CENSUS

DEFINE:
“A census of population is the total process of collecting, compiling,
evaluating, analyzing and publishing demographic, economic and
social data pertaining, at a specified time, to all persons in a country
or in a well-delimited part of the country.”(U.N.O.)

METHODS (Minor)
❖ Direct enumeration
❖ Indirect enumeration
❖ Real enumeration
❖ Legal enumeration

METHODS (Major)
❖ De Facto Method
• The Census Commission fixes one date for conducting the
census throughout the country. Usually done on a full moon
night.
• The technique was followed both in India and England upto
1931 census.
• This is real enumeration method.
• MERIT: The entire work is completed within one night.
• DEMERIT: Those travelling during night are left out from
enumeration.
❖ De Jure Method
• The enumeration period of two to three weeks is fixed.
• Persons residing temporarily at a place are not enumerated.
Only persons residing permanently are counted in it.
• This is real and direct enumeration method.
• MERIT:
▪ The enumerators are given sufficient time to collect
information from the households.
▪ It is possible to collect a wide variety of information
relating to sex, age, language, education, occupation etc.

• DEMERIT:
▪ Persons who are not permanently residing at the place
are left out from enumeration.
▪ The same applies to persons who have two different
houses in two different towns and reside in them for the
purpose of business.

ADVANTAGES:
1. Intensive study.
2. Results are more accurate and reliable.
3. Suitable for heterogeneous units.
4. Indispensable in some cases.

DISADVANTAGES:
1. Costly method.
2. Needs more time and manpower.
3. Not suitable for the large population.
4. More statistical errors.
FEATURES:
1. Each individual is enumerated separately; the characteristics of
each person within the household are recorded separately.

2. The census covers a precisely defined territory and includes

every person present or residing within its scope. The housing
census should include every type of building and living quarters.

3. Each person and each type of building and living quarters is

enumerated with respect to a well defined point of time.

4. The census is taken at regular defined intervals, usually every 10

years.