1. United Nations World Programme of Population and Housing Censuses 1995-2004

2. Demographic and Social Statistics Branch Statistics Division, DESA
First meeting of national directors of statistics and health statistics for the countries of the Americas (RD-2005), PAHO Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21 – 22 November 2005
Demographic and Social Statistics Branch
Statistics Division, DESA
United Nations, New York

3. National reporting of Census Data (1995-2004)
For example, only 23 out of 55 African countries ever reported data by age and sex.
LEGEND
Census conducted
No census conducted
Source: United Nations Demographic Yearbook Database, 2005

4. National reporting of Census Data (1995-2004) : Total population
LEGEND
Total population reported
Census conducted
No census conducted
Source: United Nations Demographic Yearbook Database, 2005

5. National reporting of Census Data (1995-2004): Total Population by age and sex
In Africa, only 23 out of 55 countries or areas ever reported data on population by sex and age, representing 59 percent of the region’s population. Few countries of Africa have thus far based their national estimates of total population by age and sex on census data from the period.
LEGEND
Total population by sex and age reported
No total population by sex and age reported
Source: United Nations, World’s Women 2005: Progress in Statistics

6. Total population, births and deaths 1995-2003 (% World Coverage)
Between 1995 and 2003, 189 countries or areas, representing 98 percent of the world population, reported total population to the UNSD at least one. Of those, 179 reported total population by sex and 151 reported total population by sex and age; however, only 83 countries or areas, representing a mere 66 percent of the world population, reported population by sex and age at least five times in the nine-year period.
Source: United Nations, World’s Women 2005: Progress in Statistics

7. Censuses conducted do not always produce statistics
Things to Remember
Censuses conducted do not always produce statistics
Statistics are important development tools, and also reflect levels of development
World-wide, national reporting is incomplete
When additional census cross-tabulations are requested, countries drop out
National censuses do not always produce statistics. Delays between the receipt of totals and breakdowns by age and sex may be great.
Statistics are important development tools
The Beijing Platform of Action, the ICPD and Millenium Development Goals are produced using tatistics reported by national statistical authorities. Statistical indicators may be based on incomplete and inadequate national reporting and produced by weak national statistical systems.
World-wide, national reporting is incomplete. Output-oriented goals require multiple sources of information to complete statistical profiles.
When additional cross-tabulations are requested, countries drop out.
IUSSP should be a voice for weak statistical systems and should work to support census programmes, given the importance of these data to demographic concerns.
United Nations Expert Group meeting to review the Principles and Recommendations of Population and Housing Censuses August 2005; New York.

8. Current state of population statistics
The size and sex –age composition have important implication on the situation of women and men, girls and boys
Also used for calculation of rates and other indicators

9. National reporting of Census Data: Population by level of disaggregation
Number of countries or areas that reported population by level of disaggregation at least once and by sex and age for at least five years between 1995 and 2003 20 40 60 80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Total population
By sex
By sex and age
By sex and age for
at least five years.
Reported at least once
Number of
countries or areas
Source: World’s Women 2005: Progress in Statistics

10. Deaths by cause (1)
About 110 countries out of 204 reported cause of death, by sex and age, at least once between
Representing 59 % of the world population
Although reporting throughout the periods shown in the graph has remained the same, frequency has somewhat improved

11. Deaths by cause (2)
Number of countries or areas that reported deaths by cause, sex and age,
by number of years data were reported
Number of countries or areas
Source: Prepared by the United Nations Statistics Division, DESA, based on data from the World Health Organization, WHO Mortality database (December 2004).

12. Civil registration & Vital Statistics (1)
Civil registration is a continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of occurrence & characteristics of vital events
Example, births deaths and marriages
In South America 96 % 0f the population reside in a country or area that reported births by age of mother
In Africa 80% of the population reside in a country that did not report births by age of mother

13. Civil registration & Vital Statistics (2)
Patterns of coverage
90 % or over coverage
Partial coverage e.g. only in urban areas
Non existent

14. Civil registration & Vital Statistics (3)
Percentage of the population in countries or areas that reported births
by sex of child at least once between 1995 and 2003, by region 20 40 60 80
100
Europe
North
America
South
Oceania
Africa
Asia
World
Population
(Percentage)
Source: World’s Women 2005: Progress in Statistics

15. Civil registration & Vital Statistics (4)
BIRTH registration coverage update
Source: Demographic and Social Statistics Branch, UNSD

16. Civil registration & Vital Statistics (5)
BIRTH registration coverage update
Source: Demographic and Social Statistics Branch, UNSD