关键词: 人口普查, 身份证号, 中国

Abstract: The census is widely used as a scientific method to collect demographic information and contribute developing policies accordingly in many countries or regions around the world. However, there are various types of census error that can occur, in which the obvious problems are duplication and omission of entries. The 18-digit identity card numbers are information-rich and important because every citizen has a unique and unrepeatable number. We can replace a number of questions in the census from capturing identity card number in the census, which also help avoiding the problems of duplication and omission. Moreover, we can easily identify the floating population according to the address code of the identity card number and that of the census questionnaire. Through a brief analysis of 5th census and 6th census, our study points out that it can help improving data quality through exploring the rich information of identity card number if we take it as a surveyed item in future census.

Key words: Census, Identity Card Number, China