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3228.0.55.001 - Population Estimates: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2009  
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/06/2009   
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Contents >> Overview >> Introduction

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The concept of a population can vary, depending on the specific situation at hand, the purpose for which the count or estimate is needed, and the methods used to collect or estimate data for that population. For example, a population could be counted in terms of:

  • persons actually present in a particular location at a particular point in time (e.g. Census counts by place of enumeration)
  • persons who usually live in a particular location at a particular point in time, irrespective of their actual location (e.g. Census counts by place of usual residence or estimates of the resident population)
  • persons with a legal right to reside in a particular location, irrespective of their usual or actual location (i.e. a 'legal population')
  • persons with an enduring economic link to a particular location, irrespective of their actual location (i.e. an 'economic population')
  • persons who obtain particular goods and/or services in a particular location, irrespective of their usual or actual location (i.e. a 'service population').

1.2 This manual focusses on the concepts, data sources and estimation and compilation methods behind Australia's official estimates of the resident population, which are in turn based on counts derived from the five-yearly Census of Population and Housing. Other types of population concepts are discussed in paragraphs 1.35 to 1.47.

1.3 For additional information on population concepts, see Information Paper: Population Concepts, 2008 (cat. no. 3107.0.55.006).





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