A short introduction on the sources of demographic data sources and local context of Saudi Arabia

1. Sources of demographic
data
Dr. S. A. Rizwan, M.D.
Public Health Specialist
SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2. Learning objectives
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• At the end of this lecture you
should be able to
 Enumerate the various sources of
demographic data
 Describe the key features, merits
and demerits of the main sources
 Understand the local context
Dec 2019 2

3. Outline
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
Direct methods
• Census
• Vital registration
• Population registers
Indirect methods
• Sample surveys
• Other sources
Dec 2019 3

4. KSA demographics – 1/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 4

5. KSA demographics – 2/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 5

6. KSA demographics – 3/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 6

7. KSA demographics – 4/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 7

8. KSA demographics – 5/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
Population density in KSA 2010
Persons per sq. km of land
Dec 2019 8

9. KSA demographics – 6/6
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019
Population growth projections Population in top 20 cities, 2019
9

10. Section 1: Census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 10

11. History of census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Ancient (tax/military)
• Babylonians
• Persians
• Greeks, Romans
• Egypt – Palermo stone &
Sneferu
Dec 2019
The Palermo Stone, the fragment of the
Egyptian Royal Annals housed in Palermo,
Italy (2392–2283 BCE)
Large-scale census was taken around 2600
BCE (before Common Era) under the reign
of Sneferu
11

12. History of census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Modern type of census
• 1665 - Quebec
• 1703 - Iceland
• 1790 - US
• 1801/1841 - Britain and France –
popularised by the UN post WW2
Dec 2019 12

13. Definition of census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• “Total process of collecting,
compiling and publishing
demographic, economic and
social data pertaining at a
specified time or times, to all
persons in a country or
delimited territory” - UN
• Latin word - censere ‘assess’
Dec 2019 13

14. Features of census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Individual enumeration
• Universality
• Simultaneity
• Defined periodicity
• Precisely defined territory
• Census moment/time
• De facto/de jure
• Canvasser or household method
• Census validation surveys
Dec 2019 14

15. Uses of census – 1/3
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Basic national population data
• Also
• Trends in population growth
• Change in age and sex structure
• Cause of fertility, mortality,
migration, urbanization
• Religion and ethnic composition
• Analysis of economic development
• Future trends of population growth
• National, local, public and private
planning
Dec 2019 15

16. Uses of census – 2/3
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Useful for estimating,
calculating birth and death
rates
• Changes in the national
occupational and
industrial composition
• Levels of literacy and
educational attainments
Dec 2019 16

17. Uses of census – 3/3
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Estimating school going
population, military and economic
manpower
• Future growth of cities and
requirement of food, water,
housing and health services
• Revolutionary expansion of
economic, sociological and
demographic knowledge
Dec 2019 17

18. Information to collect
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 18

19. Example of a census form
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 19

20. Errors in census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Content errors
• Misreporting
• Age heaping
• Coverage errors
• How to evaluate errors?
• post-enumeration surveys
• data validation
• comparison with secondary
data sources
Dec 2019 20

21. Census in KSA
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Conducted in 1974, 1992, 2004 and 2010
• Latest: Population and Housing 2010*
• General Authority of Statistics, Ministry of
Economics and Planning*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/13
• The five stages of Saudi statistical work and
associated royal decrees*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%AD%D
8%A9/statistical-sector
Dec 2019 21

22. Household information in KSA census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
1. Main source of drinking water
2. Main fuel used for cooking
3. Main source of light
4. Toilet facility
5. Household conveniences
6. Whether any death in the household
7. Information on the diseased person(s)
8. Sex, age, date, and cause
9. Level of education
10. Whether currently attending any school
11. Marital status
12. Age at first marriage
13. No. of children ever born alive
14. Any live births during last 12 months
15. Work usually done during the last 12m
16. No. of months worked during the last 12m
17. Occupation (type of usual work)
18. Industry (place of usual work)
19. Employment Status
20. Reasons for usually not working
21. Living arrangements of children below 16y
Dec 2019 22

23. Individual information in KSA census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
1. Serial number of household member
2. Full name and sex of the household
member
3. Age
4. Place of birth
5. Duration of stay at the present place
6. Reason for staying in this district
7. Residence five years ago
8. Whether able to read and write
Dec 2019 23

24. Merits and demerits of census
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Complete data
• High level of accuracy
• Useful for a variety of
planning purposes
• Frame of reference for
surveys
• Costly & Time consuming
• Data quality issues (e.g. age)
• Inadequate experienced staff
• Public support issues
• Limited data compared to surveys
• Under-enumeration of vulnerable group
Dec 2019 24

25. Public awareness campaigns
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 25

26. Public awareness campaigns
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 26

27. Section 2:
Vital registration
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 27

28. History of vital registration
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• 14th century - Parish registers in churches
in Europe
• Household and individual records in
China from 1750 forward
• 19th, 20th centuries - civil or state
registration established
• Mid-eighteenth century - Scandinavian
countries had a continuous system of
registering births, deaths and marriages
• 1837 - Civil registration system in England
and Wales
• 1854 – Scotland
Dec 2019 28

29. Definition of vital registration
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Defined as the continuous, permanent,
compulsory and universal recording of
the occurrence and characteristics of
vital events
• A major source of demographic data
• Aka civil registration or vital statistics
• First and foremost - legal documents
provided by the law
Dec 2019 29

30. Features of vital registration
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Universal coverage
• Continuity
• Confidentiality
• Regular dissemination
• Sample registration
system*
• Cause of Death*
• Verbal Autopsy*
Dec 2019 30

31. Information in VR
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Countries with developed
VR are able to produce
periodic reports on vital
demographic events
• Migrations
• Deaths
• Births
• Marriages
• Divorces
• Adoptions
Dec 2019 31

32. Merits and demerits of VR
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Continous data supply
• Complementary to census
• Satisfies legal and statistical
requirements
• Verification of census
• Inaccuracies
• Incomplete data
• Poor coverage in
developing countries
• Breach of confidentiality
• Lack of public support
unless legally required
Dec 2019 32

33. VR in KSA
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Ministry of interior, civil
affairs*
Dec 2019 33

34. Section 3:
Sample surveys
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 34

35. Introduction
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Household sample surveys
provide a cheaper alternative to
censuses for timely data and a
more relevant and convenient
alternative to administrative
record systems
Dec 2019 35

36. Information in sample survey
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Socio-demographic characteristics
• Conditions of living
• Well-being
• Peoples’ activities
• Demographic characteristics
• Cultural factors which influence
behavior
• Social and economic change
• Sometimes, fringe topics such as
criminal victimization, domestic
violence
Dec 2019 36

37. Feautres of sample surveys – 1/2
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Conducted in stages
• Select the study households efficiently
• Stratified, spread over geographic
sub-areas and population sub-groups
• Clusters of study households in order
to reduce costs
• Optimally balanced sample size
Dec 2019 37

38. Feautres of sample surveys – 2/2
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Most flexible data collection method
• Can investigate almost every
demographic variable
• Key source of data on special
phenomenon, that are not given by
census and VR
• Surveys provide a basis for updating
some census information
Dec 2019 38

39. Examples of sample surveys
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• DHS program* – USAID
• Developing countries
• https://www.dhsprogram.com/
• World fertility surveys*
Dec 2019 39

40. Merits and demerits of surveys
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Flexible method
• Lower cost
• Better quality statistical
information
• More feasible to engage better
enumerators
• Cannot replace complete counts
• Sample surveys and census
complementary to each other
• Lower statistical precision
compared to census
• Possibility of errors if poorly
conducted, false reporting
Dec 2019 40

41. Sample surveys in KSA – 1/4
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
Earliest ones
• 1991 – The Saudi Arabia Child
Health Survey
• 1993 – Reproductive Pattern and
Child Survival
• 1996 – Saudia Arabia Health
Survey
Dec 2019 41

42. Sample surveys in KSA – 2/4
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Statistical Yearbook*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/193
• Methodology of the yearbook*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/uploads/
methodology_of_statistical_book_2018en.pdf
Dec 2019 42

43. Sample surveys in KSA – 3/4
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Demographic survey*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/852
• Family health survey*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/965
• Population estimates*
• https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/43
Dec 2019 43

44. Sample surveys in KSA – 4/4
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Economic surveys
• Labour surveys
• Household expenses surveys
Dec 2019 44

45. Section 3:
Other sources
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 45

46. Population registers
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Details about each individual are
continuously recorded.
• Scandinavian countries and some
other European countries
• Very good account of the
contribution of migration in
population change
• Disadvantages - infringement on
individual liberty
Dec 2019 46

47. International organisations – 1/2
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• UN
• https://population.un.org/wpp/Graphs/DemographicProfiles/
• Demographic Year Book
• Population and Vital Statistics Report
quarterly
• Human Development Report*
• World bank*
• https://data.worldbank.org/country/saudi-arabia
• World Development Report
• WHO – Annual World Health Statistics*
Dec 2019 47

48. International organisations – 2/2
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• UNESCO - Statistical Year Book,
education, literacy, school attendance
• FAO - Production Year Book
• ILO - Labor Statistics Year Book
• CIA – World Fact Book*
• Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD)
• Eurostat
• United States Census Bureau
International Data Base
• Human Mortality Database
Dec 2019 48

49. Local/national organisations
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Social security schemes like
unemployment allowance, old age
pension, maternity allowance
• Insurance companies
• Electoral lists
• Telephone subscribe’s list
• Tax payers’ list
Dec 2019 49

50. Other types of data in KSA
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Statistics of government services
• Hajj Statistics*
• And many more by GASTAT*
Dec 2019 50

51. Commercial/Private agencies
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Commonly government agencies are
involved in generating demographic data
• But private agencies also provide such data
for market research purposes
• https://www.euromonitor.com/saudi-arabia-in-2030-the-
future-demographic/report*
• https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-
population-statistics-2018/
• http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/saudi-
arabia-population/
• https://knoema.com/atlas/Saudi-Arabia
• https://www.esri.com/data/esri_data
Dec 2019 51

52. Purchasing power map
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 52

53. Section 4:
Local context
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – RiyadhDec 2019 53

54. Challenges for KSA
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Environmental factors – high temperature,
house-to-house survey
• Desert environment
• Mobile/nomadic population
• Public acceptance for surveys
• Importance given to privacy
• High turnover of expat population
• Illegal immigrants
• Census not conducted periodically
• Lack of experienced people
• Cultural factors – male/female
Dec 2019 54

55. Take home messages
Demographic data sources SBPM, Joint Program – Riyadh
• Census is the most important and
comprehensive source of demographic
data
• Vital registration systems and surveys
are complementary to census
• All sources are essential for
administration and research
• You don’t ‘count’ if you don’t get
‘counted’
Dec 2019 55

56. Thank you!
Email your queries to sarizwan1986@outlook.com
Thanks a ‘7.746 billion’!
Email your queries to rabdulkader@moh.gov.sa
Dec 2019 56