Factfinder for the Nation

• Conducts a decennial census every 10 years to apportion seats in the House of Representatives. Census counts are also required to draw Congressional or state legislative district boundaries, for allocating Federal and state funds under various grants-inaid, in formulating public policy at all levels, and in private sector planning and decision making.

• Conducts other censuses and surveys; collects and analyzes statistical data relating to the social and economic activities and characteristics of the population of the United States and other prescribed areas; and publishes and disseminates these statistics to the Congress, the Executive Branch, business, state and local governments, and the public.

• Conducts special statistical studies on domestic and foreign trade, business services, industry, transportation, construction, agriculture, population and housing, and on Federal, state, and local governments and based thereon, issues reports, special tabulations, and monographs.

• Conducts statistical and related research and development activities directed toward improving quality and lowering costs and achieving more effective censuses and surveys.

• Develops and maintains a statistical directory of establishments engaged in economic activity in the United States for Federal agencies' use and for statistical purposes, ensuring that confidentiality of data is preserved.

History

Legal Authorities

Legislative

Learn more about our organization and the laws and policies