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Dissemination of Data in the Demographic Yearbook System:

Current approaches and Future Direction

Expert Group Meeting to Review the United Nations Demographic Yearbook System10-14 November 2003New York

Demographic and Social Statistics BranchUnited Nations Statistics Division

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Introduction

1. Content of the Demographic Yearbook (DYB)

2. Frequency of dissemination of DYB topics

3. Media of dissemination of the DYB data

4. Areas for improvement

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Content of the Demographic Yearbook

• Data • Metadata

Population statistics• Size, ~ by age and sex, etc;• Source: censuses, sample surveys, population

registers

FootnotesTechnical notesSubject-matter indexSystem of codes Vital statistics

• Live births, Late Foetal deaths, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces;

• Source: civil registration systems, sample surveys, censuses

Derived statistics• Rates, ratios, averages, percentages and other

indicators computed by UNSD

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- Degree of completeness of civil registration

C – complete (>90%)U – incomplete (<90%)…– no information 

(+) Tabulation by date of registration (vs. date of occurrence)

- Reliability of data:

Roman typeface – reliable Italic typeface - unreliable footnote (*) - provisional data  

Vital Statistics Metadata

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Regular issues .vs. Special topic issues

Demographic Yearbook Topics

• Natality• Mortality• Marriage and Divorce• Economic characteristics • Education characteristics• Social characteristics• Population ageing • International migration• Household composition• Historical supplement

• Feature one of 10 rotating special topics

• Consist of 25 general tables, published annually

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Frequency of dissemination of Special topics (1949-2003)

Topics Frequency Interval(years)

Number of years since last issue

Natality 1010 4 to 74 to 7 44Mortality 1010 1 to 71 to 7 77Marriage and divorce 55 6 to 106 to 10 1313Education characteristics 1010 1 to 71 to 7 1010Economic characteristics 88 1 to 81 to 8 99Social characteristics 99 1 to 71 to 7 1010Household composition 22 88 88International migration 22 1212 1414Population ageing 11 -- 1212Historical supplement 22 1919 66

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1. Some topics have been disseminated more frequently than others.

2. Time lag between data collection and dissemination has increased, compared to past practice, due to a variety of reasons.

3. No gaps in the time series of Special Topics except International migration, which has a 3-year gap.

Irregularities in the dissemination of Special Topics

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Media of Dissemination

Print publications• Demographic Yearbook

• Population & Vital Statistics Report

• Special regional reports

CD-ROMs Internet

DYB Master database Ad-hoc requests

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• Changes already introduced as a result of internal review• Subject-matter index is being updated • Separate volumes for regular and special topic issues, with the

latter published on CD-Rom• Special regional reports are being issued when regional

commissions convene

Areas for improvement

• Improvements being proposed• Establish and commit to a Special Topics schedule• Expand internet dissemination of DYB data and metadata• Give external users access to the Master Database • Add glossary to the Demographic Yearbook

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1. We have identified four major categories of users. Are there other users that have not been identified? If so, who are they and what are their data needs?

2. What formats and media of dissemination are best suited for the major users identified?

3. Are all topics within the regular issue of the Demographic Yearbook relevant?

4. With respect to the periodicity of Special Topics, should the Special Topics be disseminated with the same frequency?

Issues for consideration