1 Dissemination of Data in the Demographic Yearbook System: Current approaches and Future Direction Expert Group Meeting to Review the United Nations Demographic Yearbook System November 2003 New York Demographic and Social Statistics Branch United Nations Statistics Division

2 Introduction 1.Content of the Demographic Yearbook (DYB) 2.Frequency of dissemination of DYB topics 3.Media of dissemination of the DYB data 4.Areas for improvement

3 Content of the Demographic Yearbook DataMetadata Population statistics Size, ~ by age and sex, etc; Source: censuses, sample surveys, population registers Footnotes Technical notes Subject-matter index System of codes Vital statistics Live births, Late Foetal deaths, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces; Source: civil registration systems, sample surveys, censuses Derived statistics Rates, ratios, averages, percentages and other indicators computed by UNSD

4 - Degree of completeness of civil registration C – complete (>90%) U – incomplete (<90%) …– no information (+) Tabulation by date of registration (vs. date of occurrence) - Reliability of data: Roman typeface – reliable Italic typeface - unreliable footnote (*) - provisional data Vital Statistics Metadata

5 Regular issues.vs. Special topic issues Demographic Yearbook Topics Natality Mortality Marriage and Divorce Economic characteristics Education characteristics Social characteristics Population ageing International migration Household composition Historical supplement Feature one of 10 rotating special topics Consist of 25 general tables, published annually

6 Frequency of dissemination of Special topics ( ) TopicsFrequencyInterval (years) Number of years since last issue Natality10 4 to 7 4 Mortality10 1 to 7 7 Marriage and divorce5 6 to Education characteristics10 1 to 7 10 Economic characteristics8 1 to 8 9 Social characteristics9 1 to 7 10 Household composition288 International migration21214 Population ageing1-12 Historical supplement2196

7 1.S ome topics have been disseminated more frequently than others. 2.Time lag between data collection and dissemination has increased, compared to past practice, due to a variety of reasons. 3.No gaps in the time series of Special Topics except International migration, which has a 3-year gap. Irregularities in the dissemination of Special Topics

8 Media of Dissemination Print publications Demographic Yearbook Population & Vital Statistics Report Special regional reports CD-ROMs Internet DYB Master database Ad-hoc requests

9 Changes already introduced as a result of internal review Subject-matter index is being updated Separate volumes for regular and special topic issues, with the latter published on CD-Rom Special regional reports are being issued when regional commissions convene Areas for improvement Improvements being proposed Establish and commit to a Special Topics schedule Expand internet dissemination of DYB data and metadata Give external users access to the Master Database Add glossary to the Demographic Yearbook

We have identified four major categories of users. Are there other users that have not been identified? If so, who are they and what are their data needs? 2. 2.What formats and media of dissemination are best suited for the major users identified? 3. 3.Are all topics within the regular issue of the Demographic Yearbook relevant? 4. 4.With respect to the periodicity of Special Topics, should the Special Topics be disseminated with the same frequency? Issues for consideration