John Graunt was a pioneer in the field of demography, though by profession he was a haberdasher. Alongside William Petty, he developed early methods of statistical analysis and census-taking that laid the groundwork for modern demography. He is credited with producing the first life table, which provided probabilities of survival to each age. His work, analyzing London's mortality records, offered the first statistically based estimate of the city's population and is considered an early form of epidemiology.
Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. Scholars have selected it for its importance, highlighting its role in understanding historical and societal contexts.