Guides: United States Census 2020: About the 2020 Census Questions

What Questions Will the 2020 Census Ask?

The 2020 Census will ask:

How many people are living at your home on April 1, 2020: This will help the U.S. Census Bureau count the entire U.S. population and ensure that people are counted according to where they live on Census Day. The U.S. Census Bureau will ask the name of each person in the household.
Whether the home is owned or rented: This will help the U.S. Census Bureau produce statistics about homeownership and renting. The rates of homeownership serve as one indicator of the nation’s economy and help in administering housing programs and informing planning decisions.
About the sex of each person in your home: This allows the U.S. Census Bureau to create statistics, which can be used in planning and funding government programs. This information can also be used to enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination.
About the age of each person in your home: The U.S. Census Bureau creates statistics to better understand the size and characteristics of different age groups. This information helps to plan and fund government programs that support specific age groups, including children, youth and older adults.
About the race of each person in your home: This allows the U.S. Census Bureau to create statistics about race and racial groups. This data helps federal agencies monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those in the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
About whether a person in your home is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin: These responses help create statistics about this ethnic group. This is needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those in the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
About the relationship of each person in your home: This allows the Census Bureau to create estimates about families, households, and other groups. Relationship data is used in planning and funding government programs that support families, including people raising children alone.