Population*

Data Source

Census Population Estimates Program

The Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program (PEP) uses data on births, deaths, and migration to estimate population changes occurring since the most recent decennial census and produce a vintage, or annual time series of estimates. Each vintage includes the current data year and revised estimates for any earlier years since the last decennial census. 

Because each vintage of estimates includes all years since the most recent decennial census, the latest vintage supersedes all other estimates produced since the previous decennial census. 

See the Population Estimates Program methodology for statements and release notes for each vintage of population estimates. See the Limitations section for specific details pertaining to the current vintage year population estimates.

Website to download data
For more detailed methodological information

Population is a number

Population is the number of people who are residents in a county. Residents include people in households and group quarters, civilians and non-civilians, citizens and non-citizens and people incarcerated in the county.

The method for calculating Population has changed

Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to confidentiality protections for the 2020 decennial census, the 2020 census could not be used as the base population, or starting point, to estimate changes in the population. For the Vintage 2022 population estimates, the census created a Blended Base using 2020 census data, 2020 Demographic Analysis Estimates, and Vintage 2020 Population Estimates for April 1, 2020. At the national level, total population counts for the base population come from the 2020 census data. At the county level, population counts for the base population come from a blend of these three datasets.  

There were also methodological changes to the estimates of births, deaths, and migration, partially to adjust for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.¹  

Caution should be used when comparing these estimates across years

The population estimates vintage data used for this measure include estimates for all years since the most recent decennial census and therefore supersede all previously produced estimates for those dates. For this reason, population and demographic estimates are best compared within the same vintage series. CHR&R data draw from the most recent vintage available each year and therefore include multiple vintage series over time. 

Measure limitations

The data for this measure come from the Population Estimates Program, which uses survey data from the decennial census and American Community Survey and administrative records such as birth and death certificates. The measure is subject to the limitations of these data sources. The 2020 decennial census data that contributed to the population estimates Blended Base was collected during the social and environmental challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, civil unrest, and rising privacy concerns. Not all households are self-represented in census counts. Some households may be counted by interview with a census field worker, by using administrative records, or by proxy interviews with a landlord or neighbor.   

Disaggregation means breaking data down into smaller, meaningful subgroups. Disaggregated data are often broken down by characteristics of people or where they live. Disaggregated data can reveal inequalities that are otherwise hidden. These data can be disaggregated by:

• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Subcounty Area

Population estimates are available by age, sex, race, and subcounty from the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Methodology for the United States population estimates: Vintage 2022. 2022.  https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/methodology/2020-2022/methods-statement-v2022.pdf