As the leading source of information on the nation’s people, places and economy, we provide data about our country’s population size and growth as well as detailed portraits of the changing characteristics of our communities and economy.
America’s founders recognized that this information was needed to serve its people effectively. We collect vital information and develop statistics representing the American people, including where and how they live.
The Census Bureau collects information through the decennial census, the American Community Survey, the economic census, and many other surveys.
Learn more about the Census Bureau’s censuses, surveys and programs.
Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race, ethnicity and other factors. Your community benefits the most when it has access to accurate demographic and socioeconomic data through an accurate count of population, households and businesses.
The Census Bureau provides statistical snapshots of demographic and economic trends used by organizations, businesses and individuals. We partner with the public and private sector, nonprofits, community-based organizations and academia to harness the power of our data, support each other’s mission and co-create solutions to increase the use of data and participation in surveys and programs.