Census
- A government-run process to gather information on population size, composition, and characteristics.
- Used to support decisions on policy, resource allocation, and planning (for example, representation and funding).
- Can be decennial, continuous (ACS), or local and collected via mail-in surveys, phone interviews, or in-person interviews.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”A census is a process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating demographic, social, and economic data about a population. This process is typically conducted by a government agency, such as the United States Census Bureau, and is used to gather information about the size, composition, and characteristics of a population. The data collected through a census is used to make decisions about policy, allocate resources, and plan for the future.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Censuses are organized data-collection efforts, usually run by government agencies, to obtain comprehensive information on a population’s demographic, social, and economic attributes. Data collection methods include mail-in surveys, phone interviews, and in-person interviews; in the United States, the decennial census commonly uses a combination of these, with most households receiving a mail-in survey and nonresponding households contacted by phone or in person. The resulting data inform decisions such as representation, funding distribution, policy making, and planning.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Decennial census (United States)
Section titled “Decennial census (United States)”The decennial census conducted by the United States Census Bureau is performed every ten years. Data from this census are used to determine the number of congressional representatives each state will have and to allocate federal funds to states and localities.
American Community Survey (ACS)
Section titled “American Community Survey (ACS)”The American Community Survey (ACS) is conducted by the United States Census Bureau on a continuous basis. The ACS collects data on the social, economic, and housing characteristics of the United States population and provides a more detailed picture of the population than is possible through the decennial census. Its data are used to inform decisions about policy and allocation of resources.
Local censuses
Section titled “Local censuses”Censuses can be conducted at the city or county level to collect data on the population and characteristics of local residents. Local census data are used for policy decisions, allocation of resources, and planning.
Collection methods
Section titled “Collection methods”Censuses can be conducted through mail-in surveys, phone interviews, and in-person interviews. In the United States, the decennial census typically combines these methods, starting with mail-in surveys and following up by phone or in person for nonresponding households.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Determining the number of congressional representatives for each state.
- Allocating federal funds to states and localities.
- Informing policy decisions and allocation of resources.
- Planning for future needs by understanding population size, composition, and characteristics.
- Providing more detailed population characteristics through continuous surveys like the ACS.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- United States Census Bureau
- Decennial census
- American Community Survey (ACS)
- Local (city or county) census