Census

The U.S. census is the official count of the population. The Constitution requires an enumeration every ten years, and the decennial census helps determine each state’s number of seats in the House of Representatives. Census data also guide the allocation of some federal funds and support planning and research.

Example: The 2020 Census data were used to reapportion House seats among the states before the 2022 elections.

Common misconception: The census is only a survey of people who choose to respond. The decennial census aims to count everyone living in the United States, with procedures for households and people who are difficult to reach.

Sources: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about.html; https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html