Problems with carrying out a census

Census Cost

Undertaking the census is a costly process.

in developing countries like Ethiopia, they may have higher priorities for spending such as housing.

Population Size

the sheer size of some populations make it difficult to conduct a census. for example, India and China with more than 1 billion people

Nomadic Communities

Nomadic groups such as the Bedouin Nomads are at risk of being missed or counted multiple times

Geographic Challenges

Poor infrastructure and difficult terrains like the Amazon rainforest may make it difficult for enumerators to distribute census forms.

Informal Settlements

many people in developing countries may be living in shanty towns like Dharavi so do not have fixed addresses, making it challenging to include them in the census count.

Illegal Immigrants

Fear of deportation may prevent illegal immigrants from participating in the census, leading to inaccurate data.

Multilingualism

Countries with multiple official languages must translate census forms

they also have to employ enumerators who can speak multiple languages, as seen in India with over 30 official languages.

Literacy Rates

many people can’t read and write and so are therefore unable to complete the forms

Data Accuracy

illiterate people might make mistakes unintentionally, leading to inaccuracy. for example, Chad has a 22% illiteracy rate.

Conflict Impact

civil wars make it too dangerous for enumerators to enter parts of a country e.g. Syria

data becomes outdated quickly due to a high death rate