Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
2020 Census Quality and Data Processing Press Kit
The Census Bureau is processing responses and assessing quality as we work toward releasing the 2020 Census results.
Data Quality Metrics
- Operational Quality Metrics
- Self-response rates down to the tract level
- Total completion rates at the state level
- NRFU workload completion rates for area census offices
- National administrative records and proxy respondent enumeration rates [PDF]
- More to come along with the data for apportionment (see table shell [XLS] and blog).
Coverage Measurement Estimates
- A Preliminary Analysis of U.S. and State-Level Results From the 2020 Census - Released April 26, 2021
- Demographic Analysis – Estimates released Dec. 15, 2020.
- Post-Enumeration Survey - The first results from the PES are planned for release in the first quarter of 2022, with additional results to be released in the summer of 2022.
Video
PES Results for Puerto Rico and Housing Units
August 16, 2022
The U.S. Census Bureau released the final set of results from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) on Aug. 16. These results provide insight into the quality of the 2020 Census counts for the Puerto Rico population and housing units. It also includes coverage estimates for housing units across the nation, regions, states and the District of Columbia, and by selected characteristics for the nation.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau Releases Results of Post-Enumeration Survey for Puerto Rico From 2020 CensusThe U.S. Census Bureau today released estimates of net coverage error and components of coverage for Puerto Rico from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES).
-
Press ReleaseConclusiones sobre los resultados del Censo del 2020 para Puerto RicoLa Encuesta de la Fase Posterior a la Enumeración proporciona información sobre los conteos de población y vivienda de Puerto Rico.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau Releases Results of Post-Enumeration Survey for 2020 Census Housing Unit CountsThe U.S. Census Bureau today released undercount and overcount rates for housing units from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau to Release 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey Results for Puerto Rico and Housing UnitsThese results will provide insight into the quality of the 2020 Census counts for the Puerto Rico population and housing units.
-
Press ReleasePublicarán informe sobre los conteos de Puerto Rico y de la viviendaEl 16 de agosto, la Oficina del Censo de los EE. UU. publicará el conjunto final de resultados de la Encuesta de la Fase Posterior a la Enumeración del 2020.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau Releases First in a Series of 2020 Census Quality ReportsThe U.S. Census Bureau today released the first two of more than 65 reports from its 2020 Census Evaluations and Experiments (EAE) operation.
Understanding the Count: A Discussion on the Latest 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey Results Webinar
Thursday, May 19
10 a.m. EDT
The U.S. Census Bureau will release the results from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) for the 50 states and District of Columbia on May 19.
A webinar on “Understanding the Count: A Discussion on the Latest 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey Results” will be held to highlight the results.
News Conference and Technical Presentation on 2020 Census Quality
Thursday, March 10
10 a.m. EST
The U.S. Census Bureau will release the first set of results from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) along with additional results from the 2020 Demographic Analysis (DA) estimates on March 10.
Archived video: 2020 Census Data Quality Releases News Conference (3/10/22)
Data
News
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau to Hold Third Status Briefing for the National Urban League PlaintiffsThe U.S. Census Bureau will hold a briefing for the National Urban League plaintiffs in the case of NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, et. al., v. GINA RAIMONDO et. al.
-
Press Release2020 Census Post-Enumeration Survey Results Available for 50 States and DC in MayUndercount and overcount rates by state and the District of Columbia from the 2020 Census Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) will be released in May 2022.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau Releases Estimates of Undercount and Overcount in the 2020 CensusThe U.S. Census Bureau released results today from two analyses about the quality of the 2020 Census counts.
-
Press ReleaseLa Oficina del Censo publica estimaciones del conteo del 2020La Encuesta de la Fase Posterior a la Enumeración y el Análisis Demográfico ayudan a evaluar los resultados del Censo del 2020.
-
Press ReleaseCensus Bureau Releases Quality Indicators on 2020 CensusThis is the first time that the Census Bureau has released detailed analyses and operational quality metrics on the same day as the first population counts.
-
Press ReleaseQuality Metrics With First 2020 Census ResultsA number of data quality indicators will be released following the announcement of the first results from the 2020 Census.
-
Press ReleaseWebinar to Provide Insights on Upcoming Quality Metrics ReleaseThe U.S. Census Bureau plans for the first time to release a number of data quality indicators along with the first results from the 2020 Census.
Webinars
Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 1 p.m. EST
The Census Bureau will conduct a webinar prior to the release of the first set of results from the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) along with additional results from the 2020 Demographic Analysis (DA) estimates on March 10. The webinar will explain the purpose, methodologies and types of results that will be made available from the PES and DA.
Archived video: 2020 Census Data Quality Webinar
Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 1 p.m. EDT
The Census Bureau held a technical webinar to give more insight on these initial 2020 Census data quality metrics.
The webinar did not include any 2020 Census data. It gave a preview of the type and meaning behind the data quality metrics that will be available in the coming months.
A live media Q&A session will immediately follow the webinar.
Blogs
-
Random Samplings Blog2020 Census Operational Statistics on the Planning DatabaseThe Census Bureau released the 2023 PDB, the first PDB to include operational statistics from the 2020 Census, including metrics on online self-response.
-
Random Samplings BlogUpdates to OMB’s Race/Ethnicity StandardsOMB published the results of its review of SPD 15 and issued updated standards for collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data across federal agencies.
-
Random Samplings BlogUpcoming 2020 Census Coverage EstimatesThe U.S. Census Bureau released coverage estimates for the 2020 Census.
-
Random Samplings BlogThe Post-Enumeration Survey: Measuring Coverage ErrorAlthough we undertake extensive efforts to accurately count everyone in the decennial census, sometimes people are missed or duplicated.
-
Random Samplings BlogUsing Demographic Benchmarks to Help Evaluate 2020 Census ResultsOne of the primary methods of evaluating the quality of a census is comparing the results to other population benchmarks.
-
Random Samplings Blog2020 Census Program for Evaluations, Experiments, and AssessmentsThis blog describes the series of formal evaluations and assessments that measure different aspects of census operations and specific challenges.
-
Random Samplings BlogPrograma de Evaluaciones y Experimentos del Censo del 2020Este blog describe la serie de evaluaciones formales que miden diferentes aspectos de las operaciones del censo y los desafíos.
-
Random Samplings BlogImprovements to the 2020 Census Race and Hispanic Origin Question Designs, Data Processing, and Coding ProceduresThis blog discusses how we improved the census questions on race and Hispanic origin, also known as ethnicity, between 2010 and 2020.
-
Random Samplings BlogImprovements to the 2020 Census Race and Hispanic Origin Question Designs, Data Processing, and Coding ProceduresThis blog discusses how we improved the census questions on race and Hispanic origin, also known as ethnicity, between 2010 and 2020.
-
Random Samplings BlogHow We Complete the Census When Demographic and Housing Characteristics Are MissingAlthough we strive to obtain all demographic and housing data from every individual in the census, missing data are part of every census process.
-
Random Samplings BlogCenso del 2020: Métricas de calidad, Publicación 2Este blog proporciona datos destacados del segundo grupo de métricas operacionales de calidad del Censo del 2020.
-
Random Samplings Blog2020 Census Operational Quality Metrics: Release 2Today we released the second round of 2020 Census operational quality metrics.
-
Random Samplings BlogExamining Operational Quality MetricsThe Census Bureau is taking a multifaceted approach to studying the quality of the 2020 Census, so as to produce a more complete and informative picture.
-
Random Samplings BlogComparisons to Benchmarks as a Measure of QualityData quality is multidimensional and so approaching it from multiple angles produces a more insightful and holistic picture of a dataset.
-
Random Samplings Blog2020 Census Data ReviewFor the 2020 Census, we are conducting one of the most comprehensive reviews in recent census history.
-
Random Samplings BlogRevisión de los datos del Censo del 2020En este blog hablamos sobre cómo estamos realizando una de las revisiones de datos más completas en la historia reciente del censo, para el Censo del 2020.
-
Random Samplings BlogCompleting the Census When Households or Group Quarters Don't RespondAs we continue to process 2020 Census responses, people have asked what happens when we don’t get a response from an address.
-
Random Samplings BlogCómo completamos el censo cuando los hogares no respondenMientras continuamos procesando las respuestas al Censo del 2020, las personas han preguntado qué sucede cuando no obtenemos una respuesta de una dirección.
-
Random Samplings BlogAdministrative Records and the 2020 CensusEach decade we are asked, “Why don’t you just use the information the government already has about me for the census? Why ask me again?”
-
Random Samplings BlogLos registros administrativos y el Censo del 2020Este blog describe cómo el Censo del 2020 usó los registros administrativos para contar a las personas que no respondieron.
-
Random Samplings BlogIntroduction to Quality Indicators: Operational MetricsIn the coming weeks, the U.S. Census Bureau will release the first set of results from the 2020 Census. Our goal for every census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.
-
Random Samplings Blog2020 Census Group QuartersAs we continue processing 2020 Census results, we’d like to provide more information on how we count people living in group quarters (GQs).
-
Random Samplings BlogFinding 'Anomalies' Illustrates 2020 Census Quality Checks Are WorkingWe’re in the midst of data processing for the 2020 Census. As Acting Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin acknowledged in a recent blog, we’ve discovered some “anomalies” along the way that we’re looking into and resolving.
-
Random Samplings BlogEncontrar ‘anomalías’ demuestra que los controles de calidad funcionanEl 9 de marzo de 2021, la Oficina del Censo de los EE. UU. publicó un blog (en inglés) sobre las “anomalías” que encontramos al procesar los datos del Censo del 2020.
-
Random Samplings BlogAdapting Field Operations to Meet Unprecedented ChallengesAs we process census responses and analyze the quality of the 2020 Census, it’s helpful to look back at some of the unprecedented challenges we faced during this census.
-
Random Samplings BlogAdaptación de las operaciones de campo para enfrentar desafíosLa oficina del Censo de los EE. UU. compartió información en una publicación de blog el 1 de marzo de 2021, acerca de cómo la realización de un censo es una tarea enorme, incluso en circunstancias ideales.
-
Random Samplings BlogEnsuring a Robust and Accurate Data Quality Analysis in the 2020 CensusAsking outside experts to review our work is standard operating procedure at the U.S. Census Bureau. It underscores our commitment to quality and transparency.
-
Random Samplings BlogTimeline for Releasing Redistricting DataWe expect to deliver the redistricting data to the states and the public by Sept. 30, 2021.
-
Random Samplings BlogCensus Data Processing 101Michael Thieme describes how census data processing works to ensure the census is accurate.
-
Director's Blog2020 Census Processing UpdatesI’m writing to provide an update on data processing for the 2020 Census.
-
Random Samplings BlogUpdate on 2020 Census Data Processing and QualityThe Census Bureau has begun processing the data collected for the 2020 Census. Data collection for the decennial census is always a herculean task and 2020 was no exception.
Fact Sheets
-
Fact SheetUnderstanding Disclosure Avoidance-Related Variability 2020 CensusThis research is part of comprehensive efforts after each census to better understand sources of variability—both their scope and potential impacts.
-
Fact SheetData Quality and the 2020 CensusEnsuring the quality of the census results is built into every step of conducting the census.
-
Fact SheetLa calidad de los datos y el Censo del 2020Asegurar la calidad de los resultados del censo es parte de cada paso en la realización del censo.
JASON Studies
JASON is an independent group of scientists and engineers formed to work on problems of importance to the federal government in technical areas related to national security and public benefit. Founded in 1959, it has a long history of performing studies for elements of the federal government including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Intelligence Community. Over its history, JASON members have included four Nobel laureates, dozens of members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and holders of many distinguished academic positions. JASON expertise is constantly refreshed through the addition of new members and spans the fields of science and engineering, including astrophysics, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, oceanography & planetary science, physics, and various engineering disciplines.
-
Press ReleaseReport on Assessment of 2020 Census Data Quality ProcessesToday, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report authored by JASON titled, “Assessment of 2020 Census Data Quality Processes.”
-
Memorandum 2021.01: Assessment of 2020 Census Data Quality ProcessesThis memorandum releases the Assessment of 2020 Census Data Quality Processes report authored by the JASON group.
News Products
Press Kits
Subject Matter Expert Bios
Related Links
2010 Census Resources
2010 Census Blogs
2010 Census Releases
Page Last Revised - June 11, 2024
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
