de facto census

The term "de facto" means actual or in effect, though not formally recognized or legally constituted. For example, a "de facto" government exercises power as if it were legally established, or "de facto" segregation results from social or economic factors rather than laws.1

A census is an enumeration of people, houses, or other items in a specific region at a particular time. While often referring to a population census, countries also conduct censuses for housing, manufacturing, and agriculture. Censuses are costly and typically occur every 10 years, or less frequently in some nations. In years without a census, population figures are estimated using vital statistics like births, deaths, and migration. A "de facto" census counts individuals where they are enumerated, usually where they spend the night, as opposed to a "de jure" census which counts based on legal residence.2