1990 census round: meeting users' needs is seen as key to successful dissemination

"Dissemination and marketing of census products were...major topics at the Thirteenth Population Census Conference of census directors from the Asian-Pacific region, held in Honolulu in December 1990. Drawing upon papers presented at the conference,...this article describes technological developments and marketing techniques being used in the region to increase the demand for census information."     

[Population age structure and sex ratio in 1982].]

While China's 1982 population census provides total population size and age and sex distribution data, the data does not include military personnel. A few years after the census, the Population Census Office of the State Council and the Population Division of the State Statistics Bureau announced the numbers for military personnel by five-year age group as well as a total of 4,230,000. This information provides reliable data for more precise analysis of age and sex distribution in China.     

The world's biggest census

The purpose of the 3rd national population census, taken 18 years after "New China's" 2nd census, was to ascertain accurate population figures for China and the spatial population distribution in order to carry out socialist modernization, improve the people's material and cultural lives, and draw up a population policy and program in light of China's actual conditions. The census questionnaire contained 19 items, including 13 for individuals; and 6 items about the household. Preparations for the census began at the end of 1979 even though the census would not begin until July 1, 1982. The preparatory stage included: drafting the Census Statute; conducting pilot censuses in certain areas; rectifying household registration; installing computers; training computer technicians; convening national census work conference and similar conferences at various levels; selecting and training field census workers; printing census forms; and conducting widespread publicity. Pilot censuses were conducted at central, provincial, and county levels in order to draw useful experience for the nationwide census. A large number of census workers were selected and trained. Among them were about a million staff members working in census offices at various levels, 1000 computer technical personnel, 4000 data entry personnel, 100,000 coders, and 1 million census supervisors. 8 million cadres and volunteers at the grassroots actively helped conduct the census. Enumeration and verification was completed between July 1 and July 15, 1982. The postenumeration check on a sample basis showed only a net overcount of 0.15/1000 with an overcount of 0.71/1000 and an undercount of 0.56/1000. All levels of the government, the Communist Party, Trade Unions, and Women's Federations were mobilized to take part in the census, and all mass media were utilized. All census information will be finally tabulated by computers before the end of 1984, and census reports will be compiled and submitted to the State Council for examination before they are published.     

How surveys are changing at the U.S. Bureau of the Census

"This article describes the survey activities of the U.S. Census Bureau and recent efforts by the bureau to move toward a more fully automated environment....[It] focuses on four areas in which the Census Bureau is changing its approach to surveys: (1) redesigning the questionnaire for the Current Population Survey to better reflect current labor force conditions; (2) redesigning the same questionnaire to gain advantages from computer-assisted interviewing; (3) redesigning the samples for household surveys to be used during the next decade, a task undertaken after every decennial census; and (4) progress in changing to a computer-assisted survey information collection (CASIC) system and developing a data management network for all Census Bureau surveys."     

Demography in China: from zero to now

After 20 years of neglect the study of population and demography in China have come to be considered imperative. China has even accepted $50 million from the UN Fund for Population Activities to defray the cost of the 1982 census and help pay for action, training, and research programs. Institutions directed toward population studies have been established in many provinces during the 1970s. The principal types are population training and research institutes and offices within institutions of higher learning. In addition institutes outside the system of higher education and special units of population studies in various medical colleges were initiated. Between 1957-77 the large increase in population began to cause economic problems which were not admitted until the late 1970s. Since 1979 the country's efforts to lower the level of fertility have been organized in major policy statements calling for 1 child/couple and a rate of natural increase causing zero population growth by the year 2000. The Institute of Population Research was created in 1974 and it has provided population projections that have helped form population policy with a major focus on historical stages of growth in China as well as counteracting the lopsided population optimism which existed earlier. In 1978 a conference was held on the science of population theory which identified areas for study such as: 1) population and economics, 2) capitalist population theories, 3) population policies, 4) family planning and economics, and 5) population problems in foreign countries. The author describes some of the literature which was published after the 1978 conference and the reappearance of academic journals in 1979 as well as the 1979 conference. 1980 and 1981 studies dealt with such topics as debates on Malthusian theory, zero population growth, urban and rural populations, historical demography, housing, employment, health improvement of the population, minorities, and fertility determinants. Chinese scholars have also begun to cooperate with their foreign colleagues in a variety of studies. In order to illustrate the wide variety of directions which Chinese population studies are taking the author provides a bibliography of population studies from 1977-81.     

Focus on family planning measures

A blueprint for responsible parenthood titled "The Tokyo Initiative" was drawn up at a conference sponsored jointly by the Japan Science Society and the Population Crisis Committee in April 1977. Representatives of several U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations participated. The blueprint urges additional resources to make family planning services available in rural areas and unserved areas of cities. Expanded social and economic roles for women were also recommended since it was felt that unless women were allowed to participate in family and community decision-making, "programs for responsible parenthood will be doomed to failure." Adolescents should be educated about reproductive behavior, stressing the adverse effects of early pregnancy. Integrated family planning services which serve the cause of infant and child health and total responsibility for program design be placed as close as possible to people affected. The conference then issued a call for action to implement these family planning objectives.     

Perceptions of parenthood and childlessness: A comparison of mothers and voluntarily childless wives

Fifty mothers and 50 voluntarily childless wives selected from an adjective checklist the personality traits most typical of parents and intentionally childless persons. Both groups of women described parents as "concerned." "loving." "hard-working," "conventional." and "patient," while voluntarily childless wives were more likely to choose the traits "conventional" and "restricted." Voluntarily childless persons were described by a strikingly different set of attributes. They were perceived as "nonconforming," "self-fulfilled" "materialistic," "intelligent," and "individualistic." Voluntarily childless wives in describing the childless chose more often than mothers traits like "intelligent," "individualistic," "practical," and "well-adjusted." and cited less often than mothers the attributes "materialistic" and "ambitious." On the other hand, analysis of the positive and negative comments made about childless persons revealed that the intentionally childless were regarded as selfish, unusual persons, more likely to be pitied than applauded for their alternative social reality.     

Evaluation of the results of China's 1982 population census and the problems raised by the IUSSP Florence Conference]

The author discusses the evaluation by IUSSP members of China's 1982 population census and outlines questions raised at the 1985 conference in Florence. While the quality of the census data was generally favorably assessed by those attending the workshop, the following points were made: The population size, obtained by summing all age groups, is inconsistent with the total population recorded in the census; fertility, mortality, and national growth rates for the Chinese population over the years are different in various official publications; and the sex ratio, 1.08:1 in 1981, may be caused by underreporting.     

A new evaluation of United States census data on the extreme aged

Population and mortality data for the extreme aged have generally been considered subject to a large degree of error, particularly for nonwhites. In this study, estimates of the United States population 85 years of age and over in 1960 are devised through a procedure known as the "method of extinct generations," which permits the reconstruction of "extinct" population cohorts from a series of annual death statistics. Estimates of the total population by single year of age and of sex-color groups by five-year age groups are compared with the 1960 census. With some exceptions, the data for whites show remarkable correspondence; the tally for nonwhites developed from death records falls considerably short of the census count, indicating a greater overstatement of age in the latter source.     

Analysis of the process and characteristics of China's population aging]

The author projects three stages of population aging in China to the year 2040, based on 1982 census data. It is estimated that by the third stage (2025-2040), 25 percent of the population will be aged 65 and over. Two characteristics of China's population aging are emphasized: the speed of the process relative to other countries and the proportion of aged relative to developed countries.     

中国第六次人口普查:经验与启示

近一两年来,各机构、组织、刊物举办的有关第六次人口普查的各种研讨会、论坛相当频繁,国内外学者、各部门和各级别的政府官员在各种刊物、网络媒体上发表的有关中国第六次人口普查的文章数不胜数。《人口研究》编辑部一年前曾经组织了一期论坛2010年第六次全国人口普查:挑战与展望,时隔一年,在第六次人口普查刚刚结束之时,再次就第六次人口普查的有关问题举办论坛进行讨论。第六次人口普查可谓当前中国人口研究和实际工作的焦点、热点、难点。社会各界对第六次人口普查也充满了期待。本次论坛邀请了来自国家统计局(作为主管全国人口普查工作的政府部门)、北京市统计局(作为实际工作部门)和中国人民大学(作为研究部门)的专家学者,就我国第六次人口普查在哪些方面进行了改进和改革、第六次人口普查在试点和登记工作中存在的困难和问题,以及第六次人口普查的经验和启示进行讨论。     

中国2000年人口普查的几个问题研究

本文首先指出,中国２０００年的人口普查,是中国人口普查所而临的首次世纪之交的人口普查,因此,是一次具有重要时代意义的人口普查。论文着重对人口普查资料的应用与发展,人口普查资料的发布,以及人口普查资料发布的规范与管理问题,进行了深入讨论。指出,人口普查资料的发布,应包括重要国情指标的发布,并强调国情指标的发布,应由国家统计局纳入统一规范与管理。     

Further research in theories of population being carried out]

The 2nd Chinese Scientific Symposium on Theories of Population was held in Chengdu, Sichuan, on December 7-13, 1979. The symposium was jointly sponsored by the Department of Family Planning of the Chinese Central Government, Chinese Academy of Sociology, Sichuan Provincial Revolutionary Committee (SPRC), and the Institute of Population Theories of the Chinese People's University (IPT). There were 255 attendants, representing 60 academic institutions, 14 scientific research organizations and 31 provincial, municipal, and autonomous regional departments of family planning. The main theme of the meeting was "Population Problems and Their Solutions Facing the Four Modernizations in China." 147 papers were read at the meeting. The meeting opened with a welcoming speech by Comrade Liu Haiquan, Vice-Chairman of SPRC, who pointed out the challenge Chinese family planners would face in advocating the 1 child family policy. Long speeches were made by Comrade Chen Dao who stressed the training of workers for Chinese population research and by Comrade Du Xinyuan (secretary of SPRC) who summarized results on recent family planning efforts in Sichuan. During the meeting, based on their contents, the papers were divided into 7 groups for separate discussions: 1) population development in the socialistic society, 2) relationship between population and economic developments and between population control and the 4 modernizations in China, 3) possible population problems in China, their nature, etiology and methods of solution, 4) population policies and family planning in China, 5) trends in population development and population planning in China, 6) problems of population distribution in China, and 7) development of population theories in China during the past 30 years. The meeting discussions were summarized by Comrade Liu Zheng of IPT who noted that there were 84 more attendants and 110 more papers in this meeting than the first held in 1978.     

Mayors accept the population challenge

The Commission of Population (Popcom), together with the Philippine Ministry of Local Government ond the National Economic and Development Authority devised a multiagency project entitled "Population, Local Development and Local Administration." Expected to improve the capabilities of mayors in fulfilling their new roles, the project called for holding consultative conferences with town mayors as participants. From March to november 1985, the sponsoring agencies conducted 12 consultative conferences for 281 municipal mayors and 13 representatives throughout the country. Mayors learned that they are empowered to implement the local population program and that the population workers, being local coordinators of the population program, should be reporting to them. The mayors' feedback given at the conferences made some officials realize that there are local government units that may not be able to fully absorb the full-time outreach workers. To help implement population programs, the mayors suggested fiscal reforms. Overall, the conferences gave the mayors a sense of importance.     

4th International Population Conference: drawing the community into population programs

Summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of the (1978) 4th International Population Conference: "Expanding Rural and Urban Community Participation in Population Programs," sponsored by the World Population Society and the Population Center Foundation, and held in the Philippines. The 2 main concerns were finding ways of involving people in rural villages and urban communities in population programs, and fostering the sharing of ideas and experiences for the benefit of program administrators. Topics covered by the conference and reviewed here were organization and action for community participation; relating population and family planning to other services and the relevant personnel; role of women and women's organizations; involvement of youth; distribution of family planning information, techniques, and supplies; and new ideas and approaches. The resolutions of the delegates and other recommendations are also reviewed.     

The Philippine population program under the Aquino administration

3 views of the Philippine Population Program under the Aquino government are presented: the first states the government's position on population programs and the next 2 criticize that position. Issued by the Commission on Population (POPCOM) in early 1987, the first statement establishes the government's stance on population programs. It explains that the 1987 Philippine Constitution reaffirms the government's commitment to the ultimate goal of the Population Program: the improvement of the quality of life in a just and humane society. The statement explains the constitutional guarantees, policy principles, and policy strategies concerning population. The next view presented is an excerpt from Alejandro N. Herrin's paper entitled "Population, Health and Education: Policy Initiatives Under the Aquino Administration." In it, Herrin explains that after 1 year of silence, POPCOM finally issued a policy statement. The statement, however, is marked by ambiguity, avoiding an explicit mention of a policy to moderate fertility. Furthermore, the statement fails to clarify the government's position on 2 basic issues: whether or not an acceptable economic and social development can be achieved within a reasonable time without a moderation of the current high fertility and population growth, and whether or not the government is justified in sponsoring a program to moderate fertility and population growth. The 3rd view presented in the document is that of Virginia A. Miralao. In her essay "Population Policies, Family Planning Programs, and Women's Reproductive Rights," Miralao explains that the current population program -- which directly affects the lives of women -- has virtually excluded women in its planning. Moreover, since Aquino came into power, the Catholic church has gained great influence and has opposed family planning programs.     

香港人口普查数据开发使用模式对大陆的借鉴意义

人口普查是一次规模空前的国情国力大调查 ,投入了大量人力物力 ,取得了全面翔实的人口社会经济信息。如何开发利用这些得来不易的宝贵资料 ,牵扯到人口普查资料的管理、使用方式的界定、资料的开发模式以及相应的法律建设等一系列问题。香港在人口普查数据开发使用上的信息提供、法律建设、实际操作的规范性管理上积累了一定的经验 ,可供我们借鉴和学习。     

On the role played by household registration materials in China's 1982 population census]

The author examines the relationship between the 1982 census and the population registration system in China. Because the household registration data are so complete (they include data on permanent and temporary residence, births, deaths, and migration), they were used as a starting point for census taking. In order for the census to take advantage of household registrations, the registration data were reviewed and corrected. This both reduced the cost of taking the census and improved the quality of the registration data.     

1990 censuses to increase use of automation

This article summarizes information from selected reports presented at the 12th Population Census Conference. Ward reports that plans for the 1990 census in many countries of Asia and the Pacific call for increased use of automation, with applications ranging from the use of computer-generated maps of enumeration areas and optical mark readers for data processing to desktop publishing and electronic mail for disseminating the results. Recent advances in automation offer opportunities for improved accuracy and speed of census operations while reducing the need for clerical personnel. Most of the technologies discussed at the 12th Population Census are designed to make the planning, editing, processing, analysis, and publication of census data more reliable and efficient. However, technology alone cannot overcome high rates of illiteracy that preclude having respondents complete the census forms themselves. But it enables even China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan - the countries with huge population and limited financial resources - to make significant improvements in their forthcoming censuses.     

Retrospect and prospect of China's population

This discussion of the population of China covers the reproductive pattern and fertility rate, the death pattern and mortality, age-sex structure of the population, population and employment, urbanization, migration, and the aging of the population. During the 1949-83 period, China almost doubled her population with an annual natural growth rate of 19/1000. China's reproductive pattern developed from early childbearing, short birth spacing and many births to later childbearing, longer birth spacing and fewer births. China's total fertility rate (TFR) was 5.8 in 1950 and 2.1 in 1983 with an annual decrease of 3%. The annual national income grew at a rate of 7.1%, while the annual growth rate of population 1.9% from 1950-82. Consequently, the national income per capita increased from 50 yuan in 1950 to 338 yuan in 1982. The major factor responsible for the changes is the remarkable decline in the rural fertility rate. The crude death rate dropped from 27.1/1000 in 1963 to 7.1 in 1983 and the infant mortality rate from 179.4/1000 live births in 1936 to 36.6 in 1981. There was also a significant change in the causes of death. Population aged 0-14 in China account for 33.6%, 15-49 for 51.3%, and 50 and over for 15.1% of the total population. China is in the process of transition from an expansive to a stationary population. The age-dependency ratio declined from 68.6% in 1953 and 79.4% in 1964 to 62.6% in 1982. Sex ratios recorded in the 3 population censuses are 105.99 in 1953, 105.45 in 1964, and 105.46 in 1982. Employment in both collective and individual economies did not expand until 1978. Sectoral, occupational, and industrial structures of population started to change rationally with the adjustment and reform of economic management system in 1978. The strategic stress on the employment of China's economically active population should be shifted from farming to diversified economy and urban industry and commerce, from sectors of industrial-agricultural production to those of non-material production, and from expansion of employment to the rise of employment efficiency. The proportion of urban population in China accounted for 20.8% in 1982 with an annual growth rate of 4% during the 1949-82 period. The 1982 population census reveals that 94.4% of China's population resides on the southeast side of Aihui-Tengchong Line. Compared with the statistics in 1953, there was no notable change of the unbalanced population distribution on each side of the Line over the last 50 years. China is comparatively young in its population age structure. 1982 census data show that there were 49.29 million people at age 65 and over in 1982, representing 4.91% of the whole population. It is estimated from the age composition of 1982 and age-specific mortality rate of 1981 that there will be 88 million elderly persons by 2000, 150 million by 2020, and about 300 million as a maximum around 2040.