Demographics are characteristics of human populations. The word demographics contains the word roots demo, meaning “people”, and graph, meaning “to write”. Demographic data include people’s ages, occupations, educational levels and incomes. Government officials can use this information to determine the makeup of a city’s population and whether there is a need for various services. For example, if city officials learn that many families with young children are moving into an area, they may recommend building more schools. One way that countries collect demographic data is by taking a national census. The census helps governments plan for future needs, such as housing, transportation, healthcare and education. Businesses also use demographic information to decide where to open stores and what products or services people may need.