Population

A collection of all objects or individuals of interest which have properties that someone wishes to record.

Sometimes a population is a collection of potential objects or individuals and, as such, does not physically exist but can be imagined to exist.

Example 1 (A real population)

All people aged 18 and over who were living in New Zealand on 8 November 2008.

Example 2 (An imagined population)

All possible 15-watt fluorescent light bulbs that could be produced by a manufacturing plant.

Curriculum achievement objectives references
Statistical investigation: Levels 6, 7, (8)