The impact of age in demographic analyses, factors associated with age misreporting, the United Nations' procedure of evaluating age statistics and the application of this procedure to Malawian censuses are discussed. Although age reporting still remains inaccurate, there is some evidence to suggest a slight improvement in the quality of age reporting. Age misreporting varies from one region or district to another. These variations are explained in terms of the existing social, historical and cultural differences within the country.