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==Etymology==

==Etymology==

Latin, from censēre - to rate, assess, estimate.

Latin, from censēre - to rate, assess, estimate.

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Centur 1634]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Centur 1634]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : a count of the [[population]] and a property evaluation in early [[Rome]]

*1 : a count of the [[population]] and a property evaluation in early [[Rome]]

*3 : count, tally

*3 : count, tally

==Description==

==Description==

A '''census''' is the [[procedure]] of [[systematically]] acquiring and recording [[information]] about the members of a given [[population]]. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in [[connection]] with national population and door-to-door censuses (to be taken every 10 years according to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations United Nations] recommendations), [[agriculture]], and [[business]] censuses. The term itself comes from [[Latin]]: during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic] the census was a list that kept track of all adult [[males]] fit for military service.

A '''census''' is the procedure of [[systematically]] acquiring and recording [[information]] about the members of a given [[population]]. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in [[connection]] with national population and door-to-door censuses (to be taken every 10 years according to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations United Nations] recommendations), [[agriculture]], and [[business]] censuses. The term itself comes from [[Latin]]: during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic] the census was a list that kept track of all adult [[males]] fit for military service.

 

The census can be [[contrasted]] with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_(statistics) sampling] in which [[information]] is obtained only from a subset of a [[population]], sometimes as an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercensal_estimate Intercensal estimate]. Census [[data]] is commonly used for [[research]], [[business]] marketing, and planning as well as a base for sampling surveys. In some countries, census data is used to apportion electoral representation (sometimes controversially - e.g. see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_v._Evans Utah v. Evans]).

==Census and privacy==

==Census and privacy==

While the census provides a useful way of obtaining [[statistical]] [[information]] about a [[population]], such information can sometimes lead to [[abuses]], [[political]] or otherwise, made possible by the linking of [[individuals]]' [[identities]] to [[anonymous]] census data. This consideration is particularly important when [[individuals]]' census [[responses]] are made available in microdata form, but even aggregate-level data can result in [[privacy]] breaches when dealing with small areas and/or rare subpopulations.

While the census provides a useful way of obtaining [[statistical]] [[information]] about a [[population]], such information can sometimes lead to [[abuses]], [[political]] or otherwise, made possible by the linking of [[individuals]]' [[identities]] to [[anonymous]] census data. This consideration is particularly important when [[individuals]]' census [[responses]] are made available in microdata form, but even aggregate-level data can result in [[privacy]] breaches when dealing with small areas and/or rare subpopulations.