This brief describes the operations that will be used to count people in rural areas. An accurate count of all rural residents is important for ensuring that rural Americans have access to the resources their communities need to thrive.
Both the 2020 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS) face fiscal, operational, and policy threats that could jeopardize a fair and accurate count and weaken the data that shape thriving public and private sectors. This resource explains the vital roles the 2020 Census and ACS play in the health care, education, housing, local government, transportation, and manufacturing sectors and the steps stakeholders can take to protect the surveys.
This issue brief provides an overview of what observers and stakeholders should expect from the 2018 End-to-End (E2E) Census Test, often called the “dress rehearsal.” As the last, most comprehensive test before 2020 Census operations begin, the E2E Census Test is fundamental to the 2020 Census’ goal: “to count everyone once, only once and in the right place.”
American Indians and Alaska Natives have been historically undercounted for decades, in part due to the fact that roughly than one in four American Indians and Alaska Natives live in hard-to-count census tracts. Factors such as poverty, educational attainment, and housing insecurity can compound American Indians and Alaska Natives’ risk of being undercounted. Being undercounted potentially disadvantages American Indian and Alaska Native families, communities, and neighborhoods.
In past censuses, the Middle Eastern and North African Americans (MENA) identity has only been listed as an example under the “white” racial category, if at all. Because of this, the full breadth of the MENA community is unknown and likely undercounted. Factors such as poverty, language barriers, and housing insecurity can compound the risk of MENA communities being undercounted. Being undercounted potentially disadvantages MENA families and communities.
People with low incomes have been undercounted for decades, in part due to the fact that people experiencing poverty make up almost 50 percent of the U.S. population that lives in hard-to-count communities. Factors such as internet access, racial disparities, and housing insecurity can compound the risk of households with low incomes being undercounted. The undercount of people with low incomes disadvantages families, communities, and neighborhoods.
African Americans have been historically undercounted for decades, in part due to the fact that more than one in three African Americans live in hard-to-count census tracts. African American children under age five were overlooked at roughly twice the rate of young non-Hispanic White children in the 2010 Census. African American men have also been historically undercounted compared to men of other racial or ethnic groups. Being undercounted potentially disadvantages African American families, communities, and neighborhoods.
People experiencing homelessness have been undercounted in the decennial census for decades. Certain characteristics compound the risk of people experiencing homelessness being undercounted, including being temporary members of households or living in hard-to-reach locales such as in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens.
More than one third of U.S. households are renters. The net undercount rate for people living in rental housing units in the 2010 Census was 1.1 percent compared to a net overcount of 0.6 percent for people living in owner-occupied housing units. Factors such as transitory status, poverty, and racial disparities can compound the risk of renters being undercounted.
The Census and the American Community Survey (ACS) produce some of the best data for understanding the nation’s different sectors and the people they serve. Both surveys currently face fiscal, operational, and policy threats that could jeopardize a fair and accurate count, weakening the data that ensure thriving public and private sectors. This fact sheet explains the vital roles the 2020 Census and ACS play in the health sector and the steps stakeholders can take to protect them.