The study of population is not only about people but also about a country’s development.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Define population and explain what it means in economics.
- Explain the meaning of population census.
- Identify and describe the characteristics of a good population census.
- Differentiate between the types of population census.
- State the reasons why governments conduct population censuses.
Table of Contents
Definition of Population
Population refers to the total number of people living in a particular country, region, or area at a specific period of time.
It includes all categories of people such as men, women, and children, regardless of their age or occupation.
In economics, the study of population is important because it helps in understanding the available human resources and the demand for goods and services in a country.
For example, when we say that Nigeria has a population of about 220 million people, it means that 220 million individuals are living in the country at that particular time.
Population Census
A population census is the official counting of all the people living in a country at a specific time. It is usually carried out by the government, often every ten years, and involves collecting information about individuals such as their age, sex, occupation, education, religion, and place of residence.
A census provides accurate data on the number of people in a country and their characteristics, which is useful for planning and development.
For example, Nigeria has conducted censuses in 1963, 1991, and 2006 to gather such information.
Characteristics of a Good Population Census
For a population census to be useful, it must have certain qualities:
- Universality:
A good population census must cover the entire country without leaving out any area. Every person, whether rich or poor, young or old, male or female, should be included.
If only some regions or groups are counted, the result will be inaccurate and misleading. Universality ensures that the data collected reflects the true size and structure of the population.
- Individual Enumeration:
In a reliable census, each person must be counted separately and their details recorded individually. This means information such as age, sex, occupation, and marital status is collected for every person, rather than just guessing group numbers.
This helps the government to understand the unique characteristics of each section of the population and make better plans for different categories of people.
- Periodicity:
A good census must be conducted at regular intervals, usually every ten years. This makes it possible to track changes in the population over time, such as whether it is growing or shrinking.
Without regular censuses, the government would not have up-to-date information, and planning for schools, hospitals, housing, and other services would become difficult.
- Simultaneity:
A population census should be carried out at the same time across the whole country. If different areas are counted at different times, people may be counted twice or missed out altogether, especially if they move from one place to another.
Simultaneity ensures fairness and accuracy, since the figures represent the population at a specific moment in time.
More Characteristics
- Defined Territory:
Another important characteristic is that the geographical area where the census is conducted must be clearly defined. This avoids confusion about who should be counted and who should not. For example, citizens living abroad may or may not be included depending on the country’s census rules.
A defined territory helps ensure that everyone within the national boundaries is properly accounted for.
- Confidentiality:
A good census guarantees the privacy of individuals who provide their information. People are more willing to give accurate details about themselves if they know it will not be misused.
Confidentiality builds trust between the government and the population, ensuring that the census data is reliable and complete.
Types of Population Census
There are two main types:
- De facto Census:
A de facto census counts people according to where they are found on the actual day of the census, regardless of whether they live there or not.
For example, if someone from Kano is visiting Lagos during the census, he will be counted in Lagos.
This type of census is easy to carry out because it records people based on their physical presence. However, it may not give a completely accurate picture of the usual population of an area, especially in places with high movement of people like cities and towns.
- De jure Census:
A de jure census counts people based on their usual place of residence, whether they are physically present on the census day or not.
For instance, a student from Ibadan studying in Abuja will still be counted in Ibadan, his usual home, even if he is in Abuja on census day.
This type of census provides a better understanding of the permanent population of an area, which is useful for planning housing, schools, and healthcare. However, it can be more difficult and expensive to carry out since census officials must track people to their actual places of origin.
Reasons for Population Census
Governments conduct censuses for many reasons:
- To know the total population of the country: One of the main reasons for conducting a census is to find out exactly how many people are living in a country. Without accurate numbers, the government cannot know if the population is increasing or decreasing. Knowing the population size helps leaders understand the pressure on resources, such as food, schools, housing, and jobs.
- It also allows the government to compare its population with other countries.
- To plan for schools, hospitals, housing, and jobs: Census data helps governments to plan properly for the social needs of the people. For example, if the census shows that there are many children in a community, more schools and teachers will be required.
If the census shows many elderly people, more hospitals and healthcare workers will be needed. In this way, census results help in providing the right number of social services for citizens.
- To assist in economic planning and development: Population figures are necessary for proper economic planning. The government needs to know how many people that are of working age. They need to know how many people are unemployed, and how many depend on others for survival.
This helps in creating plans for industries, agriculture, and infrastructure. With accurate census data, the government can prepare development programmes that match the real needs of the population.
- To help in political representation: Population census plays an important role in determining how political power is shared.
In many countries, the number of representatives a state or region has in parliament depends on its population size. Areas with larger populations usually get more seats, while smaller areas get fewer. Census data therefore ensures that political representation is fair and balanced.
- To provide data for businesses and researchers: Apart from the government, census figures are useful for businesses and researchers.
Businesses use census data to know where to set up shops, factories, or offices based on population size and distribution. Researchers also rely on census information to study social and economic issues, such as education levels, income, and migration. This helps them make recommendations for solving national problems.
- To help government in fair distribution of resources: The census helps in dividing national resources fairly among different regions. For example, when allocating money for schools, roads, and hospitals, the government considers the population of each area. A region with more people should get more resources than a region with fewer people.
Without census data, some regions may be overfunded while others are neglected.
Lesson Summary
Census helps the government know the population size, plan for education, and provide health care for her citizen. It also helps them to provide housing, allocate resources fairly, provide data for economic development, and ensure fair political representation.
Tags
Population, Population Census, Universality, Enumeration, Periodicity, Simultaneity, Defined Territory, Confidentiality, De facto Census, De jure Census, Economic Planning, Political Representation, Resource Distribution
