Scotland and Saudi Arabia Nations Population Census Records - Research Paper Example

Introduction A census is an expression referring to a survey of each and every person and households in a given country. It usually makes available the important information to businesses, governments and also the community at large. For example, in England and Wales, the next census is scheduled for March 2011. It has been a world renowned practice for governments to collect information about their people. Some governments like Chinese and Babylonian conducted a population census for the major purposes of taxation and military needs. To build pyramids, the Egyptian government would conduct a census so as to plan for people to be involved besides the need to redistribute land due to the yearly flooding of river Nile. Censuses can be traced back to the times when Romans and Greeks would do this task even before Christ was born. Men in the empire of Rome would be ordered to return to their places of origin so that the exercise would be undertaken. (ons.gov.uk, 2008) This study is set out to discuss the nations of Scotland and Saudi Arabia with specific focus on population census records. A comparison will be done and the befitting answer to the various tasks will be provided regarding this. In every scenario Scottish census records will be looked at first before proceeding to Saudi Arabia. Scottish Census Tables Table 1 percentage Grossed House- of all number holds house- of house- in holds holds sample (000s) (number)                 Total number of households 100 24,890 7,473 Size of household One person 28 7,000 2,026 Two persons 35 8,790 2,661 Three persons 16 4,090 1,173 Four persons 14 3,430 1,066 Five persons 5 1,140 378 Six persons 1 290 110 Seven persons 0 100 41 Eight persons 0 40 14 Nine or more persons 0 10 4 (ons.gov.uk, 2008) The information from the displayed table may be of help to private researchers who may want to determine the average number of persons each family has in Scotland and also determine the trends in the changes of family size to tell whether they are diminishing, stagnated or increasing in terms of persons per household. This information would also be important to other stake holders like the Health Ministry to come up with conclusions on family planning issues. Table 2 Composition of household Percentage of all households Grossed number of households (000s) Households in sample number   One adult 28 6,990 2,022   Retired households mainly   dependent on state pensions1 7 1,620 471   Other retired households 6 1,590 453   Non-retired households 15 3,780 1,098   One man 12 3,110 854   Aged under 65 9 2,320 608   Aged 65 and over 3 790 246   One woman 16 3,880 1,168   Aged under 60 5 1,300 439   Aged 60 and over 10 2,590 729     One adult, one child 3 680 251   One man, one child 0 80 24   One woman, one child 2 600 227   One adult, two or more children 3 720 287   One man, two or more children 0 60 19   One woman, two or more children 3 670 268     One man, one woman 30 7,580 2,263   Retired households mainly   dependent on state pensions1 3 690 213   Other retired households 7 1,810 551   Non-retired households 20 5,080 1,499   Two men or two women 2 530 147     Two adults with children 21 5,120 1,678   One man one woman, one child 8 1,870 579   Two men or two women, one child 0 70 22   One man one woman, two children 9 2,270 742   Two men or two women,   two children 0 30 11   One man one woman, three children 3 650 232   Two men or two women,   three children 0 10 3   Two adults, four children 1 160 62   Two adults, five children 0 50 22   Two adults, six or more children 0 10 5     Three adults 7 1,620 372     Three adults with children 3 820 248   Three adults, one child 2 470 138   Three adults, two children 1 240 74   Three adults, three children 0 70 23   Three adults, four or more children 0 40 13                     (ons.gov.uk, 2008) Table 2 could be used by civil servants to count on dependency ratio, the number of people in the labor force and those with sustainable sources of income. This would also be helpful to the government to determine the amount of drugs, food, and other essential resources to distribute as well as future prospects on the labor force. This would be useful to private researchers where they may want to determine aggregate expenditure in households. Business individuals would as well need to know to ensure that they supply enough goods and services to the concerned. Table 3 Households with durable goods Percentage number of all households Grossed number of households (000s) Households in a sample number Car/van 74 18,450 5,552 One 44 11,020 3,342 Two 24 5,860 1,782 Three or more 6 1,570 428 Central heating, full or partial 92 22,850 6,881 Fridge-freezer or deep freezer 95 23,700 7,114 Washing machine 93 23,240 7,022 Tumble dryer 54 13,440 4,097 Dishwasher 27 6,700 2,072 Microwave oven 86 21,350 6,445 Telephone 94 23,400 7,012 Mobile phone 65 16,100 4,811 Video recorder 90 22,460 6,780 Satellite receiver3 43 10,690 3,196 Compact disc player 80 19,990 6,008 Home computer 50 12,320 3,681 Internet connection 40 9,930 2,940                 (ons.gov.uk, 2008) The information gained from table 3 would be of particular interest to insurance companies to ensure on the kind of tangible property that they can provide insurance cover for. The government would as well utilise this to review on the levels of private investment in the economy. Table 4 Number of economically active Percentage number of all households Grossed number of all households (000s) Households in sample number persons in household No person 32 8,000 2,448 One person 28 6,980 2,142 More than one person 40 9,900 2,883 Two persons 31 7,690 2,315 Three persons 7 1,630 428 Four persons 2 500 120 Five persons 0 80 19 Six or more persons 0 0 1 (ons.gov.uk, 2008) Note that the data for tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 relates to the whole of U.K since there was no specific data relating to Scotland as a state. Saudi Arabia Census Tables Table 5 Demographic profile 2004 Population (m) Total 24.6 Male 13.4 Female 11.1 Age profile (percentage of total population) 0-14 42.1 15-64 54.8 65+ 3.1 Young age dependency ratio 0.77 Old age dependency ratio 0.06 Working-age population (m) 13.5 Urbanization (percentage of total population) 88.5 Labor force (m) 6.9 (cdsi.gov.sa, 2004) Information from this table can be used by several stakeholders. For example, private researchers can use the data for purposes like determination of the population composition like the ratio of male to female, age distribution, the employment levels computed from the labor force and the total number of working-age population that is willing to take up forthcoming jobs. Levels of urban population increase would be essential to the government so that it could provide with enough basic need in cities. The government can also generally use the data to plan for the distribution of resources such as the amount dedicated for the elderly, young people and the working-age population. It can as well determine the unemployment levels so as to look into ways of creating jobs. Further still, the government can set the provision of resources depending upon the dependency rates so as to ensure savings are maintained and the desired investment levels. Levels of government expenditure in its budget would be estimated from the information about dependency ratios. Contrast between the two nations Based on the tables used tables one can pick something like dependency rates. The Scottish tables are clearer since they show the number of persons that are economically active persons, size and also composition of households. With this it is possible to actually make a clearer cut line when it comes to dependency rates. The data concentrates also on the use of samples to make a conclusion about the whole target population. The census data also puts across the dependency of a family on a female bread winner or otherwise. This is based on the 2001 census, which is the latest in Scotland. On the other hand the data for Saudi Arabia’s data it is more summarised and it puts the dependency ratio in terms of the dependent population composed of the young population and the old age dependency ratio. Further, the population of working age is given but only as a sum but not in terms of male or female. The labor force is also given. The data is based on the latest census in the kingdom which took place in the year 2004. Also form the past tendencies, there is no precise time when censuses are set to be conducted in Saudi Arabia as is the case to Scotland. History of census in the nations Why Do Governments Bother To Have Them? The first of the official censuses showed that the entire Great Britain had a population of 9 million people. Before this official count there had been differing approximations of 8 million and 11 million. The census constituted information per person which was processed by clerks by utilisation of paper and pen. Technology was first applied in 1911 and it made the process of census taking an easy task. Punch cards as well as mechanical type of counting and sorting machines were utilised in the census of 1961. The 1841’s census is vastly considered as the start of modern census. Then, the England and Wale’s Registrar General was the one responsible for the census’ organising. The head of every household was offered a form to fill in the place of every person in the concerned household on a given day. The method still stands to date and it forms the modern day’s method basis. In Scotland a local registration service was first set in 1855. An Act of parliament in the year 1860 gave the responsibility of census taking to the Scotland’s Registrar General which took place in 1861. The latest census to be carried out in Scotland was that of 2001. This census signified a completion of a two-century modern census era. According to the office for National statistics, the triggering factor to conducting censuses was the view by the demographer Malthus, Thomas. Malthus made a publication of an essay of 1978, the “Principle of Population.” His views were that the supply of food would soon be outdone by the population growth besides other resources’ supply. Subsequently, a census Act was passed by parliament in 1800 in the United Kingdom. Information per household was collected courtesy of the poor’s overseers, with the aid of tithing men, constables, head boroughs as well as other peace officers. The Act of 1800 was also used in Scotland. In Scotland the whole task was the school masters’ responsibility. (ons.gov.uk, 2008) In Saudi Arabia Kingdom’s history, there have been three censuses according to the Minister for Economy and Planning. This task, however, is usually carried out by a department in this ministry known as the General Statistics department. The latest of the three censuses was done in 2004 and the Minister stated the importance of this undertaking to the government. These essentialities include; economic, demographic as well as social features. Saudi Arabia’s first census of 1974 estimated the kingdom’s total population at 7 million. Since then, the following census took place in 1992 and the approximation was that the total population was made up of 12.3 million nationals of Saudi Arabia while the rest were non-Saudis. For instance, the government would group the population in terms of age, compute the population constituting the labor force and further those Saudi’s working in the private as well as the government sector. The department would also determine the population in the rural and urban areas. (mep.gov.sa, 2009) How expensive are the Censuses? The cost of a population census in the whole of U.K., which Scotland is part of, is about £255 million. However, it is believed that it enables in the targeting of billions of pounds of benefits in the areas it is needed most. This is since it provides invaluable information about health, population, employment, housing, transport as well as ethnic groups. (ons.gov.uk, 2008) However, as regards the Saudi Arabia’s census there is no record to show what the cost is or any quantified benefits. What good do censuses do? The government of Scotland has always set aside a single day for the purposes of carrying out a census on its population since 1801, after every decade. It involves a count of each and every person as well as households. This forms the most comprehensive and complete source of population’s information. The main importance is that it aids in painting a complete picture of the population. This helps in making comparisons of various parts of the nation as it is usually done at the same time. It allows both the local and the central governments, authorities of health and other organisations to make targets on their resources in a more effective manner as well as to plan for services such as education, health, housing and transport for the years to follow. (ons.gov.uk, 2008) As stated earlier, the Minister for Economy and Planning in Saudi Arabia as per 2004 said that a nation’s population census is very important. The census aids in matters to do with demography, economy as well as social. Under matters related to demography the department of statistics under the same ministry ramifies the whole census information in to age, urban or rural, Saudi or non-Saudi categories. The census information also is vital in setting economic indicators like GDP per capita, total employment levels among others. (mep.gov.sa, 2009) Census taking is of high importance to the government of Saudi Arabia. Through the Central Department of Statistics, the government specifically uses the data of population as a spatial data and concentrates on its distribution. Population growth is believed to have a component related to space. Thus, the data collected by way of a census is a basic information source important to make decisions about planning, effective development as well as the population monitoring, socio-economic factors and services distribution. The database created for the census data has much attribute information related to data of space by spatial referencing. With the combination of spatial components of data with the attributes that are non-spatial in the organisation ensures that the end user understands and delivers new insights as regards the patterns as well as relationships in the particular context’s data. This would not be possible if both types of data are not utilised. While, these two kinds of data are applied it enhances the process of decision making. (cdsi.gov.sa, 2009) What benefit does Saudi Arabia hope to gain from having a census? Dr. A. Alkhedheiri who is Saudi Arabia’s assistant deputy Minister for the Ministry of Town Planning and Rural affairs outlines the fact about census is very important. As a matter of fact it would assist in achieving the national spatial strategy. This strategy was approved by ministers in year 2000. It outlines the desired pattern of settlement in future as well as spatial population distribution and the services supporting. Besides the economic activities to ensure a balance in development upon the national space, the strategy was especially called for due to the rising disparity gap levels as regards development in regions. There are those regions which are growing while others are lagging and also the polarisation of the population in the urban areas which is concentrated in a few big cities due to the quick development in the nation. The government especially sought the urban population polarisation and the reduction of the interregional disparities since the sustenance of urban development wouldn’t be possible. The future challenges addressed by the strategy and which would happen in the 21st century were; how the disparities in the regions would be rectified while at the same time ensuring social equity and economic efficiency. How to achieve a hierarchy of a balanced system of cities in terms of space to be able to accommodate the expected rise in population and generate the jobs required. How to reduce the negative consequences of the usual polarisation of urban population in the major cities of Saudi Arabia- These are, Jeddah, Riyaah, and Dammam. Finally, how to achieve a balance of an urban development that is sustained and the environmental protection. Reasons why individuals may be interested in historical census records? Some of the reasons why individuals may be interested in the historical census records or information, in Scotland, may include: the search of family history and population growth among others. These records may be used to research about family history. Since there is prohibition by the Act of Statistics and Registration Service, information regarding personal census is held in a secure manner until a century is over from when such information can be made public. It is usually put under the custody of National Archives which has the records dating back to 1911. The National Archives also provides advice on any research to do with family history and also how to begin the research. Records put in to the Archives pertaining census that has taken place in the last 200 years can be utilized to obtain stories as well as facts which show the big changes that have occurred over the period. They provide a picture on how the changes in an area have occurred especially about the types and numbers of people, jobs and industries and other facts that are thought provoking. There are also records about notorious and famous people from the 19th century which are put in to the hall of fame. (ons.gov.uk, 2008) Saudi Arabia’s historical census records are used to determine the population growth. As mentioned earlier there have been three censuses only, with the first taking place in 1974, the second in 1992 and the third in 2004. It would also help to provide the concerned with the changes in demography such as population composition such as male to female ratio, urban population growth and the age group composition. On matters to do with family history and ancestry there is no mentioning of the same when it comes to the same Saudi Arabia case. (mep.gov.sa, 2009) Reference list: cdsi.gov.sa. (2009). Population Data. Retrieved august 14, 2009 http://www.cdsi.gov.sa/asp/indexeng.asp Mep.gov.sa, (2009). Population. Retrieved august 13, 2009 http://www.mep.gov.sa/index.jsp;jsessionid=F499D363591E6FB4470A458503BCCEB5. alfa?event=ArticleView&Article.ObjectID=15 Ons.gov.uk. (2008). Census. Retrieved august 13, 2009 http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/census-history/index.html Read More