Population Census of Bangladesh 1974
Bangladesh, 1974
BANGLADESH BUREAU OF STATISTICS
Identification
idno
BGD-BBS-BPC-1974-v01
Title
Population Census of Bangladesh 1974
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | BGD |
Abstract
The first population census of Bangladesh taken in February, 1974 marks the one-century history of census-taking in the area now comprising Bangladesh. The first population census in this region, along with other parts of India-Bangladesh-Pakistan subcontinent was taken under the British rule in the year 1872. The next census was held in 1881. Since then, the census of population has been taken decennially in the year ending with '1'S. The eleventh decennial census of population in this order was though due in 1971 could not materi1ise due to the war of liberation. Bangladesh as a sovereign state, therefore, conducted its first population census during the period February 10728, 1974 with March 1, 1974 as the reference date. The method of enumeration adopted was closer to a DE FACTO. system.
So far three Bulletins and, reports on 'Village Population Statistics' one for each of 19 districts have been published providing data of the 1974 population census. Bulletin 1 contained provisional figures of population by, sex for localities down to Sub-Divisions. Bulletin 2 provided final figures of population by sex and urban rural classification, area and density for localities down to Thanas.
It also provided some characteristics of population viz., population by three broad age groups of 0-4, 5-9, 10 and over, literacy, civilian labour force, agricultural labour force and number of households for localities down to Sub-Divisions. Bulletin 3 contained Union Population Statistics. It presented data on population by .sex, literacy and households for localities down to Unions and for separate urban areas. Village Population Statistics Reports contained data on area, population by sex, literacy and households for localities down to the lowest administrative unit-Village.
The data published in these Bulletins and Village Population Statistics Reports were drawn from Tally Sheets prepared by the enumerators for each census block after completing enumeration.
This Tally Sheet provided a compilation of data separately for males and females, on' items such as population, age groups of 0-4 and 10 and over, literates, labour force classified by working and looking, for work, and cultivators.
Present report ' contains 24 tables giving main population characteristics by some important cross-classifications for localities down to Districts. The first two tables were taken from Census Bulletin 2 which provided the final population figures on the basis of a 100% count and processing. The remaining tables were obtained by processing samples of enumeration slips. Enumeration slips of 5% rural enumeration blocks and 20% urban enumeration blocks were selected through systematic 'sampling. COCENTS package programmer was adopted' for tabulation. Four sets 'of' raising 'factors were used, each separately -for urban, rural. and for males and females.The weights were corrected to only two places of decimal and hence the, blown up totals differed slightly from the Bulletin 2 totals and also varied between the tables of this report brif never exceeding the limit of 1500. Given various limitations of the data, the 'results should be deemed consistent at the thousandsievel. The characteristics data published in this report replace those published earlier in 'Census Bulletin 2. Characteristics data on literacy, labour force and agricultural labour published in Bulletin 2 are slightly different from those presented in this report owing to validation edit of enumeration slips and adoption of sampling in processing. A Post-Enumeration Check was conducted during April, 1974 with a view to estimating the coverage error 'of the census. Owing to, lack, of proper storage facilities the matching operations ran into difficulties and the scope of the check became limited. An estimate of under-enumeration based on only 59 sample enumeration blocks was possible. This provided estimated under-enumeration of 19.3% for four major cities, and 6.5%. for the rest of country.
The enumerated population of Bangladesh on March 1, 1974 could thus be adjusted to 76.398 million. Due to the small number of blocks matched, the results of the Post-Enumeration Check remained of limited value.
The Master Plan of 1974 census of poii1ation envisaged a combined operation of (i) a census of housing in November, 1973, (ii) a census of establishments simultaneously w1thttHhousing census and (iii) a census of population in February, 1974. Another census of Handloom Industries had to be taken in July, 1973 with a very short notice. A sample survey called "Retrospective Survey of Fertility and Mortality" was also conducted during April, 1974 in conjunction with the Post-Enumeration Check of the census. A report on the retrospective survey named "Report on the 1974 Bangladesh Retrospective Survey of Fertility and Mortality" was published jointly by the Population Bureau, Ministry of. Overseas Development, Government of the U.K. and Census Commission, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh in January, 1977. District Census Reports, one for each of the 19 districts, containing census data, general statistics collected from other sources will also be published. An Administrative Report highlighting the census operation and management, the methodology followed in finalization of estimates and records of other aspects of census will similarly be releaed.
The population census is by far the largest single field operation It covers not only the entire geographical area but also each individual of the country, and it is beyond the capability of the Census Organization to undertake the enumeration themselves. The 1974 population census, therefore, engaged more than 100,000 enumerators and other supervisory field personnel outside the organization. The enumerators were Selected mainly from local Primary and Secondary School teachers and, supervisory personnel from District and Local Administration. But for their jatriotic Zeal and wilful co-operation, the completion of such a nation-wide task was impossible. The main burden of field enumeration fell on the district administration with Deputy Commissioner as head. Our grateful thanks are due to all of them.
Ultimate success of any census operation, however, depends on the co-operation of the entire nation. The 1974 Population Census would not have been successfully concluded but for the willing co-operation accorded by the entire nation. This willing co-operation of our nation is thankfully acknowledged.
The Census was organised and conducted at a time when the country was in the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation 'after the devastating war of liberation of the country. As such all the officers and staff had to woik hard compared to normal situations. Therefore, hard work involved 'at different stages for the entire personnel of Census Organisation is appreciated although not mentioned individually.
So far three Bulletins and, reports on 'Village Population Statistics' one for each of 19 districts have been published providing data of the 1974 population census. Bulletin 1 contained provisional figures of population by, sex for localities down to Sub-Divisions. Bulletin 2 provided final figures of population by sex and urban rural classification, area and density for localities down to Thanas.
It also provided some characteristics of population viz., population by three broad age groups of 0-4, 5-9, 10 and over, literacy, civilian labour force, agricultural labour force and number of households for localities down to Sub-Divisions. Bulletin 3 contained Union Population Statistics. It presented data on population by .sex, literacy and households for localities down to Unions and for separate urban areas. Village Population Statistics Reports contained data on area, population by sex, literacy and households for localities down to the lowest administrative unit-Village.
The data published in these Bulletins and Village Population Statistics Reports were drawn from Tally Sheets prepared by the enumerators for each census block after completing enumeration.
This Tally Sheet provided a compilation of data separately for males and females, on' items such as population, age groups of 0-4 and 10 and over, literates, labour force classified by working and looking, for work, and cultivators.
Present report ' contains 24 tables giving main population characteristics by some important cross-classifications for localities down to Districts. The first two tables were taken from Census Bulletin 2 which provided the final population figures on the basis of a 100% count and processing. The remaining tables were obtained by processing samples of enumeration slips. Enumeration slips of 5% rural enumeration blocks and 20% urban enumeration blocks were selected through systematic 'sampling. COCENTS package programmer was adopted' for tabulation. Four sets 'of' raising 'factors were used, each separately -for urban, rural. and for males and females.The weights were corrected to only two places of decimal and hence the, blown up totals differed slightly from the Bulletin 2 totals and also varied between the tables of this report brif never exceeding the limit of 1500. Given various limitations of the data, the 'results should be deemed consistent at the thousandsievel. The characteristics data published in this report replace those published earlier in 'Census Bulletin 2. Characteristics data on literacy, labour force and agricultural labour published in Bulletin 2 are slightly different from those presented in this report owing to validation edit of enumeration slips and adoption of sampling in processing. A Post-Enumeration Check was conducted during April, 1974 with a view to estimating the coverage error 'of the census. Owing to, lack, of proper storage facilities the matching operations ran into difficulties and the scope of the check became limited. An estimate of under-enumeration based on only 59 sample enumeration blocks was possible. This provided estimated under-enumeration of 19.3% for four major cities, and 6.5%. for the rest of country.
The enumerated population of Bangladesh on March 1, 1974 could thus be adjusted to 76.398 million. Due to the small number of blocks matched, the results of the Post-Enumeration Check remained of limited value.
The Master Plan of 1974 census of poii1ation envisaged a combined operation of (i) a census of housing in November, 1973, (ii) a census of establishments simultaneously w1thttHhousing census and (iii) a census of population in February, 1974. Another census of Handloom Industries had to be taken in July, 1973 with a very short notice. A sample survey called "Retrospective Survey of Fertility and Mortality" was also conducted during April, 1974 in conjunction with the Post-Enumeration Check of the census. A report on the retrospective survey named "Report on the 1974 Bangladesh Retrospective Survey of Fertility and Mortality" was published jointly by the Population Bureau, Ministry of. Overseas Development, Government of the U.K. and Census Commission, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh in January, 1977. District Census Reports, one for each of the 19 districts, containing census data, general statistics collected from other sources will also be published. An Administrative Report highlighting the census operation and management, the methodology followed in finalization of estimates and records of other aspects of census will similarly be releaed.
The population census is by far the largest single field operation It covers not only the entire geographical area but also each individual of the country, and it is beyond the capability of the Census Organization to undertake the enumeration themselves. The 1974 population census, therefore, engaged more than 100,000 enumerators and other supervisory field personnel outside the organization. The enumerators were Selected mainly from local Primary and Secondary School teachers and, supervisory personnel from District and Local Administration. But for their jatriotic Zeal and wilful co-operation, the completion of such a nation-wide task was impossible. The main burden of field enumeration fell on the district administration with Deputy Commissioner as head. Our grateful thanks are due to all of them.
Ultimate success of any census operation, however, depends on the co-operation of the entire nation. The 1974 Population Census would not have been successfully concluded but for the willing co-operation accorded by the entire nation. This willing co-operation of our nation is thankfully acknowledged.
The Census was organised and conducted at a time when the country was in the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation 'after the devastating war of liberation of the country. As such all the officers and staff had to woik hard compared to normal situations. Therefore, hard work involved 'at different stages for the entire personnel of Census Organisation is appreciated although not mentioned individually.
Kind of Data
Census/enumeration data [cen]
Version
Version Date
1977-10-10
Producers and sponsors
Authoring entity/Primary investigators
| Agency Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| BANGLADESH BUREAU OF STATISTICS | Statistics and Informatics Division, Ministry of Planning |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Statistics and Informatics Division | SID |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
Under the overall census plan, a Census Advisory Committee (consisting of representatives from all the Ministries, Divisions, Universities and other Government and Non-Government Research Organisations ) was formed to solicit their views as users on July 20,, 1972. The Committee was charged with the task of advising the Census Commission on the methodology of taking the census, drafting forms/questionnaires, the tabulation plan, processing of census data, etc. The 1971 plan for the population census prepared in the pre-liberation period was submitted for consideration to the newly constituted Census Advisory Committee. According to this plan, information on only eight population characteristics were to be collected in the "Big Count" of population. Other items including housing, social, economic and demographic characteristics of the population were to be collected in a nationwide sample survey to be conducted immediately after the population count. The Census Advisory Committee, having considered the various developmental needs of the new nation, advised the Census Commission to conduct the following censuses:
(a) the census of housing,
(b) the census of establishments, and
(c) the census of population.
The Census Commission, however, had to undertake one more census, namely, the Census of Handloom Industries in July 1973 under the directives of the Government. The methodology of taking the above mentioned censuses, the items to be enumerated, the tabulation plan and the data processing methods were all detailed by the Census Advisory Committee. The census schedule and questionnaire form appendices 1 & 2. Compared to the topics included in the 1961 census, the new topics covered in the 1974 census were - "duration of residence at place of enumeration" and "place of last residence". The topic on "school attendance", included in the 1961 census was dropped from the census schedule of 1974.
(a) the census of housing,
(b) the census of establishments, and
(c) the census of population.
The Census Commission, however, had to undertake one more census, namely, the Census of Handloom Industries in July 1973 under the directives of the Government. The methodology of taking the above mentioned censuses, the items to be enumerated, the tabulation plan and the data processing methods were all detailed by the Census Advisory Committee. The census schedule and questionnaire form appendices 1 & 2. Compared to the topics included in the 1961 census, the new topics covered in the 1974 census were - "duration of residence at place of enumeration" and "place of last residence". The topic on "school attendance", included in the 1961 census was dropped from the census schedule of 1974.
Response Rate
A sample of 0.5 % of the census blocks was selected systematically from each of the 66 census districts. A total of 482 census blocks were thus selected.
The re-enumeration operation was conducted in all the 482 blocks. The other two operations ran into difficulties. Census records could be found for only 119 out of the 482 sample blocks. These 119 blocks, however, did not represent all the 66 census districts. Population enumeration records could not be obtained for 14 census districts. A decision was taken to match data for one sample block representing rural areas from each of 48 census districts for which enumeration records were available. For the urban areas census data for 11 sample blocks from the 4 major cities of Dacca, Chittagong, Khulna and Narayanganj were available. The data were matched. The field reconciliation was done in the 59 'matched' sample blocks, viz. 48 rural and 11 urban sample blocks. The under-estimation involved in the enumerated population total for the 4 major cities was 19.3 % and 6.5°/ for the rest of the country. The estimated population ofBangladesh on March 1, 1974 was readjusted to 76.398 millions.
Due to the small number of blocks matched, the results of the PEC remain of limited value.
The re-enumeration operation was conducted in all the 482 blocks. The other two operations ran into difficulties. Census records could be found for only 119 out of the 482 sample blocks. These 119 blocks, however, did not represent all the 66 census districts. Population enumeration records could not be obtained for 14 census districts. A decision was taken to match data for one sample block representing rural areas from each of 48 census districts for which enumeration records were available. For the urban areas census data for 11 sample blocks from the 4 major cities of Dacca, Chittagong, Khulna and Narayanganj were available. The data were matched. The field reconciliation was done in the 59 'matched' sample blocks, viz. 48 rural and 11 urban sample blocks. The under-estimation involved in the enumerated population total for the 4 major cities was 19.3 % and 6.5°/ for the rest of the country. The estimated population ofBangladesh on March 1, 1974 was readjusted to 76.398 millions.
Due to the small number of blocks matched, the results of the PEC remain of limited value.
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection (YYYY/MM/DD)
| Start date | End date |
|---|---|
| 1974-02-10 | 1974-02-28 |
Mode of data collection
Face-to-face [f2f]
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics and Informatics Division | SID | Ministry of Planning |
Data Processing
Cleaning Operations
Computerised data processing has beenresorted for the 1974 census. A 100% tabulation of both rural and urban data had been envisaged in the master-plan. On account of delays in the arrival of the "encoding machines", a decision was taken to provide sample tabulations of the census data. Due to administrative and logistic difficulties, several census slips were lost or misplaced. Sampling has thus been done on "available slips" and consequently an unknown bias has been introduced into the results.
Processing of the data for computer tabulation involved data transfer or key punching of the coded data from census slips on to machine readable magnetic tapes and subsequent editing and cleaning the tapes. As key punching was done manually major portion of the tabulation time was taken up by key punching operation. Adoption of COCENTS package programme helped and speeded up tabulation. Preliminary tabulations for the whole country were thus available for all the tables by the end of May 1976.
Processing of the data for computer tabulation involved data transfer or key punching of the coded data from census slips on to machine readable magnetic tapes and subsequent editing and cleaning the tapes. As key punching was done manually major portion of the tabulation time was taken up by key punching operation. Adoption of COCENTS package programme helped and speeded up tabulation. Preliminary tabulations for the whole country were thus available for all the tables by the end of May 1976.
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Metadata production
Document ID
DDI-BGD-BBS-BPC-1974-v01
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANGLADESH BUREAU OF STATISTICS | BBS | Statistics and Informatics Division, Ministry of Planning | Documentation of the study |
Date of Production
2019-09-01