ABOUT 90 percent of the world’s countries conduct at least some kind of census. Usually the census is a population count. When taking a census, the government’s census employees not only count you but count on you to cooperate in this tremendous task.

Census taking has an ancient history. For instance, national registrations of the Israelites served various purposes, such as for taxation and assignments of military service. (Num. 1:44-49; 26:1-4, 51) Ancient Rome also took a census for the same reasons. Caesar Augustus decreed a registration in the year 2 B.C.E., “and all people went traveling to be registered, each one to his own city.” (Luke 2:1-7)

Many are the reasons for taking a census. Says the Census Bureau: “Without the census, proper planning and management would not be possible in such areas as economics, military manpower potential, school requirements, employment, national and international finance, Social Security, business cycles, highway use, and the needs for health services, parks, water, and energy.” And a Nigerian statistician says: “Without an accurate census you cannot plan. And the planning is for the people.”

Census records often prove helpful to individuals. For example, it is estimated that there are 20 million Americans who are without proof of their age or birthplace. At times people need such proof. “Please send me a report,” wrote one man to the Census Bureau. “You are the only people who can prove I am not from outer space.”