Title 13CensusRelease 119-73

§191 Geographic scope of censuses

Title 13 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - CENSUSES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE, PRELIMINARY AND SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS, AND USE OF SAMPLING › § 191

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Every census must count all States, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Secretary can also include other U.S. possessions or areas under U.S. control, but the Secretary of State must agree to add those places. The Secretary may use counts done by a governor or top federal official if approved. If no census is taken, the Secretary may use federal or government data; any foreign government data must go through the Secretary of State.

Full Legal Text

Title 13, §191

Census — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each of the censuses authorized by this chapter shall include each State, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and as may be determined by the Secretary, such other possessions and areas over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty. Inclusion of other areas over which the United States exercises jurisdiction or control shall be subject to the concurrence of the Secretary of State.
(b)For censuses taken in the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any possession or area not specifically designated in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may use census information collected by the Governor or highest ranking Federal official, if such information was obtained in accordance with plans prescribed or approved by the Secretary.
(c)If, pursuant to a determination by the Secretary under subsection (a) of this section, any census is not taken in a possession or area over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty, the Secretary may include data obtained from other Federal agencies or government sources in the census report. Any data obtained from foreign governments shall be obtained through the Secretary of State.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–521 struck out “(other than censuses of population)” after “this chapter” and “Alaska, Hawaii” after “the District of Columbia”, inserted “the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” after “Guam”, and struck out provision that censuses of population shall include all geographic areas referred to in first sentence of subsec. (a). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–521 inserted “the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” after “Guam”, and substituted “use census information” for “utilize or adopt census data” and “if such information was obtained” for “when such data are obtained”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–521 substituted “If, pursuant to a determination by the Secretary under subsection (a) of this section” for “When, under determination by the Secretary as provided in paragraph (a) above”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–521 effective Oct. 17, 1976, see section 17 of Pub. L. 94–521, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Executive Documents

Admission of Alaska and Hawaii to StatehoodAlaska was admitted into the Union on Jan. 3, 1959, on issuance of Proc. No. 3269, Jan. 3, 1959, 24 F.R. 81, 73 Stat. c16, and Hawaii was admitted into the Union on Aug. 21, 1959, on issuance of Proc. No. 3309, Aug. 21, 1959, 24 F.R. 6868, 73 Stat. c74. For Alaska Statehood Law, see Pub. L. 85–508, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 339, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions. For Hawaii Statehood Law, see Pub. L. 86–3, Mar. 18, 1959, 73 Stat. 4, set out as a note preceding section 491 of Title 48.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

13 U.S.C. § 191

Title 13Census

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73