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Facts and Figures on the Census
Census data determine the allocation of $185 billion in federal spending every year.
In 1990, the census cost $2.6 billion. In 2000, the census will cost $6.9 billion. It would have
cost closer to $5.4 billion if modern statistical methods had been used as originally planned.
In 1990, there were 26 million errors in the census. About 4.4 million people were counted twice
and 8.4 million people were missed -- mostly poor people and minorities. The net undercount
was 4 million people or approximately 1.6% of the population. Another 13 million people were
counted in the wrong place.
In 1990, the undercount of minorities was much worse than the 1.6% national average:
Black - 4.4%
Hispanic - 5.0%
American Indians - 4.5%
Asian Pacific Americans - 2.3%
In 1790, Black slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person. By 1960 Black males were
counted as 7/8ths. By 1990 Black males were counted as 9/10ths; one in ten was missed.
The 1990 census missed 10 percent of young Asian men, and 6 percent of Hispanic men between
30 and 50.
In the 1990 census children were missed at twice the rate of the population as a whole. Over 3
percent of the children in the United States were not counted in the census. The 1990 census
missed 7 percent of Black children, 5 percent of Hispanic children, and over 6 percent of Native
American Children.
The Carter, Bush and Clinton Administrations all concluded that the Constitution permits the use
of sampling and other modern statistical methods as part of the census.
In 1990, one-third of all households did not return a census form. The most expensive part of the
census is contacting people who don't mail back their forms, an increasing percentage.
In 1990, the Census Bureau mailed one form to each address in the nation. In 2000, every
household will get 3 mailings -- a letter announcing the census, a census form, and a
reminder/thank you card.
The decennial census is the largest peace-time mobilization of American resources and personnel.
In 2000, approximately 500,000 people will be hired to fill 860,000 temporary positions. 6000
permanent employees will be hired.
The 2000 Census must count approximately 275 million people and place them in 120 million
housing units across the nation on a single day -- April 1, 2000.
The 2000 Census is the first to incorporate a paid advertising campaign and will spend
approximately $102 million on media buys.
In 2000, the standard census form will be the shortest it has been in 180 years -- 7 questions.
In 2000, the mail back response rate to the Census was 67%, reversing a decades-long decline.
The cost of the ACE program is approximately $300 million. The total cost of the 2000 Census
when completed is estimated to be 6.8 billion dollars.
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