PAPP102 - S01: Censuses and vital registration

Censuses (cont.)

Listed below are some of the advantages and disadvantages to censuses.

Advantages	Disadvantages
The coverage aims to be universal The census provides an important sampling frame for subsequent surveys and studies The census can serve as a useful tool for ‘nation-building’, by involving the entire population Census data avoids the sampling errors that can occur with sample data Censuses provide data for small areas, such as districts and counties, which is vital for the planning of services	The size and complexity of the exercise means that the content and quality control efforts may be limited The cost of carrying out a census means that most countries can pursue an enumeration only every ten years There is usually a significant delay between when the data are collected and the results released. Typically this delay is between 18 months to two years, and means that the census only offers a snapshot of the population at some point in the past Censuses are easily politicised – either by groups who feel that they might be systematically undercounted by the exercise, or by parties with a vested interest in seeking to ensure that their group’s population is found to be larger than that of other groups

Advantages

Disadvantages

The coverage aims to be universal
The census provides an important sampling frame for subsequent surveys and studies
The census can serve as a useful tool for ‘nation-building’, by involving the entire population
Census data avoids the sampling errors that can occur with sample data
Censuses provide data for small areas, such as districts and counties, which is vital for the planning of services

The size and complexity of the exercise means that the content and quality control efforts may be limited
The cost of carrying out a census means that most countries can pursue an enumeration only every ten years
There is usually a significant delay between when the data are collected and the results released. Typically this delay is between 18 months to two years, and means that the census only offers a snapshot of the population at some point in the past
Censuses are easily politicised – either by groups who feel that they might be systematically undercounted by the exercise, or by parties with a vested interest in seeking to ensure that their group’s population is found to be larger than that of other groups