Census Data API User Guide
The purpose of this user guide is to instruct developers and researchers on how to use the Census Data Application Programming Interface (API) to request data from U.S. Census Bureau datasets.
Available Data
What Data are Available in the Census Data API?
Determine the dataset that holds the information for which you are searching. Then decide what information you want from this dataset. The Census Bureau has already made available many datasets and is adding more almost monthly for querying with the API tool. Currently, the most popular aggregate datasets to query for variables using the API are as follows:
- American Community Survey (ACS): ACS 1-Year, ACS 5-Year, ACS Supplemental, ACS Migration Flows
- Economic Indicators Time Series
- Decennial Census
- Economic Census
- County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics
- Population Estimates and Projections
- International Trade
You can access a complete list of available datasets in the API Discovery Tool by going to <api.census.gov/data.html?key=your key here>. Be sure to replace the ‘your key here’ portion of the URL with your own API key.
Figure 1: Datasets in the Census Data API: <api.census.gov/data.html?key=your key here>
Related Information
-
How-to Materials for Using the Census APIDo you have questions on how to use the Census API? Check out our step-by-step guidance to learn how to use the Census API to find the data you need.
-
Data ToolExplore Census DataThis new platform on data.census.gov is based on overwhelming feedback to streamline the way you get data and digital content from Census Bureau.