Sociodemographic

Sociodemographic is an adjective used to describe attributes of a population or group that relate to both social and demographic characteristics. In social sciences and public health, sociodemographic data refer to variables that describe who people are and the social context in which they live. Common variables include age, gender, race and ethnicity, education level, income or socioeconomic status, occupation, marital status, household size, and urban or rural residence. Other variables such as nationality, language, immigration status, religion, and disability may be included depending on the study.

Sociodemographic information is used to describe populations, to examine patterns and disparities, and to stratify analyses. It informs policy decisions, outreach, service delivery, and market research by identifying groups with different needs or outcomes. In health research, sociodemographic factors often relate to risk exposure, access to care, and health outcomes.

Data are collected via censuses, surveys, administrative records, and registries, and may be analyzed cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Researchers often combine sociodemographic data with socioeconomic, behavioral, or clinical variables. Privacy, ethical considerations, and data quality are important when handling sensitive information such as income, race, or health status. Misclassification, missing data, and sampling bias can affect interpretation.