Methods in demography

Pavlos Baltas

Chapter 20 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 2026, pp 142-150 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Demographic methods provide facts about the size and structure of human populations and the determinants that influence demographic change through the analysis of demographic data. The population is a critical factor and the most important actor in the development and implementation of strategies to achieve social, economic, and territorial cohesion. By relying on reliable sources of population data, analysing the current size and age structure of a population, and estimating the future dynamics of fertility, mortality, and mobility, demographic methods enable societies to meet the challenges of demographic change. From the depopulation of rural areas to the impact of an ageing population on healthcare and the labour force, demographic analysis is critical to designing social policies that promote cohesion, prosperity, and well-being in an ever-changing world. Demographic methods are also used by other social science disciplines (e.g., sociology, economics, anthropology, etc.). In this entry, we provide an overview of the most important aspects of methods in demography.

Keywords: Demography; Demographic Analysis; Demographic Methods; Fertility; Mortality; Population; Period And Cohort Analysis; Mortality Tables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803921297
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781803921303.00028 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:21471_20

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().