Definition of Demography

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There are various definitions for Demography from various perspective and point of view. It is part of Human Geography and can be defined as:-
  • According to the Oxford Dictionary Demography is the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.
  • According to the Webster Dictionary Demography is the statistical study of human populations especially with reference to size and density, distribution, and vital statistics.
  • Again Cambridge Dictionary has defined demography the study of changes in the number of births, marriages, deaths, etc. in a particular area during a period of time.

So, Demography is the study of the size, composition and distribution of human population across space and the process through which populations change.

** ‘Big three’ phenomenon of demography are :

  1. Births
  2. Deaths and 
  3. Migration 
These three factors are jointly producing population stability or change.

Demography is the scientific study of human populations primarily with respect to their size, their structure and their development; it takes into account the quantitative aspects of their general characteristics. -Demopadia

Definition of Demography provided by the Three distinguished demographers are given as follows:-

  1. In its simplest definition, demography is the scientific study of human populations. - Peter McDonald
  2. Demography is the scientific study of population.- Emily Grundy 
  3. The statistical study of human populations (structure and change), the factors behind their dynamics and the consequences of population change.- Jacques Vallin


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