Indigenous and afro-descendants peoples in population censuses: demands, improvements and challenges in Latin American countries

Indigenous and afro-descendants peoples in Latin America have become active political actors, who have succeeded in placing their historical claims in the public agendas. Consequently, the region as a whole is experiencing a growing demand for information on these populations, given the fact that this is a basic tool for political design and the promotion of human rights. The identification of these populations in national statistical data sources, therefore crucial, being the census the main one. The information obtained from the censuses 2000 contributed to a greater understanding of the conceptual and methodological aspects of the inclusion of the ethnic perspective in data sources. It yielded consensus and standards to be applied to the 2010 censuses. So, it was observed an intense effort to improve the quality of the information, taking into account different conceptual, methological and operational aspects, including the specific wording of the self identification question in each country, all of which will be analysed in this document. However, not all the countries have improved equally and it can be seen that minimum standards still have to be reached. That is why it is necessary to double the efforts made, specially, in pre-census activities and in the institutionalization of ethnic participation.