U.S. Census Knowledge Quiz

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.

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?
- Newborns who haven’t come home from the hospital yet
- Immigrants living in the U.S. illegally
- Tourists and business travelers from other countries

Which of these questions is NOT asked in the 2020 census ?
- What is your age?
- Are you a U.S. citizen?
- What is your race?

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

When does the 2020 census counting officially begin?
- March 15, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- Jan. 21, 2020

What does the Census Bureau generally do if someone does not fill out a census form?
- Sends a note warning them that they will be fined
- Sends an employee to visit the home address to try to persuade them to respond
- Sends the police to the door to obtain an answer

Which of the following groups is most likely to be missed by the census count?
- White homeowners
- Young children
- Older adults

For the first time in the 2020 census, most Americans will be asked to …
- Say where they were born
- Respond online
- Provide information about their pets

How will the U.S. Postal Service work with the Census Bureau during the 2020 census?
- The Postal Service will stop mail delivery to people who do not complete their questionnaires
- Postal carriers will deliver census material
- Postal clerks will help people fill out census forms

Which of the following topics have been included in every U.S. census since the first census in 1790?
- Race and homeownership
- Sex and marital status
- Sex and race

Which response category will be new on the 2020 census form?
- Same-sex spouse
- Middle East/North Africa origin
- A box for gender other than male or female

The Census Bureau proposed a change in the race question that did not happen. What was it?
- Add five new racial categories
- Combine the race and Hispanic origin questions into one question
- Instruct people that they could only check one racial category

What will the first numbers from the census be used for?
- Find out which cities are losing population
- Determine how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives
- Determine which racial groups are growing the fastest

How much do you know about the U.S. census?