Censuses (cont.)
De facto vs. de jure enumerations
An important distinction is often drawn between populations that are enumerated on a de facto (Latin, for ‘in actual fact’) and a de jure (Latin for ‘in law’) basis.
- De facto – The population is enumerated where it is found, regardless of the respondent’s usual place of residence.
- De jure – The respondent is enumerated at their usual place of residence, regardless of where they stayed on the census date.
The core questions recommended by the UN suggest that information on both aspects of the population be asked.
In highly mobile populations, or populations subject to extensive seasonal migration (e.g. crop-pickers), analysing the data by actual or usual place of residence may give widely divergent results.