The 2020 Census

Counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

The U.S. Census is a once-in-a-decade chance to track the shifts in population across our country. The goal is to count every person once, only once, and in the right place. More than $675 billion in federal funds is distributed to communities across the country based on Census data. That data is also used by businesses to decide where to open up shop, by first responders to develop emergency preparedness plans, and by community leaders to drive initiatives. New in 2020, you have the option to respond online, by mail or by phone.

Take the Census

Important Dates

Click here to view the full timeline of important dates.

• March 12 – 20: Invitations to respond mailed to homes | View Sample Letter
• April 1: Census Day
• April 1 – July 31: Census takers follow up with households that have not yet responded

Helpful Resources

• Census 101: What You Need to Know | 日本語 (Japanese) | 中文 (Chinese)
• Fact Sheet: Confidentiality | 日本語 (Japanese) | 中文 (Chinese)
• Fact Sheet: Multigenerational Households | 日本語 (Japanese) | 中文 (Chinese)

Avoiding Scams

The Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, or money or donations.

If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, you can ask to verify their identity by making sure they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. If you still have questions about their identity, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

About the Census

The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government’s largest statistical agency, dedicated to providing current facts and figures about America’s people, places, and economy. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all individual responses the Census Bureau collects.

The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade the bureau takes a count— or a census—of America’s population.

The census provides vital information for our community:

• It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the states by March 31, 2021.
• Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs including new roads, schools, and emergency services.
• Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop.

Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and communities based on Census Bureau data.

In 2020, the bureau will implement new technology to make it easier than ever to respond to the census. For the first time, you will be able to respond online, by phone, as well as by mail.

Your information is protected by law. The law requires the Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and use your responses only to produce statistics. The bureau cannot publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you. The bureau will never share your information with immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or police, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits.

Overview of Census Bureau Programs

Censuses:

• The decennial census is the once-a-decade population and housing count of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. The results of the census deter­mine the number of seats for each state in the U.S. House of Representatives and are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Federal agencies use the results to distrib­ute more than $675 billion in federal funds each year.
• The economic census measures the nation’s economy every five years, providing vital statistics for virtually every industry and geographic area in the country.
• The Census of Governments provides comprehensive data about the 90,000 state and local governments in the nation every five years.

Surveys:

• The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing national survey—sampling approximately 3.5 million addresses annu­ally—that provides vital information about our nation’s housing and people. The ACS is the only source of comparable, quality information about the people in all our communities. These data show what the U.S. population looks like and how it is changing. ACS data are used to assess the past and present and to plan for the future.
• Demographic surveys measure income, poverty, education, health insurance coverage, housing quality, crime victimization, computer usage, and many other subjects.
• Economic surveys are conducted monthly, quarterly, and yearly. They cover selected sectors of the nation’s economy and supplement the economic census with more-frequent information about the dynamic economy. These surveys yield more than 400 annual economic reports, including principal economic indicators.
• Sponsored surveys are demographic and economic surveys that we conduct for other government agencies. They include the Current Population Survey, the National Health Interview Survey, and the National Survey of College Graduates.

Census History
Thomas Jefferson directed the first decennial census in 1790. As required by the U.S. Constitution, a census has been taken every 10 years thereafter. In 1840, the Census Act authorized the establishment of a centralized Census Office. In 1902, the Census Office became a permanent organization within the Department of the Interior. A year later, it was renamed the Bureau of the Census and moved to the new Department of Commerce and Labor.

More Information
census.gov