demography

American  

[dih-mog-ruh-fee] / dɪˈmɒg rə fi /

noun

1. the science of vital and social statistics, as of the births, deaths, diseases, marriages, etc., of populations.

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demography British  

/ dɪˈmɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. the scientific study of human populations, esp with reference to their size, structure, and distribution

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demography Cultural  

1. The quantitative study of human populations. Demographers study subjects such as the geographical distribution of people, birth and death rates, socioeconomic status, and age and sex distributions in order to identify the influences on population growth, structure, and development.

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Other Word Forms

• demographer noun
• demographist noun

Etymology

Origin of demography

First recorded in 1875–80; demo- + -graphy

Example Sentences

But Berlin will soon decide what sort of destiny it wants to craft for itself in light of its demography.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Continued drops in immigration could have long-term implications for California, said Dowell Myers, a professor of policy planning and demography at USC.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

Gianni Pes, a medical doctor from the University of Sassari, presented the findings at a demography conference in Montpellier in 1999—to the bemusement of many in the audience.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 20, 2024

Declining fertility rates are not just about people delaying parenthood, but about a growing trend of people not having children, says Brienna Perelli-Harris, professor of demography at the University of Southampton.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024

Henige stumbled across a seminar on Indian demography taught by Denevan in 1976.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• anthropology