Demographic Research

The COVID-19 pandemic sent many on the move to places other than their usual residence – and they may not know where or how to be counted.

Overall readiness to respond to the census has inched up since earlier this year, even as some key hard-to-count groups remain less enthusiastic than others.

The 2020 census began in Alaska in January, and the first numbers will be published by the end of the year.

Racial categories, which have been on every U.S. census, have changed from decade to decade, reflecting the politics and science of the times.

As the 2020 census gets underway, most U.S. adults are aware of it and are ready to respond, but many do not know what it asks or how to participate.

Explore the different race, ethnicity and origin categories used in the U.S. decennial census, from the first one in 1790 to the latest count in 2020.

Test your knowledge of the U.S. census with our 12-question quiz.

In this Q&A and video, learn about the methods and data sources the Center used to estimate the number of unauthorized immigrants in Europe.

Americans overwhelmingly are aware of the upcoming 2020 census, and more than eight-in-ten say they definitely or probably will participate.

Jeffrey S. Passel, senior demographer, on the research techniques used to derive the unauthorized immigrant population estimate in the U.S. and the challenges involved.