Information about the US 2020 Census

Welcome to the 2020 Census
It's quick and easy. The 2020 Census questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete.

It's safe, secure, and confidential. Your information and privacy are protected.

The Census Bureau takes many steps to protect everyone’s data, and federal law strictly limits how the information can be used. U.S. Code Title 13 protects the confidentiality of individual responses:

Private information (e.g. names, addresses, phone numbers) is not published until 72 years after collection.

Your Census responses cannot be used against you in any court of law or by law enforcement. No agency can access your individual responses.

Census staff take a lifetime oath and if violated the penalty is up to $250,000 and/or up to 5 years in prison.

Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.

Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government.

The 2020 Census does not ask for:

1. Your Social Security number;
2. Money or donations;
3. Anything on behalf of a political party; or
4. Your bank or credit card account numbers.

How can I fill out the 2020 Census?

Individual households:

A household can self-respond in three ways: online, by phone or filling out a mail-in form. 

Census takers will visit individual homes where no one from a household responded by mid-May to get responses in person.

People experiencing homelessness:

People experiencing homelessness will be counted through the Service-Based Enumeration (SBE) at service sites and pre-identified outdoor sites on March 30, March 31, and April 1, 2020.

These locations are shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans and target non-sheltered outdoor locations.

If a person who is experiencing homelessness would like to fill out a questionnaire, they can describe where they are staying (i.e. under highway, park) and include the town/city and state in the address section.

What if someone needs language assistance?

The online and telephone self-response questionnaires will be available in English and 12 other languages: Spanish, Chinese (simplified online, Cantonese and Mandarin by phone), Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

If you need help or further information, please call toll-free 1-844-330-2020.