Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is Census Data?

Research Topics:
Census Data | Market/Category Evaluations
Industry/Market Focus:
Government
Content Type:
Glossary
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Census Data Definition

The data collected from a sample consisting of the entire population

Census data is the collection of comprehensive demographic, socioeconomic and other relevant information about a population. The information, gathered through official government surveys conducted periodically, includes age, gender, income, education, household size and more. For businesses, the data offers a comprehensive view of a population, which helps them identify emerging trends, cultural shifts and changes in consumer preferences. The insights can be used to better understand market potential and adapt products or services to meet evolving demands. In essence, census data builds the foundation of strategic marketing planning.

Who relies on census data?

Marketing professionals, advertisers, business strategists, urban planners and policymakers use census data to better understand consumer behavior, target their audiences, allocate resources and make decisions.

Why should I care about census data?

Census data is crucial for making business decisions. For example, insights about demographic trends and patterns are vital in creating marketing strategies to specific segments of the population. This leads to more effective marketing campaigns and better customer targeting.