Sources of population data
• Census
• Registration of vital statistics
• Sample surveys
Population census
• It is a total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating and publishing
population information.
• It is carried out after every 10 years in Zimbabwe.
• It is carried out by people called enumerators.
What is done before and during a census
• Before a census the country is divided into small areas called enumeration
areas and each area covers about 500 people
• Each area is assigned an enumerator
• The enumerator uses a designed questionnaire
• The questionnaire covers three areas of enquiry
The areas of enquiry will include
• Demographic population characteristics such as age, sex, fertility, mortality,
and migration.
• Housing characteristics such as type of house, location.
• Services such as water, electricity, sanitation and level of education and
health.
• It can also cover other aspects such as employment, level of education, and
availability of services such as radio, television
Advantages of a census
• It is a more accurate method of counting people.
• It captures a wide range of a country’s characteristics.
Disadvantages of a census
• It is expensive.
• It can be less reliable in areas of a high rate of illiteracy.
• Can cause ethnic tension and war
Registration of vital information
• This involves the registration of events such as births, deaths, marriages,
school records, church records, court records among others.
• This can be a difficult way of collecting population information especially in
LEDCs.