Censuses, Population: Comparative International Aspects

Statistical Journal of the IAOS

The paper discusses the prospects for increased use of administrative sources as the basis for population and housing censuses. The background for this discussion is the case story of how Danish statistics production was reformed during the period c. 1966-1981, especially with regard to social statistics and population and housing censuses. The new paradigm combined increased reliance on administrative sources with a philosophy of a statistical system that was more flexible towards meeting new and unforeseen statistical needs.

Nature, 2020

Elżbieta Gołata New paradigm in statistics and population census quality The paper refers to shift in methods applied in statistics: from traditional censuses through sample survey to administrative data, as a new paradigm in statistical surveys. The research is conducted with respect to population census. Special attention is put to assessing quality of ‘new generation’ population census which use multiple data sources. Register-based censuses in conjunction with sample survey are considered as well as opportunities and statistical challenges of the future. Despite long tradition and well-developed research methodology, censuses do not provide ‘perfect’ results. Census data quality is discussed with respect to criteria resulting from its aim, applied census method, number of data sources used for evaluation and types of errors. First of all, census may be burdened with non-random: coverage and content errors. Due to different methods for conducting censuses, also random errors and ...

Journal of Information Science, 2016

This paper provides an assessment of the value of national population censuses as information sources with specific reference to UK census data and its use in policy-making. Mixed methods were adopted to collect quantitative and qualitative data from two sources: (1) a content analysis of policy documents, and (2) interviews with policy-makers in Scotland. The findings highlight that although the general value of the census is recognised, policy-makers are not necessarily closely engaged with the census as a tool for directing the development and implementation of policy. This is evident, for example in a lack of awareness of proposed changes to the census, and infrequent deployment of available data. The opportunity to change perceptions among policy-makers, and to expand the application of census data in public policy, is identified. With a novel focus on the deployment of censuses as sources of evidence for policy-making that includes the views of policy-makers from both within and beyond government, this work contributes to an established body of global research on international censuses.

A population Census is the process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating demographic, social, cultural and economic data relating to all persons in the country, at a particular time in ten years interval. The Indian Census has a very long history. The earliest literature ‘Rig Veda’ reveals that some kind of Population count was maintained during 800-600 BC. Kautilya’s Arthasastra, written around 321-296 BC, laid stress on Census taking as a measure of State policy for purpose of taxation. During the regime of Mughal king Akbar the Great, the administrative report ‘Ain-e- Akbari’ included comprehensive data pertaining to population, industry, wealth and many other characteristics. The Census of India has emerged as the most credible source of information for planner research scholars, administrators and other data users. Census has been conducted in India since 1872. However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. The planning and execution of Indian Census is challenging and fascinating. India is one of the very few countries in the World, which has a proud history of holding Census after every ten years. In India, the population Census is a Union Subject (Article 246) and is listed at serial number 69 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990. Although the Census Act is an instrument of Central Legislation, in the scheme of its execution the State Governments provide the administrative support for the actual conduct of the census.

Canadian Studies in Population

Antecedents of Censuses from Medieval to Nation States: How Societies and States CountRebecca Jean Emigh, Dylan Riley, and Patricia AhmedNew York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 978-1-137-48502-1 (also available in E-PUB)DOI: 10.1057/9781137485038Hardcover $US110, 266 pp. +Changes in Censuses from Imperialist to Welfare States: How Societies and States CountRebecca Jean Emigh, Dylan Riley, and Patricia AhmedNew York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016ISBN 978-1-137-48505-2 (also available in E-PUB)DOI: 10.1057/9781137485069Hardcover $US110, 267 pp. +

2013

In early 2013, UNECE conducted an online survey among its member countries on national practices in the 2010 round of population and housing censuses. This document presents an overview of the main results of the survey, with regard to the population to be enumerated. It is shown that, although there is a large convergence across countries towards a common population concept of reference (the “usually resident” population), the full international comparability of the census results is still hampered by the variety of implementations of the recommended population definition. The analysis concludes with the identification of potential areas of revision for the next recommendations on population censuses.

Southern African Journal of Demography, 2004

Statistics South Africa conducted the country's first post-apartheid population census in October 1996. Exactly five years later, the agency conducted a second population census. This paper compares the two censuses from a field operations perspective. The aim is to help users of the data judge whether particular observed differences between the two censuses are due to real changes in the population or to changes in methodology or quality of the enumeration. The paper describes the overall approach adopted in the two censuses, the questionnaires and topics covered, demarcation and listing, field operation structures and training, the pilots, enumeration procedures, processing, and the post enumeration survey. The paper points to both weaknesses and strengths in the changes effected between the two censuses, and in how they were implemented.

2002

On the two hundredth anniversary of the first census of Norway, Denmark, and Iceland it is important to recall the history of the census and of -what to many is a littleknown resource for population researchcensus microdata. The population census became universal only in the last half of the twentieth century. Now, anonymized census microdata is beginning to be recognized as a valuable new source for researchers and policy makers. From a review of practices in the United States and elsewhere, this paper argues that issues of statistical confidentiality and standards for the use of census microdata are rapidly being resolved and that a revolution in usage of these valuable data is already underway.

Governments employ social scientists to collect data and publish official counts of well-defined populations in the interest of taxation, redistribution, public health, conscription, and political integration. States vary in their capacity to generate accurate statistical summaries. A measure of state capacity is proposed based on the extent of age-heaping in census microdata, and this measure is validated with cross-national and sub-national tests. Evidence is presented for three explanations of age-heaping: ignorance of age by respondents, weak administrative capacity within the census bureaucracy, and strategic census misreporting as a form of social resistance to state power. Implications of the last explanation for data collection in weak states are discussed.