Population

The U.S. Bureau of the Census collects and publishes data on populations in the United States according to several different definitions. Various statistical systems then use the appropriate population for calculating rates.
Total population is the population of the United States, including all members of the Armed Forces living in foreign countries, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other Americans abroad (for example, civilian Federal employees and dependents of members of the Armed Forces or other Federal employees) are not included.
Resident population includes persons whose usual place of residence (that is, the place where one usually lives and sleeps) is in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. It includes members of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States and their families. It excludes international military, naval, and diplomatic personnel and their families located here and residing in embassies or similar quarters. Also excluded are international workers and international students in this country and Americans living abroad. The resident population is usually the denominator when calculating birth and death rates and incidence of disease. The resident population is also the denominator for selected population-based rates that use numerator data from the National Nursing Home Survey.
Civilian population is the resident population excluding members of the Armed Forces. However, families of members of the Armed Forces are included. This population is the denominator in rates calculated for the NCHS National Hospital Discharge Survey, the National Home and Hospice Care Survey, and the National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery.
Civilian noninstitutionalized population is the civilian population not residing in institutions. Institutions include correctional institutions, detention homes, and training schools for juvenile delinquents; homes for the aged and dependent (for example, nursing homes and convalescent homes); homes for dependent and neglected children; homes and schools for the mentally or physically handicapped; homes for unwed mothers; psychiatric, tuberculosis, and chronic disease hospitals; and residential treatment centers. Census Bureau estimates of the civilian noninstitutionalized population are used to calculate sample weights for the NCHS National Health Interview Survey, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Survey of Family Growth, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

SOURCE: Health, United States

This page last reviewed September 09, 2008