{"id":277780,"date":"2025-11-03T12:04:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=277780"},"modified":"2025-12-16T14:12:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T19:12:40","slug":"counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2025\/11\/03\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-sans-serif-font-family is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b518eed0 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-small-icon-size has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-a903a136 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"--block-gap:inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-social-share-sheet\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/social-share-sheet&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;hashtags&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image&quot;:false}\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.enabled\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=277780\" class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__solid icon__share\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/solid.svg#share\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/a>\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/05\/07\/views-of-race-policing-and-black-lives-matter-in-the-5-years-since-george-floyds-killing\/\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;x&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/05\/07\/views-of-race-policing-and-black-lives-matter-in-the-5-years-since-george-floyds-killing\/\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;linkedin&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/05\/07\/views-of-race-policing-and-black-lives-matter-in-the-5-years-since-george-floyds-killing\/\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;bluesky&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-bluesky has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6.3,4.2c2.3,1.7,4.8,5.3,5.7,7.2.9-1.9,3.4-5.4,5.7-7.2,1.7-1.3,4.3-2.2,4.3.9s-.4,5.2-.6,5.9c-.7,2.6-3.3,3.2-5.6,2.8,4,.7,5.1,3,2.9,5.3-5,5.2-6.7-2.8-6.7-2.8,0,0-1.7,8-6.7,2.8-2.2-2.3-1.2-4.6,2.9-5.3-2.3.4-4.9-.3-5.6-2.8-.2-.7-.6-5.3-.6-5.9,0-3.1,2.7-2.1,4.3-.9h0Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Bluesky<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\">Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-small-icon-size has-icon-color has-icon-background-color is-style-pill-shape is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-11928617 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.114), 15px);text-transform:capitalize\"><div style=\"--block-gap:inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-social-share-sheet\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/social-share-sheet&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;hashtags&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image&quot;:false}\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.enabled\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=277780\" class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__solid icon__share\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/solid.svg#share\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/a>\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;x&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;threads&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-threads has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M16.3 11.3c-.1 0-.2-.1-.2-.1-.1-2.6-1.5-4-3.9-4-1.4 0-2.6.6-3.3 1.7l1.3.9c.5-.8 1.4-1 2-1 .8 0 1.4.2 1.7.7.3.3.5.8.5 1.3-.7-.1-1.4-.2-2.2-.1-2.2.1-3.7 1.4-3.6 3.2 0 .9.5 1.7 1.3 2.2.7.4 1.5.6 2.4.6 1.2-.1 2.1-.5 2.7-1.3.5-.6.8-1.4.9-2.4.6.3 1 .8 1.2 1.3.4.9.4 2.4-.8 3.6-1.1 1.1-2.3 1.5-4.3 1.5-2.1 0-3.8-.7-4.8-2S5.7 14.3 5.7 12c0-2.3.5-4.1 1.5-5.4 1.1-1.3 2.7-2 4.8-2 2.2 0 3.8.7 4.9 2 .5.7.9 1.5 1.2 2.5l1.5-.4c-.3-1.2-.8-2.2-1.5-3.1-1.3-1.7-3.3-2.6-6-2.6-2.6 0-4.7.9-6 2.6C4.9 7.2 4.3 9.3 4.3 12s.6 4.8 1.9 6.4c1.4 1.7 3.4 2.6 6 2.6 2.3 0 4-.6 5.3-2 1.8-1.8 1.7-4 1.1-5.4-.4-.9-1.2-1.7-2.3-2.3zm-4 3.8c-1 .1-2-.4-2-1.3 0-.7.5-1.5 2.1-1.6h.5c.6 0 1.1.1 1.6.2-.2 2.3-1.3 2.7-2.2 2.7z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Threads<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;linkedin&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;whatsapp&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-whatsapp has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M 12.011719 2 C 6.5057187 2 2.0234844 6.478375 2.0214844 11.984375 C 2.0204844 13.744375 2.4814687 15.462563 3.3554688 16.976562 L 2 22 L 7.2324219 20.763672 C 8.6914219 21.559672 10.333859 21.977516 12.005859 21.978516 L 12.009766 21.978516 C 17.514766 21.978516 21.995047 17.499141 21.998047 11.994141 C 22.000047 9.3251406 20.962172 6.8157344 19.076172 4.9277344 C 17.190172 3.0407344 14.683719 2.001 12.011719 2 z M 12.009766 4 C 14.145766 4.001 16.153109 4.8337969 17.662109 6.3417969 C 19.171109 7.8517969 20.000047 9.8581875 19.998047 11.992188 C 19.996047 16.396187 16.413812 19.978516 12.007812 19.978516 C 10.674812 19.977516 9.3544062 19.642812 8.1914062 19.007812 L 7.5175781 18.640625 L 6.7734375 18.816406 L 4.8046875 19.28125 L 5.2851562 17.496094 L 5.5019531 16.695312 L 5.0878906 15.976562 C 4.3898906 14.768562 4.0204844 13.387375 4.0214844 11.984375 C 4.0234844 7.582375 7.6067656 4 12.009766 4 z M 8.4765625 7.375 C 8.3095625 7.375 8.0395469 7.4375 7.8105469 7.6875 C 7.5815469 7.9365 6.9355469 8.5395781 6.9355469 9.7675781 C 6.9355469 10.995578 7.8300781 12.182609 7.9550781 12.349609 C 8.0790781 12.515609 9.68175 15.115234 12.21875 16.115234 C 14.32675 16.946234 14.754891 16.782234 15.212891 16.740234 C 15.670891 16.699234 16.690438 16.137687 16.898438 15.554688 C 17.106437 14.971687 17.106922 14.470187 17.044922 14.367188 C 16.982922 14.263188 16.816406 14.201172 16.566406 14.076172 C 16.317406 13.951172 15.090328 13.348625 14.861328 13.265625 C 14.632328 13.182625 14.464828 13.140625 14.298828 13.390625 C 14.132828 13.640625 13.655766 14.201187 13.509766 14.367188 C 13.363766 14.534188 13.21875 14.556641 12.96875 14.431641 C 12.71875 14.305641 11.914938 14.041406 10.960938 13.191406 C 10.218937 12.530406 9.7182656 11.714844 9.5722656 11.464844 C 9.4272656 11.215844 9.5585938 11.079078 9.6835938 10.955078 C 9.7955938 10.843078 9.9316406 10.663578 10.056641 10.517578 C 10.180641 10.371578 10.223641 10.267562 10.306641 10.101562 C 10.389641 9.9355625 10.347156 9.7890625 10.285156 9.6640625 C 10.223156 9.5390625 9.737625 8.3065 9.515625 7.8125 C 9.328625 7.3975 9.131125 7.3878594 8.953125 7.3808594 C 8.808125 7.3748594 8.6425625 7.375 8.4765625 7.375 z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=277780&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;mail&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656;background-color:#fff\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-mail has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/%mail%\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19,5H5c-1.1,0-2,.9-2,2v10c0,1.1.9,2,2,2h14c1.1,0,2-.9,2-2V7c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm.5,12c0,.3-.2.5-.5.5H5c-.3,0-.5-.2-.5-.5V9.8l7.5,5.6,7.5-5.6V17zm0-9.1L12,13.6,4.5,7.9V7c0-.3.2-.5.5-.5h14c.3,0,.5.2.5.5v.9z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Mail<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.114), 15px)\" class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-ui-white-background-color wp-block-prc-block-social-share-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Add Us On Google<\/a><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-cbcdc57d wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-flex\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__bylines\"><span class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__prefix\">By<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/ziyao-tian\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Ziyao Tian\">Ziyao Tian<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/mark-hugo-lopez\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Mark Hugo Lopez\">Mark Hugo Lopez<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/jeffrey-s-passel\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Jeffrey S. Passel\">Jeffrey S. Passel<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/jens-manuel-krogstad\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Jens Manuel Krogstad\">Jens Manuel Krogstad<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/nick-zanetti\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Nick Zanetti\">Nick Zanetti<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/sara-atske\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Sara Atske\">Sara Atske<\/a> <span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__and-separator\">and<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/john-carlo-mandapat\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for John Carlo Mandapat\">John Carlo Mandapat<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-03T12:04:49-05:00\">November 3, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-740-wide\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png\" media=\"(max-width: 600px)\"\/><img data-dominant-color=\"efd2b6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efd2b6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?resize=480,303 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?resize=782,494 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?resize=960,607 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?resize=1000,632 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 1200px\" height=\"468\" width=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=740\" alt=\"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)\" class=\"wp-image-277993 not-transparent\" \/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div data-sticky-id=\"sticky-2\" data-wp-init--sticky-support=\"prc-block\/supports::callbacks.onInit\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-block\/supports\" class=\"wp-block-group alignleft is-style-200-wide has-sans-serif-font-family has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky block-visibility-hide-medium-screen block-visibility-hide-small-screen block-visibility-hide-medium-screen prc-block-visibility__tablet block-visibility-hide-small-screen prc-block-visibility__mobile\">\n<div style=\"\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-card\"><h2 class=\"prc-card__heading\">Table of Contents<\/h2><div class=\"prc-card__content\"><ol style=\"line-height:1.2 --block-gap: var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);\" class=\"is-style-default has-text-color has--color has-background has--background-color wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents\" aria-role=\"navigation\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-block\/table-of-contents\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;items&quot;:[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;unattachedPackagePart_277780&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/race-and-ethnicity\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/03\\\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\\\/&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:277780,&quot;is_active&quot;:true,&quot;items&quot;:[],&quot;chapters&quot;:[],&quot;sections&quot;:[]}],&quot;highlightCurrentSection&quot;:true}\" data-wp-init--map-sections-to-chapters=\"callbacks.mapFoundSectionsToChapters\" data-wp-init--watch-for-section-scroll=\"callbacks.initWatchForSectionScroll\" data-wp-on-document--scroll=\"callbacks.watchForSectionScroll\">\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--chapter=\"context.items\">\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.chapter.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.chapter.label\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list sections\" data-wp-hidden=\"callbacks.hasSections\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--section=\"context.chapter.sections\">\n\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\" data-wp-watch--for-current-section=\"callbacks.watchForCurrentSection\">\n\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.section.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.section.label\" data-wp-on--click=\"callbacks.scrollSmoothly\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t<li data-wp-each-child=\"prc-block\/table-of-contents::context.items\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2025\/11\/03\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\/\" data-wp-bind--href=\"context.chapter.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.chapter.label\">Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list sections\" data-wp-hidden=\"callbacks.hasSections\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--section=\"context.chapter.sections\">\n\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\" data-wp-watch--for-current-section=\"callbacks.watchForCurrentSection\">\n\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.section.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.section.label\" data-wp-on--click=\"callbacks.scrollSmoothly\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/ol><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-sticky-id=\"sticky-4\" data-wp-init--sticky-support=\"prc-block\/supports::callbacks.onInit\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-block\/supports\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-3 is-position-sticky block-visibility-hide-large-screen has-sticky-background has-sticky-background-ui-white-color has-stuck-box-shadow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--ui-gray-light);border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--ui-gray-light);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<details data-wp-context=\"{&quot;closeWhenFocusLost&quot;:true}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/details\" data-wp-on-document--click=\"actions.handleOutsideClick\" class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-1f0f0af6 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><summary>Table of Contents<\/summary><ol style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0 --block-gap: inherit;\" class=\"has-text-color has--color has-background has--background-color wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents\" aria-role=\"navigation\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-block\/table-of-contents\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;items&quot;:[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;unattachedPackagePart_277780&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/race-and-ethnicity\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/03\\\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\\\/&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:277780,&quot;is_active&quot;:true,&quot;items&quot;:[],&quot;chapters&quot;:[],&quot;sections&quot;:[]}],&quot;highlightCurrentSection&quot;:false}\" data-wp-init--map-sections-to-chapters=\"callbacks.mapFoundSectionsToChapters\" data-wp-init--watch-for-section-scroll=\"callbacks.initWatchForSectionScroll\" data-wp-on-document--scroll=\"callbacks.watchForSectionScroll\">\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--chapter=\"context.items\">\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.chapter.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.chapter.label\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list sections\" data-wp-hidden=\"callbacks.hasSections\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--section=\"context.chapter.sections\">\n\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\" data-wp-watch--for-current-section=\"callbacks.watchForCurrentSection\">\n\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.section.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.section.label\" data-wp-on--click=\"callbacks.scrollSmoothly\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t<li data-wp-each-child=\"prc-block\/table-of-contents::context.items\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2025\/11\/03\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\/\" data-wp-bind--href=\"context.chapter.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.chapter.label\">Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list sections\" data-wp-hidden=\"callbacks.hasSections\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<template data-wp-each--section=\"context.chapter.sections\">\n\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table-of-contents__list-item\" data-wp-class--is-active=\"state.isActive\" data-wp-watch--for-current-section=\"callbacks.watchForCurrentSection\">\n\t\t\t\t<a data-wp-bind--href=\"context.section.url\" data-wp-text=\"context.section.label\" data-wp-on--click=\"callbacks.scrollSmoothly\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/template>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/ol><\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the very first census in 1790, the United States has measured race \u2013 but <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2020\/02\/25\/the-changing-categories-the-u-s-has-used-to-measure-race\/\">rarely in the same way<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/nap.nationalacademies.org\/read\/4805\/chapter\/9#142\">without controversy<\/a>. Categories such as \u201cfree white males,\u201d \u201cfree white females,\u201d \u201call other free persons\u201d and \u201cslaves\u201d were included that year, reflecting the young nation\u2019s politics and social hierarchies. As <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8415740\/\">politics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amacad.org\/publication\/daedalus\/racial-classification-america\">policy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/08\/21\/key-findings-about-us-immigrants\/\">migration<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2021\/05\/14\/black-and-hispanic-americans-see-their-origins-as-central-to-who-they-are-less-so-for-white-adults\/\">attitudes<\/a> about racial identity changed over time, so did the categories used in later counts. That makes the census both a mirror and a snapshot of how Americans see themselves \u2013 and how the government sees them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These categories are more than curiosities; they have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prb.org\/resources\/importance-of-u-s-census\">real consequences for policy<\/a>. Americans\u2019 responses to census questions about race and ethnicity shape decisions that touch nearly every part of public life: from the <a href=\"https:\/\/govfacts.org\/explainer\/drawing-lines-shaping-voices-the-battle-over-fair-representation-in-america\/\">drawing of congressional districts<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/working-papers\/2023\/dec\/census-data-federal-funds.html\">distribution<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.census.gov\/library\/publications\/decennial\/2020\/operations\/planned-subjects-2020-acs.pdf\">government resources<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/feature\/racial-and-ethnic-gaps-in-the-u-s-persist-on-key-demographic-indicators\/\">efforts to understand community differences<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet today, Americans are divided on whether race should even be counted. Nearly half (46%) say the federal government should ask about it in its surveys, but one-third say it should not, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in June. Meanwhile, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/about\/our-research\/race-ethnicity\/standards-updates.html\">Census Bureau is preparing to revise the questions again in 2030<\/a>. The new format will combine race and Hispanic origin questions into a single item, and it will add a new category for Middle Eastern or North African identity. So far, the public is largely unaware that these changes are coming.<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This data essay explores how the U.S. decennial census has approached racial and ethnic measurement over the decades and how the U.S. public feels about the government collecting this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;how-are-race-and-ethnicity-measured-by-the-census-bureau-today&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-are-race-and-ethnicity-measured-by-the-census-bureau-today\">How are race and ethnicity measured by the Census Bureau today?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=277887\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dfecf2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1470\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_2020-census-form.png?resize=480,840 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_2020-census-form.png?resize=782,1369 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_2020-census-form.png?resize=840,1470 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_2020-census-form.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-277887 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dfecf2; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, the Census Bureau asks about race and ethnicity with two questions, relying on respondents to self-report their identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, respondents are asked if they are of <strong>Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, they are asked <strong>\u201cWhat is your race?\u201d<\/strong> with the following options, and asked to choose <strong>one or more categories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>White<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black or African American<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American Indian or Alaska Native<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asian<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pacific Islander<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some other race<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two-question format has been in use since the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-callout has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2130f694 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-small-font-size\" id=\"what-is-race-and-what-is-ethnicity\">What is race, and what is ethnicity?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the decennial census and other federal surveys since the 1960s, Americans self-report their own race and ethnicity. But the options they choose from are based on official definitions set by the federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 1977, these definitions have been set by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) through \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/03\/29\/2024-06469\/revisions-to-ombs-statistical-policy-directive-no-15-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and\">Statistical Policy Directive No. 15<\/a>.\u201d Known as SPD15, the directive specifies the racial and ethnic categories used in the census, other federal surveys, and government reports. The OMB most recently updated the standards in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The racial categories reflect <em>social definitions<\/em> of race generally accepted by the public. They are not meant to define race biologically, anthropologically or genetically. As social definitions change, so do the categories used to measure them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the federal standards in place since 1980, \u201cethnicity\u201d refers only to whether a person is of Hispanic or Latino origin or not. In this framework, Hispanic origin is treated separately from race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the Census Bureau\u2019s approach is only one among many. Other approaches used by researchers include asking people directly if they self-identify with a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2022\/05\/02\/about-6-million-u-s-adults-identify-as-afro-latino\/\">certain group<\/a>; asking <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/2332649217708798\">how people on the street would group them<\/a>; asking people in an open-ended question, \u201cWhat is your race?\u201d; and asking people to choose a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2021\/11\/04\/majority-of-latinos-say-skin-color-impacts-opportunity-in-america-and-shapes-daily-life\/\">skin color<\/a> from a scale of pictures that best represent their skin tone. And, like other <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2024\/02\/12\/who-are-you-the-art-and-science-of-measuring-identity\/?activeAccordion=accordion-10#accordion-18\">identities<\/a>, race and ethnicity are not so easily measured, as they can sometimes act as a proxy for other ideas such as nationality, birthplace, ancestry and culture.<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-callout has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2130f694 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-small-font-size\" id=\"a-note-on-language\"><strong>A note on language <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Past census reports contain some&nbsp;racial or ethnic&nbsp;terms that today\u2019s readers may consider&nbsp;inappropriate or offensive. These terms are included in this essay as examples of how census categories have changed over time. For information on the labels for each racial and ethnic group used in previous decennial censuses, refer to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/feature\/what-census-calls-us\/\">What Census Calls Us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;a-brief-history-of-how-the-u-s-decennial-census-has-measured-race-and-ethnicity&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-brief-history-of-how-the-u-s-decennial-census-has-measured-race-and-ethnicity\">A brief history of how the U.S. decennial census has measured race and ethnicity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly-area has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light bars-container\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-ui-white-background-color has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group brush-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-1 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8b93219b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:300px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">How the government asks about race and ethnicity reflects shifts in <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2024\/02\/12\/who-are-you-the-art-and-science-of-measuring-identity\/?activeAccordion=accordion-10#accordion-18\">how Americans think about their identity<\/a>. Categories used in censuses changed alongside these shifts. Note that some race and ethnicity terms used in the past may be considered offensive today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-1 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8b93219b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:300px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">For the nation\u2019s first census in 1790, government census takers (enumerators) classified people as \u201cfree white males\u201d and \u201cfemales,\u201d \u201call other free persons,\u201d or \u201cslaves.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Based on these categories, free white males and females made up 80.7% of the U.S. population in 1790, while other free persons and enslaved people accounted for 19.3%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-2 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">The term \u201cblack\u201d was first introduced in 1850, along with the category \u201cmulatto\u201d for mixed-race individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">The categories \u201cblack,\u201d \u201cmulatto,\u201d \u201cblack slaves\u201d and \u201cmulatto slaves\u201d accounted for 15.7% of the U.S. population, while &#8220;whites&#8221; made up 84.3%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-3 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">A separate category for American Indians was not added until 1860, when \u201cIndian\u201d was first used. Beginning in 1890, the census included a complete count of American Indians on tribal lands and reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">American Indians were about 0.1% of the country\u2019s population in 1860, while White and Black people accounted for 85.6% and 14.1%, respectively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-4 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Starting in 1960, people could fill out decennial census forms on their own and return them by mail. Prior to that, enumerators went from door to door conducting the decennial census. They sometimes identified a person\u2019s race based on factors such as appearance or acceptance in their community.<br><br>In 1960, the category \u201cWhite\u201d made up 88.6% of the U.S. population, \u201cNegroes\u201d 10.5%, \u201cAmerican Indian, Eskimo, Aleut\u201d 0.3% and Asians (the categories \u201cChinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, part Hawaiian\u201d) 0.5%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-5 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">From 1980 to 2020, Hispanic ethnicity was captured by an additional, separate question.<br><br>In 1980, Hispanics, who can be of any race, were 6.5% of the U.S. population. That year, 79.6% were White,* 11.6% were Black,* 1.6% were Asian* and all other groups* made up less than 1%.<br><br><em>* Non-Hispanics only.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-6 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">The general label \u201cAsian or Pacific Islander (API)\u201d appeared on the 1990 census form for the first time, though categories such as \u201cChinese\u201d had been included as early as 1870.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Asian or Pacific Islander non-Hispanics were 2.8% of the country\u2019s population in 1990.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-7 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Beginning in 2000, Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian and other Pacific Islander groups were separated from the Asian group, creating a new category: \u201cNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander non-Hispanics were 0.1% of the U.S. population in 2000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-7 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eed56454 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:650px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">Also in 2000, Americans for the first time could select more than one race when describing their racial identity, allowing the country to begin measuring its growing multiracial population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">In 2000, non-Hispanic people of two or more races were about 1.6% of the nation\u2019s population.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly census-scene-8 has-border-color has-background-spectrum-dark-two-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7d982ada wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:650px;margin-bottom:950px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--shallow)\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><strong>Slide the bar to explore<\/strong> how the country\u2019s racial and ethnic composition has changed from the first national census in 1790 to the latest in 2020.<br><br>As of 2020, 57.8% of the U.S. population was White,* 18.7% was Hispanic, 12.1% was Black* and 5.9% was Asian.* Another 4.1% were people of two or more races,* and all other groups* were under 1%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-fluid-1-to-0-8125-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><em>* Non-Hispanics only. Specific races include those reporting only one race.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group scrolly has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"min-height:1px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-platform-census-race-essay\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-platform\/census-race-essay\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onInit\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-platform-census-race-essay\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Detailed table:<\/em><\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/Share-of-U.S.-population-by-race-and-Hispanic-origin-1790-census-to-2020-census.xlsx\">Share of U.S. population for by race and Hispanic origin, 1790 census to 2020 census (Excel)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;what-s-changing-in-the-2030-census&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-s-changing-in-the-2030-census\">What\u2019s changing in the 2030 census<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed 2030 census form combines the \u201cHispanic, Latino or Spanish origin\u201d ethnicity question with the race question. That means the question about Hispanic ethnicity will appear as one option alongside racial groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed combined question also adds a distinct, new category for \u201cMiddle Eastern or North African\u201d identity, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/topics\/population\/race\/about.html\">which is currently grouped under the category \u201cWhite.\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These changes, when implemented, would bring the total number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/about\/our-research\/race-ethnicity\/standards-updates.html\">major racial and ethnic categories<\/a> to seven, with options for people to choose more than one group and instructions to write more detailed origins within each group. Alphabetically, these categories are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>American Indian or Alaska Native<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asian<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black or African American<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hispanic or Latino<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Middle Eastern or North African<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>White<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The purpose of these updates is to produce <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/blogs\/random-samplings\/2024\/04\/updates-race-ethnicity-standards.html\">more accurate race and ethnicity data<\/a>. These proposed changes, part of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/03\/29\/2024-06469\/revisions-to-ombs-statistical-policy-directive-no-15-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and#footnote-21-p22185\">Statistical Policy Directive 15<\/a>,\u201d would also become the common standard when federal agencies collect race and ethnicity data. Some critics, however, argue these changes will lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2024-06469\/p-51\">undercounts of some groups, such as Afro-Latinos<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, the public is largely unaware of these proposed changes. About one-in-five U.S. adults say they have heard about them, according to the June Pew Research Center survey. Only 3% say they have heard a lot about the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;do-americans-think-federal-surveys-should-ask-about-race&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-americans-think-federal-surveys-should-ask-about-race\">Do Americans think federal surveys should ask about race?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although race and ethnicity have been a part of the country\u2019s census for decades, Americans are divided on whether government should ask about race. Nearly half (46%) of U.S. adults support including race on federal surveys, while 33% oppose it and 21% are unsure if it should be asked about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=278114\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e7e8e4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"910\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race_0-01b.png?resize=480,520 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race_0-01b.png?resize=782,847 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race_0-01b.png?resize=840,910 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race_0-01b.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing About half of Americans say the federal government should ask about race\" class=\"wp-image-278114 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e7e8e4; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, Americans express more support for asking about a person\u2019s age (66%) or U.S. citizenship status (62%), while fewer support questions about ancestry, income or religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Of the items we asked about, religion and U.S. citizenship status are currently not included in the census, although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/trump-wants-to-change-how-the-census-bureau-collects-data\">the Trump administration is seeking to add a citizenship question to the next census<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, support for collecting race data varies across groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Race and ethnicity:<\/strong> About half of Asian (54%) and White (48%) adults say the federal government should ask about race, while 45% of Black and 40% of Hispanic adults say the same. Meanwhile, 37% of Black and 37% of Hispanic adults say the government <em>should not<\/em> ask about race, a higher share than among White (30%) or Asian (27%) adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political party:<\/strong> A higher share of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents than Democrats and Democratic leaners say race should be measured (52% vs. 43%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender:<\/strong> A higher share of men than women support asking the question (52% vs. 41%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Age:<\/strong> Adults under age 50 are more supportive than those 50 and older (52% vs. 40%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education:<\/strong> Those with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree are more likely than those without one to say race should be asked in government surveys (51% vs. 44%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked <em>why<\/em> they feel the way they do about collecting race data in federal surveys in an open-ended question, people offered a range of reasons. Here is what we heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"why-some-americans-support-the-federal-government-collecting-race-data\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why some Americans support the federal government collecting race data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among adults who support asking about race on federal surveys, the top reasons given for their views are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For demographic purposes (38%):<\/strong> Many cite general support for collecting data on race, saying it\u2019s important \u201cfor statistical purposes\u201d or \u201cjust to know the makeup of the country and how it is changing.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Documenting group differences (16%):<\/strong> Some see it as a way to highlight differences in experiences and views across racial and ethnic groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Informing policy decisions (4%):<\/strong> A smaller share say data on race can inform government programs and decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Highlighting inequality (4%):<\/strong> Some say race data helps reveal racial discrimination and inequality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reasons for supporting the government\u2019s race data collection are cited at similar rates across racial and ethnic groups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats and Republicans who support asking about race also largely align on their top two reasons. However, Democrats who support the idea are more likely than Republicans to cite two other reasons for their view: identifying racial inequality and discrimination (7% vs. 2%) and informing government policies and decisions (6% vs. 3%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"why-some-americans-oppose-the-federal-government-collecting-race-data\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why some Americans oppose the federal government collecting race data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among adults who <em>oppose<\/em> collecting race in federal surveys, the top reasons given for their view are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Race is not important (26%):<\/strong> Some say race is \u201cnot relevant\u201d or \u201cshouldn\u2019t matter\u201d or ask, \u201cWhy does race matter?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>All humans are equal<\/strong> <strong>(12%):<\/strong> Others say we are \u201call one race,\u201d \u201call human\u201d or \u201call Americans.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Privacy concerns<\/strong> <strong>(9%):<\/strong> Some say asking about race is \u201ctoo personal,\u201d \u201cnone of the government\u2019s business\u201d or \u201ca private question.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Risk of discrimination<\/strong> <strong>(9%):<\/strong> Others worry that collecting race data leads to bias and discrimination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those who oppose the government collecting race data, Black adults (18%) are more likely than White adults (7%) to cite potential bias and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats and Republicans opposed to the government counting race generally list similar reasons, though there are some differences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The top reasons listed by Democrats<\/strong> are that race is not important (22%), all humans are equal (12%), counting race leads to bias and discrimination (10%), data could be misused (9%), and they have privacy concerns (7%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Top reasons listed by Republicans<\/strong> are race is not important (32%), all humans are equal (14%), concerns about privacy (10%) and potential risk of discrimination (7%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those opposing race data collection, responses from the 9% of Democrats who express fears of data misuse were varied. One person said, \u201cBecause they are just trying to get information to deport people.\u201d Said another, \u201cSeeing how Trump weaponizes race, this is not something that can be considered in the same way it was before.\u201d And a third said, \u201cBased on principle, it can be weaponized as justification for demographic quotas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fewer than 1% of Republicans opposed to race data collection by the government expressed concerns about data misuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Related: <\/em><\/strong><em>Refer to this <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2020\/02\/25\/the-changing-categories-the-u-s-has-used-to-measure-race\/\"><em>related blog post<\/em><\/a><em> for more information on the changing categories the U.S. Census Bureau has used to measure race and ethnic identities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Related: <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/interactives\/what-census-calls-us\/\"><em>What Census Calls Us<\/em><\/a><em>: Explore the different race, ethnicity and origin categories used in the U.S. decennial census, from the first one in 1790 to the latest count in 2020<\/em>.<br><br><em>CORRECTION (Nov. 5, 2025): The first sentence of this essay previously misstated how often categories of race change from one decennial census to the next. They have sometimes remained the same, as in 1800 and 1810.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-plus-icon has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-61b01db2 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary>About this research<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center compiled this data to explore how race and ethnicity have been measured in America, how that has changed over time, and what Americans think about sharing their racial and ethnic identity with the federal government. This work is part of our long-standing efforts to understand <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/topic\/methodological-research\/demographic-research\/u-s-census\/\">the nation\u2019s changing demographics using U.S. Census Bureau data, and to explore how race and ethnicity are conceived and categorized in America<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this essay, survey findings are from a Pew Research Center survey of 6,871 adults conducted June 16-29, 2025. Everyone who took part is either a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly, or respondents who identify as Black from SSRS\u2019s Opinion Panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviews were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Population shares of major racial and ethnic groups in decennial censuses 1790-1970 and 2000-2020 are based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/programs-surveys\/decennial-census\/decade.html\">official bureau releases<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/working-papers\/2002\/demo\/POP-twps0056.html\">Gibson and Jung (2002)<\/a>, published by the bureau. Population shares for 1980 and 1990 are based on Pew Research Center analyses of 5% samples of those decennial censuses (via IPUMS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/11\/RE_2025.11.03_Census-Measuring-Race_Questionnaire.pdf\">questions from the 2025 survey<\/a> used for this essay, the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/11\/RE_2025.11.03_Census-Measuring-Race_TOPLINE.pdf\">topline<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2025\/11\/3\/census-measuring-race-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;acknowledgments&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"acknowledgments\">Acknowledgments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. This was a collaborative effort based on the inputs and analysis of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2025\/11\/03\/census-measuring-race-acknowledgements\/\">a number of people<\/a>&nbsp;at Pew Research Center.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":377,"featured_media":277993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"layout-essay-no-breadcrumbs","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"bylines":[{"key":"_wyt2vu08o","termId":583},{"key":"_q7bdct3ki","termId":929},{"key":"_yfda9574j","termId":979},{"key":"_a06sqqyky","termId":629},{"key":"_jm28e3ml4","termId":620},{"key":"_xxlvz98os","termId":888},{"key":"_kzz6cujw8","termId":563}],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[354,28,451],"tags":[],"bylines":[979,629,563,929,620,888,583],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[463,460],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[523],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-277780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-demographic-research","category-race-ethnicity","category-u-s-census","bylines-jeffrey-s-passel","bylines-jens-manuel-krogstad","bylines-john-carlo-mandapat","bylines-mark-hugo-lopez","bylines-nick-zanetti","bylines-sara-atske","bylines-ziyao-tian","formats-data-essay","formats-feature","research-teams-race-and-ethnicity"],"label":false,"post_parent":0,"word_count":2633,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2025\/11\/03\/counting-race-how-the-census-measures-identity-and-what-americans-think-about-it\/","art_direction":{"A2":{"id":277993,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)","chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":277993,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"caption":"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)","chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":277993,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"caption":"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)","chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":277993,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. (U.S. Census Bureau)","chartArt":false},"A1":{"id":277993,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/RE_2025.10.30_census-measuring-race.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"Census takers in 1800 were provided a standard questionnaire, but how they collected and organized information was up to them, as shown in this tally of Ohio residents. 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