History of Statistics

Picadizo, Zelline Q. Vincent Bongolan BSA 2-16 1023

Prof. STAT

History of Statistics  

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As early as 3800 BC there were records of population in Babylonia and the same was done in China in 3000 BC. Almost 5000 years ago, the Sumerians counted their citizen for taxation purposes and at various time later, the Egyptians conducted their inquiries into the occupation of people. At biblical times, censuses are conducted and taken by Moses in 1491 BC and by David in 1017 BC. In the reign of the Northern Hindustan King Ashoka, describes the methods of taking censuses in 2070-2030 BC. The Athenians and other Classical Greeks took censuses in times of stress, carefully counting the adult male citizens in war time and the general populace when the food supply was endangered. The Romans registered the adult males and their properties for military and administrative purposes. Servius Tullius, who rode as the 6th King of Rome from 578-534 BC is given credit for substituting the gathering of population data. 2000 years ago, each male in the Roman Empire had to return into the city of his birth to be counted and taxed thus the bible gives an account of the return of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for tax purposes. In the Middle Ages, registrations on land ownership and manpower for wars were made. In the 13th century, tax lists of Paris included the registration of those who were subjected to tax. In England, William the conqueror required the compilation of information in population resources. This compilation, the Domesday Book, is the first landmark in British Statistics. Later, births, baptism, marriages had to be registered. It was Gottfried Achenwall in 1719 and 1772, who was the first to introduce the word “Statistics” into the preface to statistical work. Zimmermann and Sinclair introduced and popularized the word "statistics" in their books. In the 16th century, European mathematicians and gamblers suspected that a game of chance such as the rolled dice, playing cards and tossed coins followed by certain laws. Girolamo Cardano, an Italian mathematician, physician, and a gambler, wrote Liber de Ludo Aleae in which appears the first known study of the Principle of Probability.

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Chevalier de Mere (1607-1684), made a proposal to Blaise Pascal inn the famous “Problems of Points”, a work which mark the beginning of the mathematics of probability. Laplace’s “Theories Analitique des Probabilities” of 1812 further supported and stabilized the said theory. In the 18th century, statistcs was described as “study of the political arrangement of the modern states of the known world”. The description of the work was at first verbal. Gradually, an increasing population and numerical data was used in the description of the work. During 19th century, a Belgian astronomer named Adolf Quetelet applied the theory of probability to anthropology measurements and expanded the same principle to the physiological, psychological, physical and chemical fields. After studying with the best known mathematician of his day, Quetelet established a central commission for statistics, which became a model for similar organizations in other countries. Francis Galton (1822-1911) and Karl Pearson (1857-1936) also contributed much to the field of statistics. Galton developed the use of percentiles. A cousin of Charles Darwin, he became deeply interested in the problem of heredity to which he also applied statistical tools. Pearson made many statistical discoveries too. Both Galton and Pearson contributed greatly to the development of the Correlation theory. In the 20th century, the most prominent figure in the field of Statistics was Sir Ronald Fisher in 1890-1962. Fisher made continuous contributions from 1912-1962 and many of these contributions have great impact on contemporary statistical procedures. One of these is the Fisher’s test used in analysis of contingency tables in statistics. Shortly before the world war, the number of applications of statistical methods in social sciences began to increase. The number of surveys of all kinds increases. To interpret the data in mathematics, business and social sciences made it necessary for workers to have at least a basic understanding of statistics. Today, students, housewives, policy makers, businessmen, workers in other firms of human behavior are expected to have at least knowledge in statistics. Statistical literacy has become a necessity in today’s modern world.

History of Statistics in the Philippines    

Several population estimates were made during the Spanish period. The earliest dating back happened in 1570, when Legazpi conquered the islands, people estimated to be a million in number. During 1576, a government notary by Fernando Riquel also attempted to estimate the population in connection with the enconmiendas. In 1582, an account of the socioeconomic conditions of the people was written in Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas by Miguel de Loarca. It includes the

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sizes of the islands, the enconmiendas there in, the officials, the Spanish element and the tributes collected. By the order of the government and Captain-General Gomez Dasmariñas a second estimate was made in 1591 which was based in the number of enconmiendas. They were approximated 667,617 people as for there were 166,904 enconmiendas. Each enconmienda represents 4 persons. No further estimates based on the enconmiendas were made because the system closed in 1608. Other estimate of the population was based on church records because people are distributed among religions, orders by parishes. Births, deaths and marriages were made the basis of population estimate. In 1799, the Christian population was 1,502,574 as estimated by Friar Manuel Buzeta. Cedulas are sold, as cedula was pre-copy of tax which was obligated upon all males between 18-60 years old. During 1877, civil censuses were taken by Spanish authorities and serve as basis of population for 1896. During the American regime, data collection became more systematized and marked by the creation of systematical unit in Bureau of Customs to collect tabulated and disseminate statistics on imports and exports. Although no statistical units were formally created in the other government offices during that time. Informal data were collected and compiled for administrative purposes. The Bureau of Agriculture which was created in 1902, compiled data in the number of forms the extent of the irrigated areas and land into cultivation. The Bureau of Labor in 1908, collected data in the labor organizations and members it also compiled statistics on labor cases. Vital registration likewise improves during this period. Section 961 of the revised ordinance of the city of Mania provided for the registrations of birth and death. Section 2214 of the revised administrative code of the Philippines required physicians to report births and death they have attended to. They made these reports to the municipal secretary. In 1925, a survey in the educational system was made by a board of distinguish educators headed by Dr. Paul Monroe. During the Commonwealth regime, all statistical activities were centralized in Bureau of Census and Statistics. These agencies was created in August 19, 1940 headed the following functions. First, to prepare and conduct periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, industries, business, and other sectors of the economy. Second, to prepare and conduct statistical surveys, researches and studies in all aspects of socioeconomic contributions. Third, to collect and process for statistical purposes data and records from the different departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the government. Fourth, to conduct researches and studies on censes in cooperation with the

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local or national statistical organization. Fifth, to develop a well-integrated, consolidated, and coordinated program of up to date statistical collection, production, analysis and publication for the use of the government and the public. Sixth, to maintain an efficient system of civil registration. On May 6, 1970, Bureau of Census and Statistics underwork a census on population and housing. A complete enumeration was made of all persons living in the Philippines including those who died but excluding those who were born after the said date on the basis of usual place of residence. The housing inventory was also undertaken hand in hand with the population census to assess the housing conditions of the population.

Populations of the Philippines from 1799-1980 Year 1799 1800 1811 1812 1829 1840 1850 1858 1870 1877

Population 1503 1561 2106 1933 2593 3096 3857 4290 4712 5568

Year 1887 1896 1903 1918 1939 1948 1960 1970 1975 1980

Population 5985 6261 7635 10314 16000 19234 27080 26684 41831 48098