Census Coverage Evaluation and Demographic Analysis in Canada

While Statistics Canada is charged with maintaining highly accurate population figures some degree of coverage error always exists in population censuses. Statistics Canada must therefore correctly adjust population figures for the census undercount of those people overlooked in the census-taking process. For the first time following the 1991 Census Statistics Canada directly incorporated into its population estimation program census counts adjusted for coverage error. Quarterly estimates of population produced since then by the Population Estimates Section of Demography Division have also been fully adjusted for population undercount. The authors review the range of procedures developed by demographers and statisticians which have helped in evaluating the coverage of census data in Canada. Most methods can be grouped as involving either demographic analysis or case by case matching procedures and record linkage techniques. Possible avenues for future research are suggested. Much could be gained by giving greater emphasis to demographic analysis in estimating census coverage especially in improving estimates for specific age and sex groups.