Problems with census data collection

Language Barriers

Countries like India with many official languages must translate forms and hire multilingual enumerators.

Literacy Levels

In areas with low literacy rates, people may struggle to complete forms or make mistakes.

Size of Population

Large populations, such as in China and India, make data collection difficult due to the sheer number of people.

Inaccessibility

Remote areas like the Amazon Rainforest are difficult to reach due to poor infrastructure and challenging terrain.

Wars/Civil Wars

Conflict zones are dangerous for enumerators and data may quickly become outdated.

Cost

Censuses are expensive and some developing countries prioritise other spending like health or education.

Migration

Rapid urban migration makes population data quickly outdated. People in informal settlements may be missed.

Lies

Illegal immigrants may avoid the census due to fear of deportation, leading to inaccurate data.

Nomadic People

Mobile groups like the Tuareg or shifting cultivators may be missed or counted more than once.

Ethnic Tensions/Political Rivalries

Political manipulation, such as inflating population figures, can occur, e.g. in northern Nigeria.