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A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a Population (not necessarily a Human population). It can be contrasted with Sampling in which information is only obtained from a subset of a population. As such it is a method used for accumulating Statistical data, and it is also vital to Democracy ( Voting ). Census data is also commonly used for research, business Marketing , and planning purposes. CENSUS AND PRIVACY While the census provides a useful way of obtaining statistical information about a population, such information can sometimes lead to abuses, political or otherwise, made possible by the linking of individuals' identities to anonymous census data. The Census and Privacy It is not unusual for census data to be processed in some way so as to obscure individual information. Some censuses do this by intentionally introducing small statistical errors to prevent the identification of individuals in marginal populations; others swap variables for similar respondents. Whatever measures have been taken to reduce the privacy risk in census data, new technology in the form of better electronic analysis of data pose increasing challenges to the protection of sensitive individual information. ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CENSUSES Rome conducted censuses to determine Taxes (''see Censor ''). The Bible relates stories of several censuses. The Book Of Numbers describes a divinely-mandated census that occurred when Moses led the Israelites from Egypt . A later census called by King David of Israel , referred to as the " Numbering Of The People ," incited divine retribution (for being militarily motivated or perhaps displaying lack of faith in God). A Roman Census is also mentioned in one of the best known passages of the Bible in the Gospel Of Luke . The world's oldest extant census data comes from China during the Han Dynasty . Taken in the fall of 2 AD, it is considered by scholars to be quite accurate. At that time there were 57.5 million living in Han China, the world's largest population. The second oldest preserved census is also from the Han, dating back to 140 AD, when only a bit more than 48 million people were recorded. Mass migrations into what is today southern China are believed to be behind this massive demographic decline. In the Middle Ages , the most famous census in Europe is the Domesday Book , undertaken in 1086 by William I Of England "to find out ... what or how much each landholder had in land and livestock, and what it was worth," so that he could properly tax the land he had recently conquered. In 1183, a census was taken of the Crusade r Kingdom Of Jerusalem , to ascertain the number of men and amount of money that could possibly be raised against an invasion by Saladin , sultan of Egypt and Syria . MODERN CENSUSES Australia See Also: Census in Australia The Australia n census is run by the Australian Bureau Of Statistics . It is carried out every five years, the last one being on August 7 , 2001 and the next planned census is August 8 , 2006 . Past Australian censuses were conducted in 1901, 1921, 1933, 1947, 1954, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, and 2001. Brazil The Brazilian census is carried out by IBGE , the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, every 10 Years . The last one was in 2000. Bulgaria The first census is organised after Bulgarian parliament passed a law for national censuses in 1880. A special Act on Statistics was enacted in 1897. It was following the on the edge European standards at the time. The area of the next census was widening for the purposes of International Statistical Institute which was planning a world wide census of the then ‘civilized world’ at the time. The Directorate of Statistics was the only institution authorized and responsible with and for organization and of national censuses. The procedure retain the same until the WW-II . During the period in review Bulgaria has organized 16 population censuses (1880, 1884, 1887, 1892, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1920, 1926, 1934, 1946, 1956, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1992 all of them ending in December and 2001 providing data by March same year). Reliability of the statistics, indeed, improved with the time. The information in the first censuses covers a wide range of data: • Population statistic – sex, age, nationality, mother tongue, education, religion, different groups of disabled people • Occupation…. • Animal statistics- providing detailed information on the number of beasts on the village and town level; • Dwelling statistics – the data is broken down by villages/towns and by type of use – for living and for rent providing purposes • Vital statistics – marriage, number of family members, age at marriage, mortality and nativity Canada The Canadian census is run by Statistics Canada . The First Census Conducted In Canada was conducted in 1666, by French Intendant Jean Talon , when he took a census to ascertain the number of people living in New France . In 1871, Canada's first formal census was conducted, which counted the population of Nova Scotia , Ontario , New Brunswick , and Quebec . In 1918, the Dominion Bureau Of Statistics was formed, and replaced by Statistics Canada in 1971. Censuses in Canada are conducted in five-year intervals. The last census was conducted in 2001 and the next planned census is 2006. Censuses taken in mid-decade (1976, 1986, 1996, etc.) are referred to as Quinquennial censuses. Others are referred to as Decennial censuses. The first quinquennial census was conducted in 1956. For the 2006 Census of Canada, respondents will be able to choose to complete their census questionnaire online. See also: Canada 2001 Census Costa Rica Costa Rica carried out its 9th Population Census in 2000. INEC , ''National Institute of Statistics and Census'' is in charge of conduct these census. Past Costa Rican censuses were conducted in 1864, 1883, 1892, 1927, 1950, 1963, 1973 and 1984. Denmark The first Danish census was in 1700-1701, and contained statistical information about adult men. Only about half of it still exists. A census of school children was taken during the 1730s. Following these early undertakings, the first census to attempt completely covering all citizens (including women and children who had previously been listed only as numbers) of took a statistical census in 1771 which covered Copenhagen , Sjælland , Møn , and Bornholm . After that, censuses followed somewhat regularly in 1787, 1801, and 1834, and between 1840 and 1860, the censuses were taken every five years, and then every ten years until 1890. Special censuses for Copenhagen were taken in 1885 and 1895. In the 20th century, censuses were taken every five years from 1901 to 1921, and then every ten years from 1930. The last census was taken in 1950. Currently, Det Centrale Personregister is doing the censuses using their register of Danish citizens. It is possible to search a portion of the Danish censuses online at Dansk Demografisk Database , and also view scanned versions at Arkivalier Online . France Napoleon Bonaparte began the census in France as a means of determining the number of potential soldiers under his rule. Today, the census in France is carried out by INSEE . Since 2004, a partial census is carried out every year, and the results published as averages over 5 years. Germany The first large-scale census in the German Empire took place in 1895 . Attempts at introducing a census in Germany sparked strong popular resentment in the 1980s since many quite personal questions were asked. Some campaigned for a boycott. In the end the Constitutional Court stopped the census in 1980 and 1983. The last census was in 1987. Germany has since used population samples in combination with statistical methods, in place of a full census. Greece Census takes place every 10 Years and is carried out by the National Statistical Service of Greece {Link without Title} . Last census was in 2001. Hong Kong Main article: Census In Hong Kong Census takes place every 10 Years and by-census between two censuses by the Census And Statistics Department of Hong Kong . The last census was conducted in 2001 and the next by-census will take place in 2006. India See Also: Demographics of India The decennial census of India is the primary source of information about the demographic characteristics of the Population Of India which is the second biggest country of the world in terms of population. The first census in India in modern times is dated 1872 . It started as far back as in 1860 and was finished in 1871 . Starting from there, a population census has been carried out every 10 Years , latest being the fourteenth in February - March 2001 . Census is carried out by the office of the Registrar General And Census Commissioner, India , Delhi under the Census of India Act, 1948. The act gives Central Government many powers like to notify a date for Census, power to ask for the services of any citizen for census work. The law makes it compulsory for every citizen to answer the census questions truthfully. The Act provides penalties for giving false answer or not giving answers at all to the census questionnaire. One of the most important provisions of law is the guarantee for the maintenance of secrecy of the information collected at the census of each individual. The census records are not open to inspection and also not admissible in evidence. Census happens in two phases, first House Listing and House Numbering Operations and second actual population enumeration phase. Census is carried out by the canvassing method. In this method, each and every household is visited and the information is collected by a specially trained enumerator. 9th February 2001, the first day of the 2001 census was celebrated as the census day. Source
Ireland The census in Ireland is carried out by the Central Statistics Office (Ireland) . The previous two censuses were carried out in 2002 and most recently on April 23 2006 . The census is carried out every five years but in 2001 was moved to 2002 due to the outbreak of Foot And Mouth . According to the 2006 form, "any person who fails or refuses to provide information or who knowingly provides false information may be subject to a fine of up to €25,000" under the Central Statistics Act 1993. The census in Ireland is very similar to that of the census of the United Kingdom . That is, the "100 year" law applies here as well, as does the recent addition of Religion being added to the 2006 census. Since the very first census, the question of "Can you speak Irish ?" has been asked. This has often leaded to misleading figures, as many people know how to speak Irish through schooling, but actually don't speak it in their daily lives. The 2006 census included how often you spoke the language if you had chosen the "Yes" answer if you spoke Irish. Also, on the CSO website, instructions for non- English speaking citizens of the Republic of Ireland were available. They were mock copies of the census forms, with all headings/questions etc. being translated into a particular language. These were not to be filled out, but where only a guide on how to fill out the english form. This census also asked two unique questions relating to ownership of PCs and what Internet connection your home had. The next census will take place in the year 2011. Italy The census in Italy is carried out by ISTAT every 10 Years . The last four were in 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001. Japan Japan collects census information every five years. The figures show the English translation of the 2005 census form. The form solicits information on name, sex, relationship to head of household, year and month of birth, marital status, nationality, number of members of household, type and nature of dwelling, floor area of dwelling, number of hours worked during the week prior to October 1, employment status, name of employer and type of business, and kind of work. |
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