What does "demographics" mean?

1. (population statistics) information about a group of people, like how old they are or how much money they make. 2. (target groups) specific groups of people that a company wants to sell things to.

How do you use "demographics"?

Usually functions as a plural noun and takes a plural verb.

demographics

US //ˌdɛməˈɡɹæfɪks// UK //dˌɛməɡɹˈæfɪks// de·mo·graph·ics

1 population statistics (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

information about a group of people, like how old they are or how much money they make.

the statistical characteristics of human populations, such as age, income, and ethnicity, used to identify markets or social trends.

Example

The demographics of the city have changed as more young professionals move into the centre.

Example

The shifting demographics of the region suggest that local government must invest more heavily in elderly care and accessible public transport over the next decade.

Usage

Usually functions as a plural noun and takes a plural verb.
- statistics
- population data
2 target groups (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

specific groups of people that a company wants to sell things to.

specific segments of a population identified by shared characteristics, particularly for marketing or broadcasting purposes.

Example

The new video game is very popular with the teenage demographics.

Example

Advertisers are struggling to reach younger demographics who increasingly avoid traditional television in favour of on-demand streaming services.

Teacher's tip

In marketing, people often use 'demographics' to mean the groups themselves rather than just the data about them.
- target market
- segments

Last updated June 20, 2026