Census Population Estimates, Vintage 2025
Annual population estimates for places, counties and metro areas, used as the denominator behind per-capita rates.
The Population Estimates Program "produces estimates of the population for the United States, its states, counties, cities, and towns, as well as for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico." Estimates start from the most recent decennial census and carry it forward using recorded births, deaths and migration. Each release is called a vintage, and a new vintage supersedes earlier estimates for the same years.
Coverage#
Vintage 2025 covers an April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1 estimates for each year from 2020 through 2025, published for 19,483 incorporated places, 3,144 county-equivalents and 925 metropolitan and micropolitan areas. A new vintage is released each year, so the most recent estimate always trails the present date.
Earlier years come from a separate release; see Vintage 2020 population estimates.
How we use it#
These estimates are the population denominator behind rates that are expressed per resident — for example, permits per 1,000 residents in Permit Activity Rate. They are reference data rather than a metric: no published Birdseye measure reports these population figures directly.
Considerations#
Estimates are modelled, not counted, and error grows with distance from the census. Small places carry the most uncertainty. Each new vintage revises the whole series back to 2020, so a figure taken from one vintage will not match the same year read from another. Places that incorporate, merge or annex mid-series can also shift for administrative reasons.
Citation#
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025.
Per Census Bureau guidance, the Bureau is cited as the source of the original data only and is not responsible for conclusions drawn from it.
References#
- 1US Census Bureauhttps://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest.html
- 2Census Bureau guidancehttps://www.census.gov/about/policies/citation.html