Demographic data in Australia

Abstract

The conventional study of demographic issues typically focuses on the components of population, and of population change over time. The data required for measuring major demographic events include measures of births, union formation and dissolution, deaths and migration. Population enumeration has a long history in Australia. Vital (or civil) registration and routine censuses were collected following European settlement, providing important information on demographic events in the Australian colonies. To the extent that demography measures the dynamics of population, these data collections remain important sources of population data that are essential to demographic enquiry. However, demogra..