View a list of related publications. Once exposed to the subject, many change their minds. They come to appreciate the profound impact demographic forces have on societies. This has never been more true than during the past half-century, a period in which the United States and other societies have experienced unprecedented social and demographic change. Since these demographic forces have not been stilled, they will continue to cause social change and to shape social programs for the balance of our lives and beyond.
People also find demography fascinating because it deals with so many personally relevant topics.
These are all in part demographic questions. Indeed, if people are not interested in demographic phenomena, they are not interested in themselves. It is clearly a discipline because it is a field with its own body of interrelated concepts, techniques, journals, departments, and professional associations. Demography is also an interdisciplinary field because it draws its subject matter and methods from many disciplines, including sociology, economics, biology, geography, history, and the health sciences. Finally, demography is also considered a subdiscipline within some of these same major disciplines.