Demography Meaning & Definition
Meaning of Demography
The term demography has been derived from two Greek words, Demos means the people while
graph means to draw or to write. So, literally speaking, demography is concerned about writings
about people.
Definitions of Demography
Different demographers and sociologists have given their own definitions as under.
Benjamin Demography is concerned with the measuring of the past and future population change
and for this purpose the demographers must quantify the elements of fertility, mortality and
migration as well as social and economic influences.
Donald J. Bogue Demography is the mathematical study of size, composition and special
distribution of population and of changes through the operation of the five processes of fertility,
mortality, marriage, migration and social mobility.
Multilingual Demographic Dictionary It is the scientific study of human population
primarily with respect to their size, structure and development.
Thompson & Lewis Demography is the study of changes in the size and distribution of
population according to time, place and circumstances.
W.G. Barkley Demography dies not deal with the behavior of individuals but with the aggregate
of people or ever parts. The numerical portrayal of human population is known as demography.
It has been concluded from the above definitions that, demography is the study of population
variables like fertility, mortality and migration to know about the size, distribution and fluctuation
(rise & fall) in population.
Importance of Demography
The importance of demography is clear for its scope. Since its scope is increasing which already leads to
it importance. Demography is concerned with the growth and distribution of population in less
developed countries as well as underdevelopment and developed countries. The importance of
demography is clear from the following points.
Health Planning
Due to high fertility rate, health problems are created both for mother and child. In most of the
developing countries, married women are facing pregnancies problem due to malnutrition. Also due to
ill health of mother, infant mortality rate is high in our country. High fertility is connected to the child
development. So, demography is concerned with the fertility and mortality and studies the birth and
death rates. These health problems are solved by the demographer in the establishment of health
planning of the country. All the problem related to health and its causes as well as its possible solutions
is the work of social demography.
Planning for Food Supply
Planning for food supply means availability of adequate food for the total population. The inadequate
food results in the poor health, low growth, high mortality rates and low physical activity. Food supply
grows with the growth of population. The undeveloped and underdeveloped countries are unable to
meet the demands of food supply. They depend on other countries for fulfillment of their basic food
needs. So, population study is important to meet the demands of food of the poor countries through the
aid of national as well as international agencies.
Housing Planning
When the size of population is increasing, the demand for housing is also increasing. Therefore data
collected about fertility, mortality, migration, urbanization and family formation gives basis for the
estimation of housing planning. Demography is concerned that how the problem of housing of a large
population should be Solved According to the estimates prepared by the Economic and social
commission for Asia and the pacific (ESCAP). The number of persons in the age-group 15-24, in 1970 are
likely to increase from 379 million to 469 in 1980. So, the population increasing rapidly which creates. So
many problems of housing and these are undertaken by the field of social demography.
Employment Planning
Unemployment is a social and international problem. From developed to underdeveloped as well as
undeveloped countries, the unemployment problem growing rapidly. A demographic factor is the high
dependency ratio in less developed countries. For example; In Pakistan, four or five persons depends on
the income of one person. So, for employment planning, population study and dependency ratio must
be studied. Therefore demography studies all aspects of population where it make planning for
employment and unemployment problem.
Educational Planning
Today every nation is concerned with providing proper education to children. The numbers of children
are constantly increasing which creates educational problems. The demographers are interested to
make planning for these children of a specific area or the whole country. Due to educational planning by
demographers, these children should be provided proper educational facilities. Abdul education is also
provided to a large number of population and demography has estimated the future plan for education.
Migration Planning
Most of the people are migrated to western countries. It is necessary to estimate the trends of
migration, the immigrants, the emigrants and the heavy burden on other countries. It is the study of
social demography to make plans, to stop the problem. A large number of emigrants from a country
affects a population adversely and a qualitative change occur. Because these emigrants may be experts
as well as skilled and qualified persons which affects the economy of a country very badly. Due to
immigration to a country, the population growth takes place which is a hurdle for the development of a
country. For example; A large number of people who are illiterate and poor are coming from Bangladesh
to India which creating difficulties particularly in the states of west Bengal and Assam. So, the migration
planning is made by the govt. as well as non-governmental organization and agencies to overcome the
problem of migration. It is the main study of social demography.
It has been concluded from the above discussion on the “importance of demography” that, demography
studies all aspects of the people’s population. The data about population is gathered and collecting by
the UN agencies and other local organization. So, that data show the problems regarding to population
are pointed out by the demography.
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