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Chapter 2: Canada's Population in a Global Context

Introduction

  • Most important data sources for demographic research: census and vital statistics

The Population Census

  • Census: to assess

  • 1st census: Babylon/ancient China

  • Past census: didn’t account for all citizens

  • 1st series of modern censuses taken at regular intervals: Sweden in 1750

A Brief History of the Canadian Census

  • Jean Talon organized the colony’s 1st census in 1666

    • Didn’t include Aboriginal inhabitants or members of the military

  • Between 1608 and 1759, 36 censuses were conducted

Contemporary Population Census

  • Census: provides a complete account of a country’s population at a point in time

  • Statistics Canada: Canada’s statistical bureau

  • A national census is very costly and requires extensive preparation and planning

  • In Canada, the census takes place every 5 years

  • United Nations guidelines

  • Census methods

    • De jure method of enumeration: people are counted at their usual place of residence, not wherever they happen to be living at the time of the census. *Used in Canada and US

    • De facto method: people are counted as residents of the address where they happen to have stayed the night preceding the day of the census. *Used in France, UK, Greece, Russia

  • Census categories:

    • Demographic characteristics

    • Sociocultural characteristics

    • Socioeconomic characteristics

    • Geographic characteristics

The Census: A Reflection of Its Time

  • Changes to the census questionnaire largely mirror sociological change in the population

    • Social trends

    • For new questions:

      • Practical value to the nation broadly speaking

      • Public acceptance of a question

      • Comparability with previous censuses

        *Must be federally approved

  • “Children ever born” question

  • Unpaid work

  • Ethnicity

  • Political changes

The Use of Sampling in the Census

  • Sampling: data are obtained from a representative sample of household from which it is then possible to derive the characteristics of the population

  • National Household Survey (NHS): voluntary survey

    • Lower response rate

  • Online participation

Census Undercoverage

  • There is always some level of undercounting

    • Indigenous populations

    • Illegal immigrants

    • Criminals

    • Nomads

    • Homeless

  • Overcoverage: when a person is enumerated more than once

Population Estimates

  • Population estimates

    • Postcensal: produced by using data from the most recent census + estimated of the components of demographic change since that last census

    • Intercensal: produced every 5 years and reconcile previous postcensal estimates with the latest census counts

  • Population projections: series of population estimates, typically by age and sex, derived from the application of assumptions regarding change in the demographic components over the course of a defined time horizon

Specialized Population Surveys

  • Surveys of the labor force: taken routinely

  • Current Population Survey (in the US)

  • Aboriginal People’s Survey

  • National Population Health Survey

Vital Statistics

  • Vital statistics were 1st compiled by churches

Early Investigations of Vital Records and the Origins of Population Studies

  • Important founding fathers of demography

    • Thomas Malthus

    • John Graunt → Bills of Mortality

    • William Petty → national accounting systems

    • Antoine Deparcieux → exposure to risk in mortality analysis

Modern Vital Statistics Systems

  • National vital statistics system: collect, compile, and process statistical information on all vital events that take place in the population on a daily basis

    • Requirements

    • List of vital events that must be reported in Canada

      • Live birth

      • Death

      • Fetal death

      • Therapeutic abortion

      • Marriage

      • Divorce

      • Legal separation

      • Annulment

      • Adoption

  • Definitions are not universally applied everywhere

  • Underregistration of vital events

Population Registers

  • Population register: change of residence, births, deaths, marriages, and divorces must be declared to the authorities

Monitoring Migratory Movements

  • Arrangements between countries

  • Internal migration: monitoring of this is done through tax files

  • Census

Indirect Estimation of Vital Events

  • Poor countries

    • Lack of necessary infrastructure

    • Lack of funds to support institutions

    • Leads to estimations based on incomplete information

Canadian Vital Statistics: Background and Overview

  • Dominion Bureau of Statistics founded in 1918 (currently Statistics Canada)

  • Canadian vital statistics system: obtain and preserve such documentary evidence as is necessary to protect the legal rights of the individual

Chapter 2: Canada's Population in a Global Context

Introduction

  • Most important data sources for demographic research: census and vital statistics

The Population Census

  • Census: to assess

  • 1st census: Babylon/ancient China

  • Past census: didn’t account for all citizens

  • 1st series of modern censuses taken at regular intervals: Sweden in 1750

A Brief History of the Canadian Census

  • Jean Talon organized the colony’s 1st census in 1666

    • Didn’t include Aboriginal inhabitants or members of the military

  • Between 1608 and 1759, 36 censuses were conducted

Contemporary Population Census

  • Census: provides a complete account of a country’s population at a point in time

  • Statistics Canada: Canada’s statistical bureau

  • A national census is very costly and requires extensive preparation and planning

  • In Canada, the census takes place every 5 years

  • United Nations guidelines

  • Census methods

    • De jure method of enumeration: people are counted at their usual place of residence, not wherever they happen to be living at the time of the census. *Used in Canada and US

    • De facto method: people are counted as residents of the address where they happen to have stayed the night preceding the day of the census. *Used in France, UK, Greece, Russia

  • Census categories:

    • Demographic characteristics

    • Sociocultural characteristics

    • Socioeconomic characteristics

    • Geographic characteristics

The Census: A Reflection of Its Time

  • Changes to the census questionnaire largely mirror sociological change in the population

    • Social trends

    • For new questions:

      • Practical value to the nation broadly speaking

      • Public acceptance of a question

      • Comparability with previous censuses

        *Must be federally approved

  • “Children ever born” question

  • Unpaid work

  • Ethnicity

  • Political changes

The Use of Sampling in the Census

  • Sampling: data are obtained from a representative sample of household from which it is then possible to derive the characteristics of the population

  • National Household Survey (NHS): voluntary survey

    • Lower response rate

  • Online participation

Census Undercoverage

  • There is always some level of undercounting

    • Indigenous populations

    • Illegal immigrants

    • Criminals

    • Nomads

    • Homeless

  • Overcoverage: when a person is enumerated more than once

Population Estimates

  • Population estimates

    • Postcensal: produced by using data from the most recent census + estimated of the components of demographic change since that last census

    • Intercensal: produced every 5 years and reconcile previous postcensal estimates with the latest census counts

  • Population projections: series of population estimates, typically by age and sex, derived from the application of assumptions regarding change in the demographic components over the course of a defined time horizon

Specialized Population Surveys

  • Surveys of the labor force: taken routinely

  • Current Population Survey (in the US)

  • Aboriginal People’s Survey

  • National Population Health Survey

Vital Statistics

  • Vital statistics were 1st compiled by churches

Early Investigations of Vital Records and the Origins of Population Studies

  • Important founding fathers of demography

    • Thomas Malthus

    • John Graunt → Bills of Mortality

    • William Petty → national accounting systems

    • Antoine Deparcieux → exposure to risk in mortality analysis

Modern Vital Statistics Systems

  • National vital statistics system: collect, compile, and process statistical information on all vital events that take place in the population on a daily basis

    • Requirements

    • List of vital events that must be reported in Canada

      • Live birth

      • Death

      • Fetal death

      • Therapeutic abortion

      • Marriage

      • Divorce

      • Legal separation

      • Annulment

      • Adoption

  • Definitions are not universally applied everywhere

  • Underregistration of vital events

Population Registers

  • Population register: change of residence, births, deaths, marriages, and divorces must be declared to the authorities

Monitoring Migratory Movements

  • Arrangements between countries

  • Internal migration: monitoring of this is done through tax files

  • Census

Indirect Estimation of Vital Events

  • Poor countries

    • Lack of necessary infrastructure

    • Lack of funds to support institutions

    • Leads to estimations based on incomplete information

Canadian Vital Statistics: Background and Overview

  • Dominion Bureau of Statistics founded in 1918 (currently Statistics Canada)

  • Canadian vital statistics system: obtain and preserve such documentary evidence as is necessary to protect the legal rights of the individual

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