2020 U.S. Census
WHAT IS THE 2020 CENSUS?
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
- Everyone counts - the census counts every person living in the U.S. once, only once, and in the right place.
- It's in the constitution - the U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the countrybecounted every 10 years.
- It's about fair representation-the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
- It's about redistricting - state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts.
- It's about $675 billion-the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on census data. That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.
- Taking part is your civic duty-completing the census is mandatory.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
How The Census Invites Everyone
2020 Confidentiality Fact Sheet
Complete Count Journal -- June 2019
For more information visit the US Census website.