2020 United States census


The 2020 United States census was the 24th decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to offer options to respond online or by phone, in addition to the paper response form used for previous censuses.
The census was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected its administration. The census recorded a resident population of 331,449,281 in the 50 states and the national capital of Washington, D.C., reflecting an increase of 7.4%, or 22,703,743, over 2010. The growth rate was the second-lowest ever recorded, and the net increase was the sixth-highest in history. This was the first census where the ten most-populous states each surpassed ten million residents, and the first census where the ten most-populous cities each surpassed one million residents.
This census's data determined the electoral votes' distribution for the 2024 United States presidential election. A subsequent review by the Census Bureau found significant miscounts in several minority populations and in several states.

Background

As required by the United States Constitution, the U.S. census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. The 2010 United States census was the previous census completed. All people in the U.S. 18 and older are legally obligated to answer census questions, and to do so truthfully. Personally identifiable information is private and the Census Bureau itself will never release it. However, the National Archives and Records Administration could release the original census returns in 2092, if the 72-year rule is not changed before then.
On census reference day, April 1, 2020, the resident United States population was projected to be 329.59 million, a 6.76% increase from the 2010 census.

Purpose

Reapportionment

The results of the 2020 census determine the number of seats for each state in the House of Representatives, hence also the number of electors for each state in the Electoral College, for elections from 2022 to 2032.
The Census Bureau announced the apportionment figures on April 26, 2021. 13 states had changes in congressional seats:
This represented a smaller number of seats shifting than was forecast by independent analysts.

Redistricting

State and local officials use censuses to redraw boundaries for districts such as congressional districts, state legislative districts, and school districts.

Federal funding distribution

Dozens of federal programs use census data to help direct funding to state and local areas. Census results help determine how more than $675billion in federal funding are allocated to states and communities each year for roads, schools, hospitals, emergency services, and more.

Major design changes

The 2020 census was the first U.S. census to offer a full internet response option and the first to extensively use technology instead of paper to manage and conduct fieldwork.
Key design changes included:
  • Three response options: Internet, paper, and phone. Ultimately, every household that didn't respond online was sent a paper form. Households in areas with low internet access received a paper form from the start.
  • Multiple languages: In addition to English, respondents were able to complete the census in 12 other languages online or by phone; in addition, language guides, language glossaries, and language identification cards were provided in 59 non-English languages.
  • In-office address canvassing: In the 2010 and earlier censuses, census workers walked every street in the United States to verify addresses on the ground. The 2020 census used satellite imagery and GPS to identify areas where housing had changed and assigned workers to verify those addresses in person.
  • Digital case management: Census takers used secure iPhone 8 smartphones to receive daily assignments, navigate to interviews, communicate with supervisors, and submit timesheets. Special software was designed to optimize assignments, streamline management, flag issues immediately, and reduce unnecessary follow-up visits.
  • Streamlined follow-up visits using existing data sources: The 2020 census used existing government and third-party data to identify vacant households, to predict the best time of day to visit a particular household, and to count and provide characteristics for the people in the household after multiple attempts using existing high-quality data from trusted sources.

    Questions and data uses

As required by the Census Act, the U.S. Census Bureau submitted a list of questions to Congress on March 29, 2018. The U.S. census will not share any participant's information with any government agency, as it is prohibited by Title 13 United States code. It has been challenged, but the Supreme Court has always prevailed in reference to Title 13 to protect the confidentiality and privacy of information provided. Based on those questions and a subsequent executive order, the 2020 census asked:
  1. The number of people living or staying at the respondent's home on April 1, 2020.
  2. :Used for the total count and to ensure everyone is counted once, only once, and in the right place according to where they live on Census Day.
  3. Whether the home is owned or rented.
  4. :Used to produce statistics about homeownership and renters for economic indicators, housing programs and informing planning decisions.
  5. The sex of each person in the household.
  6. :Used to produce statistics used to plan and fund government programs, enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination.
  7. The age of each person in the household.
  8. :Used to better understand the size and characteristics of different age groups. Agencies use these data to plan and fund government programs that support specific age groups, including children and older populations.
  9. The race of each person in the household.
  10. :Used by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
  11. Whether a person in the household is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
  12. :Used by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
  13. The relationship of each person in the household to each other.
  14. :Used to plan and fund government programs that support families, including people raising children alone and other households who qualify for additional assistance.
The United States Census Bureau proposed but then withdrew plans to add a new category to classify Middle Eastern and North African peoples, over a dispute over whether this classification should be considered a white ethnicity or a separate race.

Timeline

  • January–March 2019: The U.S. Census Bureau opens 39 area census offices.
  • June–September 2019: The Census Bureau opens the remaining 209 area census offices. The offices support and manage the census takers who work all over the country to conduct the census.
  • August 2019: The Census Bureau conducts the in-field address canvassing operation. Census takers visit areas that have added or lost housing in recent years to ensure the Bureau's address list is up to date. The 2020 census was the first modern census that did not verify every address, in person, on the ground. Instead, satellite imagery, U.S. Postal Service, and other current records were used to verify most addresses and to highlight areas where census workers needed to verify in-person.
  • January 21, 2020: The Census Bureau begins counting the population in remote Alaska, with Toksook Bay being the first town to be enumerated.
  • April 1, 2020: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, households received an invitation to participate in the 2020 census. There are three options for responding: online, by mail, or by phone.
  • April 2020: Census takers begin following up with households around selected colleges and universities. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews.
  • May 2020: The Census Bureau begins following up with households who have not responded. In August 2020, the 3-month NRFU enumeration period was compressed to two 1/2 months, ending October 15, 2020.
  • September 23–24: People experiencing homelessness counted by officials who visited shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, and non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
  • October 15: Self-response data collection ends with over 99.9% of households having self-responded or been counted by census takers.
  • October 16, 2020: The count ends.
  • December 31, 2020: The Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the U.S. president..
  • April 1, 2021: The Census Bureau sends redistricting counts to the states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes..
  • April 26, 2021: Population results were released for the country as a whole and each state.
  • August 12, 2021: The Census Bureau began releasing data by race, ethnicity, sex, and age, as well as population numbers for counties, cities, towns and other smaller areas.
  • May 25, 2023: Demographic and housing data about local communities.
  • August 31, 2023: Congressional district summary files were released.
  • September 21, 2023: File A of detailed demographic and housing data was released.
  • August 1, 2024: File B of detailed demographic and housing data was released.

    Response rates

According to the Census Bureau, 60.0% of all U.S. households had submitted their census questionnaire by May 22, 2020either online, by mail or by phone. Most U.S. households were mailed an invitation letter between March 12–20 to self-respond. They account for more than 95% of all U.S. households. Prior to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the remaining 5% of U.S. households were supposed to be visited by census takers in April/May, dropping off invitation letters to owners. This was delayed, but most census offices restarted work again in mid-May. By July 14, 2020, the self-response rate was 62.1% or 91,800,000 households. The self-response rate was 66.5% in 2010 and 67.4% in 2000.
In an update published October 19, 2020, the Census Bureau stated 99.98% of addresses had been accounted for, with all but one state over a 99.9% rate. Paper responses postmarked on or before October 15 would be processed, as long as they arrived at the processing center by October 22.