How much do you know about the U.S. census?
The U.S. census is a massive, complicated government project that aims to count every resident of the United States. Beginning in 1790, the census has occurred once every decade, and it’s changed drastically over the years.
Test your knowledge of the U.S. census by taking our 12-question quiz. The questions in this quiz come from our email mini-course that explores how and why the U.S. census is conducted in five short lessons delivered to your inbox.
Take the quiz and share your results with us on Twitter @PewResearch.
Question 1 of 12
The census is supposed to count every U.S. resident at their usual address on April 1, Census Day. Who in the U.S. is not included in this count?
Immigrants living in the U.S. illegally
Tourists and business travelers from other countries
Newborns who haven’t come home from the hospital yet
Question 2 of 12
Which of these questions is NOT asked in the 2020 census ?
Are you a U.S. citizen?
What is your race?
What is your age?
Question 3 of 12
Information from the 2020 census is used to …
Redraw the boundaries of political districts
Enforce immigration laws
Count the number of trees in each community
Question 4 of 12
When does the 2020 census counting officially begin?
Jan. 21, 2020
March 15, 2020
April 1, 2020
Question 5 of 12
What does the Census Bureau generally do if someone does not fill out a census form?
Sends an employee to visit the home address to try to persuade them to respond
Sends a note warning them that they will be fined
Sends the police to the door to obtain an answer
Question 6 of 12
Which of the following groups is most likely to be missed by the census count?
Young children
White homeowners
Older adults
Question 7 of 12
For the first time in the 2020 census, most Americans will be asked to …
Provide information about their pets
Respond online
Say where they were born
Question 8 of 12
How will the U.S. Postal Service work with the Census Bureau during the 2020 census?
Postal carriers will deliver census material
Postal clerks will help people fill out census forms
The Postal Service will stop mail delivery to people who do not complete their questionnaires
Question 9 of 12
Which of the following topics have been included in every U.S. census since the first census in 1790?
Sex and race
Race and homeownership
Sex and marital status
Question 10 of 12
Which response category will be new on the 2020 census form?
A box for gender other than male or female
Same-sex spouse
Middle East/North Africa origin
Question 11 of 12
The Census Bureau proposed a change in the race question that did not happen. What was it?
Combine the race and Hispanic origin questions into one question
Add five new racial categories
Instruct people that they could only check one racial category
Question 12 of 12
What will the first numbers from the census be used for?
Determine which racial groups are growing the fastest
Find out which cities are losing population
Determine how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives
You answered out of 12 questions correctly.
Don’t like your score? Sign up for our email mini-course (or take it again).
If you haven’t taken our five-part mini-course, it explores how and why the U.S. census is conducted. You’ll receive an email with a lesson every few days that will answer a question about the census and census-taking. As with all of Pew Research Center’s work, it’s free. Click on the image below to get started.
Your response:
| Your Answer | Correct Answer | ||
|---|---|---|---|
