Population, Economy and Society Sources of Demographic Data

Demographic Data 4 Censuses 4 Def: a complete count of a population 4 Census taking had its beginning in ancient times in Egypt, Babylonia, China and Palestine 4 The first census mentioned in the bible was taken at the time of the Exodus or about 1491 BC

Data 4 The Romans took a census every 5 years for 800 years 4 The first modern censuses were in Quebec and Nova Scotia in about In Europe, Sweden’s census of 1749, is considered the first 4 The first in the colonies was in Virginia in 1624

Data 4 The first in the US was in 1790 and we have had one every 10 years since then 4 Note the difference between a census and a survey and note that the US effort is both! 4 The publication that result from the census are voluminous. They include: –the population of the US as a whole –the population of each state and territory –and then these broken down into:

Data counties, rural and urban areas, MSA’s and then of course by race, age, sex, marital status, etc. 4 There are also censuses of: –Business –Transportation –Housing –and others

Data – The 2000 Census 4 The “Long” and “Short” forms – Remember that since 1940 we have included a sample as part of the census 4 The Short form has questions that are asked of everyone: 7 Questions –Name –Sex –Age –Relationship to head of household –Hispanic origin –Race –Owner/Renter status

The 2000 Census 4 The Long form has the 7 questions from the short form but then asked additional questions from a 16% sample. 4 Actually 1 out of 6 overall but: 4 1 in 8 in densely populated areas 4 1 in 3 in less dense areas 4 It is 1 in 6 in Greenville and Greenville county!

The 2000 Census 4 The Long form also contained questions on 34 subjects under three major headings: –Social characteristics –Economic characteristics –Housing characteristics 4 New questions are always being added for example in 2000 a question on caregiving for children was added! 4 There is one question that has never been asked that most sociologists would like to see!

Data 4 The debate over the 2000 Census 4 A number of major issues: –Racial categories –Sampling –“Usual residence” 4 The quality of census data? 4 Nonsampling vs.Sampling Error 4 Nonsampling –Coverage –Content 4 Sampling

Data 4 The US government also conducts a monthly survey which is an adjunct to the census 4 It is called the Current Population Survey or the CPS 4 The second major source of demographic data is vital statistics. These are data on births, deaths, illnesses, marriages and divorces. 4 The history of the development of vital statistics is much like that of censuses.

Data 4 The “Bills of Mortality” are among the best which survived. Established by law in England in –They were recorded by parish priests. They recorded weddings, baptisms, burials, etc. 4 It was not until 1837 however that a central registration office for vital stats was established in England!

Data 4 In the US –Responsibility for collection has principally fallen on the states rather than the federal gov’t –Mass. was the first to mandate it in1842. –By 1919 all of the states had registration systems but only for births and deaths! –The then territory of Alaska was the last to come into compliance (1950) - to comply at least 90% of births and deaths had to be recorded

Data 4 All of this is put together by the National Center for Health Statistics in their monthly and annual reports called “The Monthly Vital Statistics Report: and “Vital Statistics of the United States”. 4 The national registration of marriages and divorces was not complete until Population Registers 4 The quality of vital statistics data?

Data 4 International Data Sources –1. The United Nations –2. The World Bank –3. The Population Reference Bureau –4. The US Bureau of the Census –5. The CIA 4 Issues with the use of these data!

Data 4 International Surveys –The World Fertility Survey (WFS) –The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) 4 Historical data –The uses of such data –The quality of historical data?

Data 4 What can these data be used for? –Business –Governments Local National (Both US and other countries) –Organizations –Research

Data 4 Where can I go for data? –The Furman Library (A US Government Document Repository) –Your PC