abstract
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Demography is the study of human populations and how they change in size and composition through fertility, mortality, and migration. Demographic methods are the descriptive and modeling techniques used to measure and understand population size, change, composition, and distribution. Population scientists draw data from censuses, vital statistics systems, administrative records, and social surveys. Demographic models can estimate population processes for nations with incomplete censuses or vital statistics systems, adjust for inaccurate data (such as age misreporting), and forecast population trajectories into the future. The information produced with demographic methods informs researchers and policymakers about current and future demands for education, employment, housing, healthcare, and retirement funding.