The study of human populations

Demography is the study of the changing size and composition of human populations, and the causes and consequences of such change. Aspects of the composition of populations of interest to demographers include the ratio of males to females, age structure, ethnic structure and family structure. The causes of population change include fertility, mortality, migration and changes of state. So to understand population change we need to know information such as how many births, deaths and migrations occur, which types of people are more likely to produce many children, to die young or to migrate, which are less likely to do so, and the reasons for these patterns. The consequences of changes in the size and composition of populations are wide-ranging. For example, population change affects the quantities of different products bought, the size and composition of workforces, the demands for public services, such as health, education, and welfare, the pressures on the natural environment, and voting patterns. Since demography seeks relationships that can be expressed precisely and quantitatively, demographers use quantitative analytical methods. However, in order to understand the causes and consequences of demographic change, demographers also use the analytic methods of social sciences such as anthropology, sociology, economics, and geography.

Useful intelligence for businesses and governments

The size and composition of markets, electorates, public service clienteles and the labour force all are related to demography. Demographic analysis can assist planning marketing campaigns, site location decisions, electoral campaign strategies and public sector resource allocation decisions, such as where to build schools and hospitals.

A unique feature of Macquarie University

Macquarie University offers a more extensive range of undergraduate demography units than any other university in Australia, has the largest undergraduate demography enrollment in Australia, and is the only university in New South Wales to offer undergraduate majors in demography.

A career-relevant subject

Because demographic skills and knowledge are applicable in a wide range of fields, the career directions of demography students are many and varied. The areas in which recent graduates in demography from Macquarie University have found employment include marketing, market research, planning departments, public service departments such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, insurance companies and research organisations.

Degree Options

Demography majors are offered with several degrees in the Business Department at Macquarie University. See the Degrees on Offer page to see all suggested programs of study.