A census is an official, systematic process that counts and collects detailed information about every member of a given population at a specific point in time. Governments and designated agencies conduct censuses to obtain a comprehensive snapshot of the population’s demographic, economic, social, and housing characteristics. Governments use the resulting data to inform policy decisions, allocate public funds, plan for infrastructural development, and shape socio-economic programs that aim to improve citizens’ quality of life. Researchers, businesses, and community planners rely on this extensive data to analyze trends, forecast needs, and develop strategies for growth and public service delivery. Historically, censuses originated in ancient civilizations. For instance, the Romans used censuses to assess taxable property and to register citizens for military conscription, establishing a system that provided essential administrative information to the state. Over time, th...
...so, why ask why?