Population Surveys Bulletins

Demographic Survey

In order to provide updated population data that satisfy users' needs, there was no way but conducting demographic sample surveys, which are considered an essential source in this regard. CDSI's surveys- plan included undertaking several demographic surveys for providing information on demographic characteristics in the Kingdom. The 1999 Demographic Survey focused on providing data on population characteristics , fertility, mortality, migration as well as general information on housing, and its results were disseminated to users. Continuing this kind of surveys, CDSI conducted the 2000 Demographic Survey, which collected additional data items on disability and housing environment as well as other population characteristics such as age, gender, nationality, births and deaths. The last Demographic Survey was undertaken in 2007 and its data are still being processed.

A. Objectives of Demographic Survey:

1. To provide data on the demographic structure of Saudis and non-Saudis at the Kingdom's level and at the administrative unit level as well as obtaining several indicators and measures such as:

Crude death rate, age-gender specific death rates, child and infant mortality rates.
Population growth rate and natural increase rate for Saudis.
Total and specific fertility rates, migration rates, and identifying trends in marriage and divorce.
Population age-gender structure and population structure by marital status, educational status and employment status.

2. T Study the effect of housing characteristics on different demographic characteristics of the population.

3. To provide data and indicators required for reviewing and evaluating population estimates at the Kingdom's level and for carrying out comparisons with demographic indicators available from past surveys.

4. Establishing a population data base to be utilized by planners and researchers and providing all concerned agencies with population data.

B. Sample of the Demographic Survey:

The sample of the demographic survey covers all Saudi and non-Saudi households living in the Kingdom as well as all Saudis temporarily abroad for whatever reason, such as treatment, study, tourism … etc. which are enumerated within their households living in the Kingdom, if their households are selected in the sample. Nomads are excluded from the survey. Enumeration areas included in the population and housing census frame are used as primary sampling units, and the ultimate sampling units, namely the households, were selected using systematic random sampling. The survey sample covers all administrative areas in the Kingdom.

C. Survey Time Reference:

Data are collected for all members living usually in survey households. Data in survey questionnaire collected by interviewers can be classified according to time reference as follows:

Basic characteristics of all household members related to their number, age, nationality, educational status, marital status refer to the date of questionnaire completion.
Data on activity status refer to the week preceding the survey.

Data on births and deaths refer to the 12 months preceding the survey