What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
demographic
Example
The demographic of our target audience is young adults aged 18-35 with a college education. [demographic: noun]
Example
We need to conduct a demographic survey to understand the needs and preferences of our customers. [demographic: adjective]
population
Example
The population of New York City is over 8 million people. [population: noun]
Example
We sampled a population of 500 students to conduct our research. [population: noun]
Example
The population of deer in this forest has been declining due to hunting. [population: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Population is more commonly used than demographic in everyday language. Population is a more general term that can be used in a variety of contexts, while demographic is more specialized and is typically used in marketing and social sciences.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between demographic and population?
Demographic is often used in formal contexts, such as academic research and business reports, while population is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.