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1. Why did the U.S. Census Bureau stop asking questions about veterans on the decennial census?
2. What sources of data are available from the U.S. Census Bureau about veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces?
3. Where can I access data and data products related to veterans from the U.S. Census Bureau?
4. Where can I find historical information on questions asked about veterans?
5. Where can I find historical data on veterans?
6. When did the U.S. Census Bureau start asking veteran status questions of women?
7. Where can I find information on service-connected disabilities?
8. Which demographic characteristics of veterans are available in published tables?
9. Where can I find the most recent economic data related to veteran business owners?
10. Are there any U.S. Census Bureau surveys that can distinguish veterans by military rank, length of service, or retirement?
11. How are current U.S. service members counted in the American Community Survey (ACS)?
12. How are current U.S. service members counted in the decennial census?
13. How are current U.S. service members counted in other surveys?
14. Where can I find information about the general demographic characteristics of the U.S. military?
15. Where can I find information about those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families?
16. Where can I find information on veterans living in the U.S. Island Areas?
17. Where can I find data about homeless veterans?

Prior to the 2010 Census, decennial censuses included two types of questionnaires: (1) A short form on which most people were enumerated and that counted the population and asked only a few basic questions, (2) A long form on which a sample of people were enumerated. In 2000, that sample was approximately 1 in 6 households. The long form gathered a wide range of information about demographic, economic, social, and housing characteristics and also included all of the questions asked on the short form. To be clear, veteran status was collected from a sample of the population; there was not a count of ALL veterans in 2000 or earlier censuses.  

The American Community Survey (ACS), a decennial census program, began in the late 1990s with the goal of becoming a replacement to the long form of the decennial census and providing communities with more timely data. ACS data are very timely because they are released in the year immediately following that in which they are collected. Over the course of the year, ACS samples roughly 3.5 million addresses or about 1 in 38 households, resulting in over 2 million final interviews.

Today, all of the demographic, social, economic, and housing data that were previously collected every ten years on the long-form of the decennial census are collected annually using the ACS. This includes the series of questions related to veteran status, period of service, and, since 2008, service-connected disability status.

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Demographic and socioeconomic data on veterans on veterans are collected on the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and in some decennial censuses prior to 2010.

Economic data about veteran-owned businesses are collected by the Annual Business Survey.

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Data.census.gov can be used to access data products, such as detailed tables and subject tables, from the American Community Survey (ACS).

Each type of table includes a topic ID in the table number. Veterans products are distinguished by topic ID ‘21’. For example, detailed table B21002 and subject table S2101 cover veterans topics.

Microdata users frequently want to look at relationships among variables not shown in the standard products offered by the Census Bureau. These users can download Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files using the Census Bureau’s file transfer protocol (FTP) server.

Another source of data is the microdata access tool, available at data.census.gov/mdat/#/, which allows users to create a limited set of custom data tables.

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Historical information on questions asked about veteran status can be accessed through the history of veterans status pages, which can also be found under the “About This Topic” and “Guidance For Data Users” tabs. A list of questions related to veterans in the decennial census from 1910 through 2000 and in the American Community Survey from 2000 to the present is available here: Veteran Status and Period of Military Service Questions 1910 to Present. <https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/topics/population/veterans/guidance/veteran-questions-over-time.pdf>” Another source of historical information on the decennial census is the document titled, “Measuring America: The Decennial Census from 1790–2000.” 

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Historical data tables on veterans from the decennial census can be found in the publication section of this website, as well as on the main U.S. Census Bureau website under the Census of Population and Housing section.  Historical public-use microdata for the decennial censuses are available from IPUMS at the University of Minnesota.

Public-use microdata for all years of the American Community Survey are available from the PUMS data download center.

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The decennial census has been asking questions about veteran status since 1840, excluding the years 1900 and 1920. The 1980 decennial census marked the first time that information on women veterans had ever been gathered in a national survey, changing the wording of the question from “If this is a man…” to “Has this person…” ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Current Population Survey (CPS) has been asking questions about veterans since the 1940s, but it did not begin to collect data on the veteran status of women until 1984.

Veteran status questions have been asked of everyone 15 years and older since the 1983 panel of the Survey of Program Participation (SIPP).

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In 2008, two new questions about service-connected disability status and ratings were added to the American Community Survey (ACS). These questions are asked of all people who indicate they had previously served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard, they had trained with the Reserves or National Guard, or they were currently on active duty. Tables B21100 and C21100 are available through data.census.gov.

Information about compensation for service-connected disabilities is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the Annual Benefits Report.

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ACS: Since 2004, the detailed tables on veterans from the ACS include the following topics: race and Hispanic origin, period of military service, educational attainment, median income, employment status, disability status, and poverty status. Starting in 2008, tables on service-connected disability status and ratings were added to the ACS data products. Data users interested in other characteristics available from the ACS--such as marital status, school enrollment, migration, or home ownership--can use the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files to tabulate their own analyses on such topics.

CPS: Information on the voting and registration rates of veterans, by selected characteristics, is available for Presidential and Congressional elections since 2000. Tables 15a through 15d (2000 to 2008) and Table 13 (2010 to present) of the detailed table packages can be found in the Voting and Registration section.

SIPP: There are currently no published tables on veterans’ topics from the SIPP.

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Data about veteran business owners can be found in the Annual Business Survey, available here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs.html.

General characteristics, including veteran status, are available in tables “ABS - Characteristics of Business Owners,” located here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs/data/tables.html

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No. The questions asked of veterans on current U.S. Census Bureau surveys are veteran status (Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces?), period of military service (When did you serve?), and, on the American Community Survey (ACS), service-connected disability status and ratings.

In the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses and the 2000 through 2007 American Community Surveys, there was a question that asked whether the veterans’ active duty service was less than 2 years or 2 years or more. This question was intended to be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to determine eligibility for certain benefits. The question was removed in the 2008 ACS as the VA no longer needed this information.

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For the American Community Survey (ACS), residency in housing units is determined using the concept of "current residence." Current residence is defined as everyone who is living at the sampled housing unit for more than two months. This means that their expected length of stay is more than two months, not that they have been staying in the housing unit for more than two months. Persons away from their residence for two months or less, whether in the United States or overseas, on a vacation or on a business trip, are considered to still be "in residence" at the sample unit and the unit is classified as occupied. Persons away from their residence for more than two months are considered not to be in residence. For the ACS, if no one is determined to be a current resident in the sampled housing unit, it is classified as "vacant."

If anyone listed on the household roster is away from the sample unit for more than two months, including someone in the military, they should not be included on the form.

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Members of the military receive a census form at their military installation or on a military ship. Federally affiliated military and civilians (and their dependents living with them), who are living outside the United States, are counted in the census. These types of people are counted in the census using the government’s administrative records. They will not receive a census form and should not be included on any census form mailed to a U.S. residence.

The 2020 Residence Rule and Residence Situations. 

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Only the civilian noninstitutionalized household and group quarters population is interviewed for the Current Population Survey (CPS). The group quarters population is classified as institutional or noninstitutionalized and as military or civilian. CPS targets only the civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in group quarters. Military and institutional group quarters are included in the group quarters frame and given a chance of selection in case of conversion to civilian noninstitutionalized housing by the time it is scheduled for interview. Current members of the military are also not eligible for the labor force questions in the CPS.

The Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) sample universe is slightly different from that in the CPS. The CPS completely excludes military personnel while the ASEC includes military personnel who live in households with at least one other civilian adult.

The universe for the Survey of Program Participation (SIPP) is the resident population of the United States, excluding persons living in institutions and military barracks. SIPP does not interview original sample members if they move outside the United States, become members of the military living in barracks, or become institutionalized (e.g., nursing home residents, prison inmates).

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The U.S. Census Bureau does not publish any tables of the characteristics of members of the U.S. military. Data users can use data.census.gov/mdat/#/ or the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files to produce their own tabulations.

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The U.S. Census Bureau does not publish any tables of the members of the U.S. military and their families. Data users can use Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files from the American Community Survey to produce their own tabulations.

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The 2020 Census of the Island Areas included questions about veterans. Tables are available on data.census.gov.

Information on veterans living in Puerto Rico are available annually from the Puerto Rico Community Survey, part of the American Community Survey program. Tables are available on data.census.gov.

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The U.S. Census Bureau does not collect data about the homeless population. Data on homelessness, including homeless veterans, can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress Homeless Population and Subpopulation Reports.

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