noun
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demography
dih-MOG-ruh-fee
Demography (noun) means the study of human populations, especially their make-up, how they change and the social causes behind those changes. Example: “She studied demography at university before working for a statistics office.”
noun
1
The study of human populations, especially their make-up, how they change and the social causes behind those changes.
"She studied demography at university before working for a statistics office."
"Demography helps planners work out how many school places a town will need."
"Changes in demography can shape the future of a country's health service."
2
The particular make-up of a population.
"The demography of the town has shifted over the last few decades."
"Researchers compared the demography of the two regions."
"The demography of the school has become more varied."
How to use demography
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe study of how populations are made up and how they change.
When to use it
It is a fairly formal, academic word.
Common pairings
historical demography
the demography of a region
changing demography
a professor of demography
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Etymology
The word is built from demo-, meaning people, and -graphy, meaning written representation. Both parts come from Ancient Greek, from dêmos, people, and graphḗ, writing or description.
Rhymes for demography
geography
biography
tomography
ideography
topography
lithography
iconography
mammography
discography
paleography
photography
pornography
See all rhymes for demography →
Frequently asked questions
What does demography mean?
Demography is the study of human populations, including their make-up and how they change over time.
What is the difference between demography and demographics?
Demography is the field of study, while demographics usually means the statistical data about a particular population.
Can demography apply to animals and plants?
Yes. The word is also used for how populations of animals and plants are structured and change.
What is the meaning of demography?
"demography" (noun) means the study of human populations, especially their make-up, how they change and the social causes behind those changes.
