Demographics

Demography is the statistical study of living human populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic living population, i.e., one that changes over time or space. It encompasses the study of the size, structure, and distribution of these populations, and spatial and/or temporal changes in them in response to birth, migration, aging, income, housing, ethnicity (race and culture), religion, education, death, etc.

Demographic analysis can be applied to whole societies, communities, even institutions like a local church. Demography is usually considered a field of sociology. However, in order to fully understand the ministry context in complex culture, both anthropological and sociological research tools are essential. Demographics help to give us an overview of the particular complexities of the community where any single local church is ministering. Each ministry context has its own specific mixture and density of cultural factors. Each church has its own unique place with its own singular ministry challenges.

Data and Methods

There are two types of data collection — direct and indirect — with several different methods of each type. Indirect methods are used where complete data are not available. Therefore, we will address briefly only the direct method.

Direct data come from vital statistics registries that track all births and deaths as well as certain changes in legal status such as marriage, divorce, and migration (registration of place of residence). In developed countries with good registration systems (such as the United States and much of Europe), registry statistics are the best method for estimating the number of births and deaths.

A census is the other common direct method of collecting demographic data. Demographic thoughts can be traced back to antiquity, and are present in many civilizations and cultures, like Ancient Greece, Rome, India and China. Even in Luke’s gospel we read how Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem was occasioned by a census by Caesar Augustus.

A census is usually conducted by a national government and attempts to enumerate as many people in a country as possible. However, in contrast to vital statistical data, which are typically collected continuously and summarized on an annual basis, a census typically occurs only every 10 years or so. Analyses are usually conducted after a census is taken to estimate how much over or undercounting took place. These compare the gender ratios from the census data to those estimated from natural values and mortality data.

However, a census does more than just count people. It typically collects information about families and households in addition to individual characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, literacy/education, employment status, occupation, home ownership, or geographical location. It may also collect data on migration (place of birth or previous residence), language, religion, nationality (or ethnicity or race), and citizenship. In countries in which the vital registration system may be incomplete, the census is also used as a direct source of information about fertility and mortality; for example the censuses of the People's Republic of China gather information on births and deaths that occurred in the 18 months immediately preceding the census.

For our purposes, we will be using demographics to help us to understand the context in which we are ministering. Beyond that, we want to be on the lookout for areas of need in the community so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in their midst. For that reason, cultural differences, economic status, age, birth rate, race, educational attainment, religious affiliations and other similar features will be our focus.

You may need to tease out various combinations of the raw data in order to gather information relevant to your project. It is extremely important that you record the demographic data accurately. Include data that is verifiable and precise, so scrupulous results can be drawn. This will help you to be able to repeat it later: a) when it counts in your church, organization or the agency you are working with, and b) if you wish to use your current findings as a baseline for later updated.