of the thums and pragannas prepared by the department were the only dependable bases. The National Education Commission and the administration Reorganization Commission have also been supplied with information in advance of this publication and have incorporated the data in their reports and in formulating their programme recommendations. It has been a matter of great satisfaction to find that the data are so much needed and are so widely used in building the nation.
The census collected demographic statistics on household members.
The census collected demographic statistics on household members.
Kind of Data
Census/enumeration data [cen]
Unit of Analysis
Individual, household
Version
Version Description
verson 0: Microdata not available
Scope
Notes
The scope of the Census of Population, 1961 covered demographics of the household members like: Relationship to the head of the family, Caste, Religion, Sex, Age, Maritual status, Education, Mother tongue, Occupation, Migration, Citizenship, Birth, Economic activities, etc.
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
National coverage
Region
District
Urban/Rural
Village/Town
Region
District
Urban/Rural
Village/Town
Universe
The Census covered all de jure household members (usual residents) in private households.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | National Planning Commission Secretariat, His Majesty's Government |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| His Majesty's Government | HMG |
| American Government |
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 1961-06-04 | 1961-06-21 |
Time periods
| Start date | End date |
|---|---|
| 1961-06-22 | 1961-06-22 |
Data Collection Mode
Face-to-face [f2f]
Data Collection Notes
The data collection for the entire country was taken at a time.The data collection was taken in two phases. In the first phase, a listing of households was done and in the second phase, the questionnaire was filled.
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | CBS | National Planning Commission Secretariat, His Majesty's Government |
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
The questionnaire of the Census of Population, 1961 includes the following demographics of household members:
- Name
- Relationship to the head of the family
- Caste
- Religion
- Sex
- Age in completed Years
- Maritual status
- Education
- Mother tongue
- Occupation
- Migration
- Citizenship
- Birth
- Economic activities
- Name
- Relationship to the head of the family
- Caste
- Religion
- Sex
- Age in completed Years
- Maritual status
- Education
- Mother tongue
- Occupation
- Migration
- Citizenship
- Birth
- Economic activities
Access policy
Access authority
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director General | Central Bureau of Statistics | dg@cbs.gov.np | www.cbs.gov.np |
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director: Publication, Distribution and Library Section | Central Bureau of Statistics | archive@cbs.gov.np | www.cbs.gov.np |
Confidentiality
Confidentiality of the respondents is guaranteed by Article 8 of Statistics Act 1958, which states "Any information or details relating to any person, family, firm or company, which has been supplied, obtained or prepared pursuant to section 3, section 4, section 5, section 6 ot section 7, or any part of such information or details, shall not be disclosed or published directly except to the Director General or to any officer of the Bureau without the written person or of his authorised representative supplying such information or details."
Metadata production
DDI Document ID
DDI-NPL-CBS-NPC-1961-v01
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics | CBS | National Planning Commission Secretariat, His Majesty's Government | Metadata Documentation of the Census |
Date of Metadata Production
2012-03-12
DDI Document version
Version 1 (March 2012)