Demographics

This chapter provides an overview of demographics as a statistical discipline focused on population data collection, analysis, and projection, emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature and empirical approach. It traces the development of demographics in China since the founding of the PRC in 1949, highlighting key milestones such as the six national censuses (1953–2010), 1% population sampling surveys, and specialized surveys on fertility, mortality, migration, and vulnerable groups. The discussion covers data quality assessment, fertility trends and policy impacts, mortality patterns, migration dynamics, and advanced population projection techniques. It underscores how these efforts have informed population policies, socio-economic planning, and academic research, while addressing challenges like data inaccuracies and evolving methodologies.