In demographics, an intercensal estimate is an estimate of population between official census dates with both of the census counts being known. Some nations produce regular intercensal estimates while others do not. Intercensal estimates can be less or more informative than official census figures, depending on methodology, completeness, accuracy and date of data, and can be released by nations, subnational entities, or other organizations including those not affiliated with governments. They differ from population projections as they are from past dates, although intercensal estimates can be used to form population projections.
Postcensal estimate
Intercensal estimates are one of the two types of population estimates, the other being postcensal estimates. Intercensal estimates are considered to be more accurate than postcensal estimates, because they approximated between two dates with the exact figure being known and being considered factual. Additionally, postcensal estimates can be based on the prior census..
Intercensal survey
All counts are estimates, including censuses but some counts include random sampling of actual residents rather than just producing figures based on mathematical models. These counts are called intercensal surveys. American Community Survey is one of these in the US, where a percentage of residents are called and asked to participate in a census-like questionnaire. The topics covered may differ from the census forms, even if population figures are produced for both.
By country
Statistics Indonesia releases province by province annual estimates for all provinces, regencies, and kota in Indonesia, with some provinces more up to date than others. A survey in conducted every 10 years, 5 years post census.
China 1% Survey 5 years after each census samples 1% of the population to produce population estimates between official 10 year censuses.
