U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2018-2022 ACS 5-Year PUMS Files and Variance Replicate Estimate Tables, and Additional ACS Selected Population Tables and American Indian and Alaska Native Tables 

2018-2022 ACS 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files.

The ACS 5-year 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 five percent of the United States population) with disclosure protection enabled so that individuals or housing units cannot be identified.

The PUMS files allow data users to create custom estimates and tables that are not available through ACS pretabulated data products. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing them using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data are currently accessible via the ACS website, the FTP site, and the microdata analysis tool on data.census.gov.

Visit our Microdata section on the ACS website to find all resources related to PUMS files.  This section contains access to PUMS data, the PUMS Handbook, How-to instructions, FAQs, and PUMS documentation.

The PUMS Documentation page is updated with the 2022 release to include the PUMS User Guide, Accuracy of the PUMS, PUMS Estimates for User Verification, Subjects in the PUMS, and Data Dictionary. Code Lists have also been posted to help users with the release of the 2018-2022 ACS 5-year PUMS files.

2018-2022 ACS 5-Year Variance Replicate Estimate Tables

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2018-2022 ACS 5-year Variance Replicate Estimate Tables.

These tables allow advanced users to calculate margins of error (MOEs) when collapsing data within a table or across geographies. This method provides a more accurate MOE than available approximation formulas.  

To access these estimates, visit the Variance Replicate Estimate Tables page or through the Census Bureau's FTP site. This page also includes technical documentation, a table and geography list, and table shells.

Release of Additional American Community Survey Selected Population Tables and American Indian and Alaska Native Tables 

Multiple geography by iteration group tables were omitted from the 2017-2021 ACS 5-Year Selected Population Tables (SPT) and American Indian and Alaska Native Tables (AIANT) release on June 15, 2023 due to a processing error. Additional 2017-2021 ACS 5-year SPT and AIANT are now available to include the full set of publishable geography by iteration group combinations.

Visit the Race, Ethnicity, Ancestry and American Indian & Alaska Native Tables page for more information about geographic area/population group combinations that will be receiving additional tabulations. The SPT and AIANT data products contain the greatest level of statistical detail for detailed race, Hispanic origin, tribal, and ancestry group populations. 

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About the American Community Survey

The American Community Survey provides reliable statistics that are used to make informed decisions about the future. These statistics are required by all levels of government to manage or evaluate a wide range of programs, but are also useful for research, business, education, journalism, and advocacy. If you have questions about this survey, please call our Customer Service Center on 1-800-923-8282.

To request a free data workshop, training, or presentation from the Census Bureau, please contact the Data Dissemination Branch at census.askdata@census.gov or 1-844-ASK-DATA (1-844-275-3282). Use the button below to sign up to receive American Community Survey email updates.