Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It
How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.
Publications
-
-
The changing categories the U.S. census has used to measure race
Racial categories, which have been on every U.S. census, have changed from decade to decade, reflecting the politics and science of the times.
-
Dual income, no kids: What we know about ‘DINKs’ in the U.S.
In the United States, 12% of married couples with at least one spouse in their 30s or 40s have two incomes and no kids.
-
A Year Ahead of the Midterms, Americans’ Dim Views of Both Parties
Democrats’ frustration with their own party is up sharply, as many say it hasn’t pushed back hard enough against Trump and the GOP. In contrast, 40% of Republicans say they are frustrated with their party.
-
How Americans’ trust in information from news organizations and social media sites has changed over time
Overall, 56% of U.S. adults now say they have a lot of or some trust in the information they get from national news organizations – down 11 percentage points since March 2025.
-
Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Those who report often encountering inaccurate news are more likely than those who rarely or never do to say it’s hard to know what is true (59% vs. 31%).
-
What we know about energy use at U.S. data centers amid the AI boom
Data centers accounted for 4% of total U.S. electricity use in 2024. Their energy demand is expected to more than double by 2030.
-
Americans say politically motivated violence is increasing, and they see many reasons why
Just over half of Americans see left-wing (53%) and right-wing (52%) extremism as major problems.
-
Key facts about U.S. Latinos
Between 2000 and 2024, the U.S. Latino population nearly doubled, rising from 35.3 million to 68 million.
-
Growing Share of U.S. Adults Say Religion Is Gaining Influence in American Life
Americans’ views of religion’s role in society have grown more positive in recent years. But many feel their religious beliefs conflict with the mainstream.
