ABSTRACT
Kuczynski’s West African volume in his monumental survey of the demography of the British Empire will remain for all time a classic in the analysis and assessment of census and other demographic data for the territories of Nigeria, Ghana (Gold Coast), Sierra Leone and Gambia. Though at least one further set of censuses will be required before there are data for a further study on the same scale as that of Kuczynski, the variety of post-war censuses offers scope at this stage for a review of progress in the collection of demographic data in West Africa during the last decade. The decennial pattern of census-taking which had been adopted in British West African territories was interrupted in 1941 by the war. Contemporary political events and resulting changes in status for many of the territories in West Africa will inevitably influence the advanced planning of censuses which is essential.
