Which personal characteristics does the United Nations suggest collecting in a population census?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

census A U.S. Census Bureau enumerator conducting a personal interview.

The United Nations suggests a comprehensive list of topics for a population census to ensure accurate demographic and social data collection. These topics are categorized into direct data points, which include the following personal and social characteristics:

Geographic: Place of usual residence or place of enumeration.
Familial: Relationship to the head of the household or family.
Demographic: Sex, age, marital status, number of children ever born, and birthplace.
Economic: Type of activity, occupation, industry, and employer-employee status.
Social and Political: Citizenship, language, and ethnic or religious affiliation.
Educational: Literacy, level of education, and school attendance.

Additionally, the United Nations notes that countries may collect further information, such as income, internal migration history, and details regarding marriage duration or frequency, to better understand the demography of their populations.1