This document discusses the main sources of demographic data, including population censuses, administrative records, vital registration systems, sample surveys, and universal population registers. Population censuses conducted every 10 years are the primary source of demographic data worldwide. They provide information on population size, composition, and fertility and mortality rates. Administrative records like health statistics are also widely used but depend on complete recording. Vital registration systems specifically track births, deaths, marriages and provide key fertility and mortality data, though many developing countries' systems remain limited. Sample surveys offer flexibility to investigate various demographic variables and update census data. Universal population registers maintained in some developed countries continuously collect lifetime statistics.

1. SOURCES OF
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
Nhliziyo Dumisani & Mashingaidze Privy

2. POPULATION CENSUS
 The main source of demographic data worldwide
 A
census
is
the
process
of
collecting, compiling, evaluating and disseminating
demographic data at a specified time covering all
persons in a country or in a well delimited part(s) of
a country
 Most countries, nations and states carry out their
population censuses after every ten years as per
United Nations recommendation
 provide info on size, composition, spatial distribution
and information on fertility and mortality in
countries that may not have fully developed their
vital registration system (Banda, 2003.4)

3. POPULATION CENSUS CONT***
 Censuses are carried out on either defacto or dejure basis
 On defacto basis a person(s) is enumerated where he/she is found whilst on dejure
basis a person(s) is enumerated at their usual place of residence
 Although censuses are the ideal method of collecting demographic data, they are time
consuming in terms of planning and very expensive such that developing countries may
fail to raise appropriate funds
 *Indonesia had to cancel the scheduled 1940 census due to lack of funds
(Saluhudi, 2002.146)
 Censuses are also liable to errors of coverage and content

4. ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS
 Used in almost every country and a common example
of such are health statistics from hospitals.
 their reliability in providing accurate demographic
data depends upon the completeness of
the
administrative recording process and the competence
of reporting (Suharto, 2011).
 Administrative recorded are a very cost effective
data source in developing countries but unfortunately
in most of the very same developing countries, have
not yet fully developed their administrative
recording systems.
 -limited in content i.e. they do not provide
information that is related to morbidity and are
limited in content on mortality as well since they are
mainly for administrative purposes.

5. VITAL REGISTRATION SYSTEMS
 V.R.S’s are part of administrative records and are another major source of
demographic data
 V.R.S’s provide vital demographic information on a number of issues amongst which
there is migrations, deaths, births, marriages, divorces, adoptions
 V.R.S’s in developing countries are still lagging behind, thus why censuses have included
questions on fertility
 The majority of African countries do not have adequate civil registration and vital
statistics systems, hence unable to produce current and continuous fertility and
mortality statistics, including causes of death statistics at national and sub-national
levels (http://ecastats.uneca.org/acsweb/FocusAreas/CRVS.aspx).
 Countries with developed V.R.S’s however are able to produce periodic reports on vital
demographic events like the number of live births by sex, date, place and time of
birth, number of deaths by sex

6. SAMPLE SURVEYS
 The most flexible of all data collection methods
which can investigate almost every demographic
variable
 Household surveys in particular are key source of
data on special phenomenon and what makes them an
excellent choice for demographers is that they
provide a mechanism for supplying data that may not
be met by censuses and V.R.S
 Due to the fact that censuses can bot be frequently
carried out, surveys provide a basis for updating
some census information at national or other large
domains (Banda, 2003.6).
 May examine such topics as fertility, mortality and
morbidity

7. SAMPLE SURVEYS CONT.***
 House hold surveys in particular are key source of data on social phenomenon .They are
among the most flexible method of data collection.
 The overall cost of a survey is generally lower compared to a census as the latter
requires large amounts of manpower, financial, logistical and material resources.
 In general sample surveys produce statistical information of better quality because, as
stated earlier, it is more feasible to engage better and well- trained enumerators. It is
also easier to provide better supervision because supervisors are usually well trained
and the supervisor/ enumerator ratio can be as high as 1 to 4.

8. UNIVERSAL POPULATION REGISTERS
Rare source of demographic data
Commonly used in developed countries such as Sweden
These registers collect statistics of persons on a
permanent base from birth and are constantly updated
on such events in a persons life as
marriage, divorce, death and change of residence.
Demographic data collected is mainly for
administrative purposes

9. THE END
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