Population data

what is a national census?

A census is a count of the population.

why is population important in MEDC census’?

knowing how many people are living in an area helps the government allocate funding where it is needed

why is education important in MEDC census?

the census helps to plan the location and changes needed to education services required in the future. 

why is health and disability important within the MEDC census?

health services can be planned to make sure that healthcare is concentrated in the areas where it will be most needed. 

why is housing important within the MEDC census?

housing needs can be better planned if the authorities know what the demand is now and what it will be in the future. 

why is employment important for a MEDCs census?

information can be used to help plan jobs and training needs. 

why are ethnic groups important within the MEDC census?

census information can be used to help allocate resources and ensure that all groups are treated fairly. 

why is transport important in the MEDC census?

working out how and where people travel to work can help the government to understand pressures on our transport system and improve public transport. 

why is data collection and reliability an issue for LEDC census?

Collecting the information across countless small villages and towns can be difficult and can compromise the accuracy of the data.

why are literacy levels an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

poor education rates in many LEDCs mean that few people can read and write, and many would be unable to complete a written census form. 

why are peoples lifestyles an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

nomadic tribes and families can be difficult to find and might migrate across international boundaries, In Kenya, the logistics for collecting information from the 'pastoral communities' require more resources. 

why is size an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

large countries with countless scattered villages can make the process of census organisation difficult. 

why are fluid populations an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

centres of mass migratory population, like the shanty towns , have a transient population, which is difficult to analyse. 

why is cost an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

many LEDCs do not have the money to spend on such a task

why are mapping inaccuracies an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

households might be left out if the mapping of areas is incomplete. 

why are transport difficulties an issue whilst collecting census data in LEDC countries?

it can be difficult for enumerators to gain access to some places, which can be made worse by seasonal rains or weather patterns. 

why are cultural traits an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

 in some areas of the Middle East, male enumerators are not permitted to interview women. 

why are mapping inaccuracies an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

why are language barriers an issue whilst collecting cenus data in LEDC countries?

tribal/ethnic languages can sometimes cause obstacles. In Cameroon, for example, there are more than 30 different language groups. 

why is lack of reference an issue whilst collecting census data in LEDC countries?

some people are not aware of what age they are, as they have no real point of reference from which to work this out. 

what is vital registration?

Vital registration is a more dynamic aspect of population data, where the number of births and deaths within a country is monitored every day and is always changing. People are required to register births, still-births, deaths and marriages.

what is registration of births?

Usually a birth in Northern Ireland needs to be registered within 42 days. Often information is collected within the maternity ward of the hospital and parents can then pick up a birth or adoption certificate from the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI). 

what is registration of deaths?

A death should be registered as soon as possible to allow funeral arrangements to go ahead and no later than 5 days from the date of occurrence except where the matter has to be dealt with by a coroner. The person registering the death must go to the registrar with the medical certificate showing the cause of death.

is vital registration reliable?

Vital registration measures are extremely reliable in MEDCs and within LEDCs. Most LEDCs have some form of mechanism for registering the birth of a baby, however, there are some places where a written record of births is still not kept. There can be falsification claims for both births and deaths. This is more likely for deaths as associated family members might have more to gain from getting a certificate to say that a family member is deceased.