There never has been a worldwide census. The census in the US that was conducted in 2010 was a census of people living in the US and its possessions.

Enumeration is one possible answer. The census is another.

The census, in many places, counts the population every 10 years.

Bernice C. Richard has written:

'Nova Scotia 1770 census (some 1773 and 1787)' -- subject(s): Genealogy, Registers of births, Census, Census, 1770, Census, 1827, Census, 1818

'1850 federal census of Wabash County, Illinois' -- subject(s): Census, 1850, Registers of births, Genealogy, Census, 7th, 1850

'1850 federal census of Marshall County, Illinois' -- subject(s): Census, 1850, Registers of births, Genealogy, Census, 7th, 1850

'Nova Scotia, 1770 census' -- subject(s): Census, 1770, Registers of births, Genealogy

Raeone Christensen Steuart has written the book "Levi's Will: Hope and Courage in the Wake of the Willamette Flood". The book tells the compelling story of survival and resilience in the face of natural disaster.