The U.S. Census Bureau has released the initial version of its operational plan for the 2030 Census. The plan, called “Baseline 1,” outlines the main activities required to conduct a nationwide count of population and housing in 2030. An interactive tool is also available to help users explore the details of the plan.
According to the Bureau, this first version presents a high-level design that will be expanded in future updates with more specific details. The plan covers several key areas: establishing where people should be counted by identifying all residential addresses; encouraging participation and collecting data from households and individuals in various living situations; researching census results to understand coverage and quality; preparing and providing census data products; managing planning and operations using disciplined program management practices; delivering IT solutions necessary for conducting the census; and providing essential infrastructure such as staffing, workspace, and services.
“Baseline 1 builds upon the successes of the 2020 Census, with further improvements to increase efficiencies. The plan incorporates research, small-scale testing and public feedback to date. The Census Bureau is set to carry out the 2026 Census Test and 2028 Census Dress Rehearsal to inform subsequent, more detailed versions of the plan. This iterative approach will give the Census Bureau an evidence-based design for the 2030 Census.”
The Bureau’s approach involves building on lessons learned from previous censuses while incorporating ongoing research, feedback from stakeholders, and findings from upcoming test events scheduled for 2026 and a dress rehearsal in 2028.
