U.S. Census

Debates over who is Hispanic have fueled conversations about identity among Americans who trace their heritage to Latin America or Spain.

Those who have not responded to the census so far are likely to be from groups the census previously has struggled to count accurately.

If unauthorized U.S. immigrants aren't counted, 3 states could each lose a seat they otherwise would have had and 3 others each could gain one.

From 2010 to 2019, the U.S. population increased by 18.9 million, and Hispanics accounted for more than half of this growth.

The U.S. Hispanic population reached a record 60.6 million in 2019, up 930,000 over the previous year and up from 50.7 million in 2010.

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.