U.S. Census Bureau Releases New 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year PUMS and ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates

2019 ACS 1-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files. The PUMS files show the full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires for a subsample of ACS housing units and group quarters persons (approximately one percent of the United States population).

The PUMS files allow data users to conduct a custom analysis. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing the data using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data are currently accessible via the ACS website, and the FTP site. The microdata analysis tool on data.census.gov will be updated with the 2019 1-Year PUMS data by October 22. Data.census.gov is particularly useful for researchers who need quick statistics with PUMS.  Please note and bookmark our new Microdata section containing Access to PUMS Data, How to Use PUMS on data.census.gov, PUMS Documentation, and PUMS FAQs to find guidance on creating custom tables.  

For more information about the PUMS files, visit the links below:

• Introduction to the ACS PUMS Files Webinar: Review this previously recorded webinar to learn more about creating custom tables using the PUMS files
• PUMS Documentation: Need to find out more about using the PUMS? Our technical documentation includes a ReadMe, Data Dictionary, Code and Subject Lists, and other documents to assist users in accessing and using PUMS data
• PUMS Handbook: This guide provides an overview of the ACS PUMS files and how they can be used to access data about America’s communities.

2019 ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates

We are also pleased to announce the release of the 2019 ACS 1-year Supplemental Estimates.

Supplemental Estimates are simplified versions of popular ACS tables for geographic areas with at least 20,000 people, compared to the 65,000 population minimum for the standard ACS 1-year estimates. 

Visit the Census Bureau's data.census.gov or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates.

For more information on ACS Supplemental Estimates, visit the links below:

• When to use 1-year, 1-year Supplemental, and 5-year estimates: Need help determining which dataset to use? Our When to use table provides information on currency, sample size, reliability, and precision for all ACS datasets.
• Geographic areas with published data: Review the chart outlining the number of areas receiving data by geographic level for the 1-year Supplemental Estimates.
• 1-year Supplemental Estimates table shells: View the layout of tables without the estimates or margins of error filled in. Table shells also contain the line number, description of the data, and table ID.