CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the GrenadinesCHAPTER 1National Population Trends: Size, Growth and Distribution1.1 IntroductionThis Chapter presents the main findings of the size, growth, and distribution of thepopulation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines based on the 2001 Population and HousingCensus. Data from the 1991 Census, as well as from other sources, are used forcomparison and further explanation in the analysis of the population dynamics thatoccurred between 1991 and 2001. The analysis is of critical importance in determiningthe areas of highest or lowest population growth and in identifying shifts in thedistribution of the population. Furthermore, it provides baseline data that are necessaryfor estimating key social and demographic indicators.St. Vincent and the Grenadines conducted its first census in 1871 and since that time acensus has been conducted every 10 years except for longer intervals such as the periodbetween 1931 and 1960. The 2001 Population and Housing Census was the most recentand the next expected Population and Housing Census to be conducted should be in 2010.A Census is designed to enumerate everyone living in a particular country at a specificpoint in time. However, there is always a small proportion of the population that is notcounted for various reasons, including the non-respondents from certain households thatwould deliberately refuse to participate. Although there are laws governing the taking ofa census that clearly state the responsibility of all persons to provide census informationand the penalties for not doing so, these laws are not normally enforced. To help correctfor the shortfalls with regard to under-counting in the population, a post-enumerationsurvey is usually conducted to determine the extent of under-coverage, after which thenecessary adjustments could be made to the population figures. However, St. Vincent andthe Grenadines did not conduct a post-enumeration survey, or used any other technique toestimate possible under-coverage of the 2001 Census. Therefore, no adjustments weremade to the enumerated population.3