Demographic Analysis (DA)

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Demographic Analysis (DA)

Demographic Analysis (DA) is a method used to evaluate the quality of the census. We use current and historical vital records, data on international migration, and Medicare records to produce national estimates of the population on April 1 by age, sex, the DA race categories, and Hispanic origin. The DA population estimates are independent of the decennial census. The results are used to produce estimates of net coverage error, which are calculated as the percent difference between the census counts and the DA population estimates.

Traditionally, the DA estimates have been produced by sex and single year of age for the race categories Black and non-Black. Starting in 2010, the DA program produces estimates by Hispanic origin (Hispanic/Non-Hispanic) for a limited number of ages. New data sources, changes in the racial and ethnic make-up of the nation, and evolving patterns of international migration present both challenges and opportunities for DA.

2000 Demographic Analysis

The U.S. Census Bureau used DA to measure coverage in Census 2000. The initial results of the 2000 Demographic Analysis were produced in March 2001, after the Census 2000 results had been publicly released. The Census 2000 total was 281.4 million, while the initial DA estimate was 279.6 million, which implied an overcount in the census. The Population Division decided that they may have underestimated immigration during the 1990s and a large research team was formed to revise the 2000 DA estimates. In October 2001, the Census Bureau released the final 2000 DA estimates. The revised total was 281.8, which implied a net undercount in Census 2000 of 338,000 or 0.12 percent.