An ideal introduction to the study of population, this highly accessible textbook outlines the fundamental concepts and measurement techniques of demography.

Assuming the reader has no prior knowledge, the book begins by defining key terms and presenting a brief overview of the topic. Subsequent chapters trace demography from its early beginnings to the present and examine different ways to study population, such as by sociological, economic, political, or psychological variables. Important issues in fertility, mortality, and migration are addressed, including a unique classification of occupations by how likely or unlikely they cause migration. The book concludes with an exploration of relevant political policies in the United States and around the world.