Census Bureau Releases Experimental Estimates of State and County Undercounts and Overcounts of Young Children in the 2020 Census
Census Bureau Initiatives to Address Persistent Undercount of Children
The U.S. Census Bureau today released new experimental estimates showing children ages 0 to 4 were undercounted in the 2020 Census in every state. Additionally, there were undercounts of children ages 0 to 4 in more than 4 out of 5 counties included in this release. The experimental estimates are available only for counties with a population of 1,000 or more children ages 0 to 4, and are based on the Census Bureau’s Demographic Analysis (DA) estimates.
The number of U.S. children ages 0 to 4 counted in the 2020 Census was previously found to be about 1 million lower than the benchmark population estimate — an undercount of 5.46%. This was a larger undercount than any other age group.
Today’s release of net coverage error rates for young children comes from the Census Bureau’s DA estimates. Instead of conducting a count based on responses collected or on behalf of each household like the 2020 Census, DA uses administrative records to estimate the size of the population and compares those estimates to census counts to assess the accuracy of the 2020 Census.
📊 Data Visualization
A new data visualization allows users to explore the results of the experimental Demographic Analysis state and county net coverage error estimates.
The tool includes state maps, county maps and graphs showing the relationships between the Demographic Analysis net coverage error estimates and socioeconomic characteristics of counties.
 New on America Counts
Written by: Eric Jensen and George Hayward
A new analysis of the undercount of young children in the 2020 Census shows variation by county and a relationship between net coverage errors and socioeconomic characteristics like family structure and poverty.
The 2020 Demographic Analysis (DA) found that children ages 0 to 4 had a national net coverage error estimate of -5.46% in the 2020 Census — a larger undercount than any other age group. This means the number of young children counted in the 2020 Census was approximately 1 million lower than the benchmark population estimate.
The undercount of young children is a persistent problem in the decennial census and demographic surveys. Many countries face similar challenges in their censuses and surveys.
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