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Population Data

Population: The entire and complete collection of individuals under consideration in

a certain place. (Mayhew, 1995)

In other word, Population refers to the number of inhabitants in an area.

Population Data: Population data refer to the Decennial Census and other surveys

of individuals and households administered by the Census Bureau. (Centre for

Economic Studies)

In other word, population data is a set of data about population.

Types of Population Data:

1. The state of population at any given time (Population Structure, Population

Composition, Population Distribution)

2. The movement of population in time and space (fertility, Mortality,

Migration)

Population Data Collection Method:

1. Static methods for ascertaining distribution and structure (Census, Sample

Surveys, Population Commission and Enquiries)

2. Dynamic methods for measuring.

It has two types-

A. Population movement (Vital Registration for births, deaths, migrations and

marriages)

B. Changes in population structures (Record of change in occupation,

employments etc.)

Population Data Collection in Bangladesh:

Census: Census refers to the official process of counting the number of

people in a country, city, or town and collecting information about them.

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has 8 wings. One of those is Census

Wing, which is responsible for conducting three decennial censuses: the

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Population and Housing Census, the Agriculture Census, and the Economic

Census. After the liberation of Bangladesh the first Population and Housing

Census was carried out in 1974, the first Agriculture Census in 1977 and the

first Economic Census carried out in 1986. Since Independence there have

been five Population and Housing Censuses with the last one completed in

2011; four rounds of Agriculture Census, with the latest one in 2008 and only

just two Economic Censuses in 1986 and 2003. It is anticipated that the

next Economic Census will be carried out in 2013.

Sample Survey: A sample survey is a study that obtains data from a subset

of a population, in order to estimate population attributes. In Bangladesh,

different research organizations, universities or ministries use this method

to collect population data. Various types of sample surveys are conducted in

Bangladesh like Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS),

Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES).

Vital Registration: Vital registration is the system by which a government

records the vital events (births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages and

divorces) of its citizens and residents. Bangladesh Bureau Statistics has 8

wings and one of them is Demography and Health Wing. Vital registration is

performed by this wing. According to the Demography and Health Wing of

BBS, they gather following information of citizens-

1. Mortality

2. Expectation of life

3. Population Characteristics

4. Nuptiality

5. Contraceptive Use

6. Fertility

7. Household and Housing Characteristics

Migration Record: Migration means the movement of people from one place

to another for taking up permanent or semi permanent residence. (Oxford

Dictionary of Geography) In Bangladesh, both internal and external

migrations are observed. It’s estimated by BBS, Ministry of Labor and

Manpower and other research organizations.

Demographic Surveillance System: Demographic surveillance system (DSS)

was started in the 1960s for collecting a wide range of data on family

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planning, child nutrition, epidemiology, child and maternal health etc. by

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh

(ICDDR,B), which has been recording births, deaths and migration since

1966.

Population Data Collection Sources in Bangladesh:

Research Organizations:

1. Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

2. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research,

Bangladesh (ICDDR'B)

3. Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)

4. National Institute of Population Research and Training

(NIPORT)

Government Organizations:

1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics

2. Bangladesh National WEB Portal

3. Statistics and Informatics Division

4. Ministry of Information

5. Ministry of Health and Family welfare

6. Bangladesh Bank

7. Ministry of Local Government etc.