Census Bureau
How the Census Shapes Political Power and Funding
See how census counts shape House seats, Electoral College votes, and federal funding, and which groups get undercounted most.
Census Bureau
The Census Bureau is the federal statistical agency that counts the population and collects data about the people, households, and businesses of the United States. It conducts the constitutionally required count of residents and runs surveys that describe communities, including income, housing, and work. Its data informs government decisions, funding, and business planning.
People usually bring questions about how the census works, how seats in Congress are divided, and how personal information is protected. Others ask how the census differs from the American Community Survey, how to read population data, and how the agency defines income and poverty.
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October 2last updated
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