U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Skip Header
Partners Researchers Educators Survey Respondents
News NAICS Codes Jobs About Us Contact Us Help
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Search data, events, resources, and more
Topics
Browse our topics and subtopics to find information and data.
View All Topics and Subtopics Index A to Z
Age and Sex Business and Economy Education Emergency Management / Disasters Employment Families and Living Arrangements Geography Health Hispanic Origin Housing
Income and Poverty International Trade Migration/Geographic Mobility Population Population Estimates Public Sector Race Redistricting Research Voting and Registration
Data & Maps
Access demographic, economic and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Explore census data with visualizations and view tutorials.
Explore data on data.census.gov View all data resources
Census Academy Combining Data Data Equity Tools Data Tools and Apps Datasets Developers Experimental Data Products
Interactive Maps Mapping Files Profiles Related Sites Software Tables Training and Workshops Visualizations
Surveys & Programs
Our surveys provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about the nation. This data is critical for government programs, policies, and decision-making.
Survey Help View all Surveys & Programs
2020 Census 2030 Census American Community Survey (ACS) American Housing Survey (AHS) Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES) Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) Census of Governments County Business Patterns (CBP) Current Population Survey (CPS)
Economic Census Household Pulse Survey International Programs Metro and Micro Areas Population Estimates Population Projections Small Area Income and Poverty Statistics of U.S. Businesses Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)
Resource Library
Browse our collection of stories and more.
View all library resources Glossary
America Counts: Stories Audio Blogs By the Numbers Facts for Features Fact Sheets Infographics and Visualizations
Photos Publications Spotlights Stats for Stories Training (Census Academy) Videos Working Papers
Partners Researchers Educators Survey Respondents
News NAICS Codes Jobs About Us Contact Us Help
View All Topics and Subtopics Index A to Z
Age and Sex Business and Economy Education Emergency Management / Disasters Employment Families and Living Arrangements Geography Health Hispanic Origin Housing Income and Poverty International Trade Migration/Geographic Mobility Population Population Estimates Public Sector Race Redistricting Research Voting and Registration
Explore data on data.census.gov View all data resources
Census Academy Combining Data Data Equity Tools Data Tools and Apps Datasets Developers Experimental Data Products Interactive Maps Mapping Files Profiles Related Sites Software Tables Training and Workshops Visualizations
Survey Help View all Surveys & Programs
2020 Census 2030 Census American Community Survey (ACS) American Housing Survey (AHS) Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES) Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) Census of Governments County Business Patterns (CBP) Current Population Survey (CPS) Economic Census Household Pulse Survey International Programs Metro and Micro Areas Population Estimates Population Projections Small Area Income and Poverty Statistics of U.S. Businesses Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)
View all library resources Glossary
America Counts: Stories Audio Blogs By the Numbers Facts for Features Fact Sheets Infographics and Visualizations Photos Publications Spotlights Stats for Stories Training (Census Academy) Videos Working Papers

Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy

Skip Navigation
Within Technical Documentation

Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy

View the detailed codes and definitions for variables, statistical testing, and an explanation of sample design, methodology, and accuracy for the American Community Survey.

2020
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
2020

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau changed the 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) release. Instead of providing the standard 1-year data products, the Census Bureau released experimental estimates from the 1-year data. Review the link below to be directed to the ACS Experimental Estimates page for additional details.

Experimental Data Product
American Community Survey Experimental Data
Explore resources to help you understand the 2020 American Community Survey 1-year Experimental Data Release.

Code Lists

Detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation. New for 2020: Hispanic Origin and Race Code List in Excel format

pdf 2020 Code List [1.0 MB]
xls 2020 Supplement: Hispanic Origin and Race Code List [1.0 MB]

Subject Definitions

Definitions of population and housing variables to help you understand the results of the American Community Survey

pdf 2020 Subject Definitions [1.4 MB]

Group Quarters Definitions

Definitions for classifying group living situations according to the type of housing and/or services provided

pdf 2020 Group Quarters Definitions [<1.0 MB]

Comparison Guidance

Learn more about comparing the ACS with the Census and 5-year to 5-year estimates

web 2020 Comparison Guidance

Table Shells and Table List

Learn more about the layout of the tables and information about tables

web Table Shells and Table List

Instructions for Applying Statistical Testing

Basic instructions for obtaining the ACS standard errors needed to do manual statistical testing

pdf 2020 Instructions for Applying Statistical Testing

Worked Examples for Approximating Margins of Error

Worked Examples on approximating standard errors for various types of ACS estimates

pdf 2020 Worked Examples for Approximating Margins of Error

Statistical Testing Tool

Spreadsheet to quickly test whether ACS estimates are statistically different from one another

web Statistical Testing Tool

Accuracy of the Data

A basic explanation of the sample design, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the data.

web 2020 ACS 1-Year Experimental Data Tables
pdf 2016-2020 ACS Multiyear Accuracy (US)
pdf 2016-2020 PRCS Multiyear Accuracy (Puerto Rico)

You May Be Interested In

Page Last Revised - August 18, 2023
✕
Is this page helpful?
Thumbs Up Image Yes Thumbs Down Image No
✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum 255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?

Top

Back to Header