SOURCES OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA (Information)

SOURCES OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA (Information)

Demographic data can be divided into 3 categories;

1.     Population size and distribution.

2.     Population processes (fertility, mortality, and migration).

3.     Population structure and characteristics (composition).

The major source of data on size and distribution as well as structure and characteristics (item 1 & 3 above) is POPULATION CENSUS.

The major source of Population Processes (item 2 above) is registration of statistics (VITAL REGISTRATION) these can be supplement by data from sample survey.

Demography obtains its data from 3 major sources;

1.     National Census.

2.     National Register of deaths, births, marriages, divorces and migration otherwise known as VITAL REGISTRATION. and

3.     Sample surveys.

The above three (3) are called traditional or conventional sources of demographic data. This means that there are some sources that are categories as none traditional or conventional sources.

None Conventional depends on studies or research-specific, it can be territorial-specific. i.e. you want materials on the criminals, you go to the police; they (none-conventional) includes records on family planning, marriage registers; "NOTE" CONVENTIONAL ARE FOUND IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WHILE THE NONE CONVENTIONAL ARE FOUND IN THE AREAS IT AFFECTS for example; marriage registers are found in courts etc. there are also immigration records, police records, school enrollment registers, abstracts of statistic (registered by Federal Ministry of Statistics), there is also records of employers of firms, citizen ID cards, citizens drivers license, labour office records, hospital records that are found in specific places.

            At international level, the U.N statistical Dept publishes yearly demographic and statistical information from many parts of the world known as the U.N. DEMOGRAPHIC YEAR BOOK, first published in 1948 and then yearly; it provides internationally comparable and comprehensive annual statistics on population in terms of its size, fertility, mortality, urbanization etc. which are put to a wide range of uses by individuals, governments, institutions, private organization and international agencies. The book is indeed a standard reference on World Demography.