Why Governments Collect Population Data

Question 1

Education

Answer 1

To plan ahead for any population change.
Teacher numbers along with the number of schools will be affected by a country’s population change

Question 2

Healthcare

Answer 2

The NHS needs accurate population data in different ways in order to plan doctor numbers; number of hospital buildings and the ordering of drugs.
Social services also need population data to plan provision for elderly and disabled people.

Question 3

Housing

Answer 3

The government need population data to plan ahead for the the number of houses in the UK, otherwise supply may not keep up with demand and families can become homeless/ rents become too high.

Question 4

Transport

Answer 4

To identify where there is pressure on transport systems.
This will involve building/ improving roads, railways and airports.
Public transport may be invested in or cut accordingly depending on what is happening to the demographics of a region.

Question 5

Employment

Answer 5

To help businesses and government plan jobs and training policies.
Immigration may be needed to fill jobs if a population is decreasing.
Government stimulation required in areas with a skill gap.

Question 6

Welfare

Answer 6

The single biggest cost to the UK government.
They need to know how many pensioners/ people on benefits they currently have and indeed will have in the future in order to plan other spending accordingly.