- Codes
- Description
- Comparability
- Universe
- Availability
- Flags
- Questionnaire Text
- UnHarmonized Variables
Codes and Frequencies
An 'X' indicates the category is available for that sample
| Code | Label |
Feb
25 |
Jan
25 |
Dec
24 |
Nov
24 |
Oct
24 |
Sep
24 |
Aug
24 |
Jul
24 |
Jun
24 |
May
24 |
Apr
24 |
ASEC
24 |
Mar
24 |
Feb
24 |
Jan
24 |
Dec
23 |
Nov
23 |
Oct
23 |
Sep
23 |
Aug
23 |
Jul
23 |
Jun
23 |
May
23 |
Apr
23 |
ASEC
23 |
Mar
23 |
Feb
23 |
Jan
23 |
Dec
22 |
Nov
22 |
Oct
22 |
Sep
22 |
Aug
22 |
Jul
22 |
Jun
22 |
May
22 |
Apr
22 |
ASEC
22 |
Mar
22 |
Feb
22 |
Jan
22 |
Dec
21 |
Nov
21 |
Oct
21 |
Sep
21 |
Aug
21 |
Jul
21 |
Jun
21 |
May
21 |
Apr
21 |
Code | Label |
ASEC
21 |
Mar
21 |
Feb
21 |
Jan
21 |
ASEC
20 |
ASEC
19 |
ASEC
18 |
ASEC
17 |
ASEC
16 |
ASEC
15 |
ASEC
14 |
ASEC
13 |
ASEC
12 |
ASEC
11 |
ASEC
10 |
ASEC
09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | White | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 100 | White | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 200 | Black | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 200 | Black | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 300 | American Indian/Aleut/Eskimo | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 300 | American Indian/Aleut/Eskimo | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 650 | Asian or Pacific Islander | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 650 | Asian or Pacific Islander | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| 651 | Asian only | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 651 | Asian only | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 652 | Hawaiian/Pacific Islander only | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 652 | Hawaiian/Pacific Islander only | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 700 | Other (single) race, n.e.c. | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 700 | Other (single) race, n.e.c. | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Two or more races | Two or more races | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 801 | White-Black | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 801 | White-Black | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 802 | White-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 802 | White-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 803 | White-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 803 | White-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 804 | White-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 804 | White-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 805 | Black-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 805 | Black-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 806 | Black-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 806 | Black-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 807 | Black-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 807 | Black-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 808 | American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 808 | American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 809 | Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 809 | Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 810 | White-Black-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 810 | White-Black-American Indian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 811 | White-Black-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 811 | White-Black-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 812 | White-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 812 | White-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 813 | White-Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 813 | White-Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 814 | White-Black-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 814 | White-Black-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 815 | American Indian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 815 | American Indian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · |
| 816 | White-Black--Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 816 | White-Black--Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · |
| 817 | White-American Indian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 817 | White-American Indian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · |
| Code | Label |
Feb
25 |
Jan
25 |
Dec
24 |
Nov
24 |
Oct
24 |
Sep
24 |
Aug
24 |
Jul
24 |
Jun
24 |
May
24 |
Apr
24 |
ASEC
24 |
Mar
24 |
Feb
24 |
Jan
24 |
Dec
23 |
Nov
23 |
Oct
23 |
Sep
23 |
Aug
23 |
Jul
23 |
Jun
23 |
May
23 |
Apr
23 |
ASEC
23 |
Mar
23 |
Feb
23 |
Jan
23 |
Dec
22 |
Nov
22 |
Oct
22 |
Sep
22 |
Aug
22 |
Jul
22 |
Jun
22 |
May
22 |
Apr
22 |
ASEC
22 |
Mar
22 |
Feb
22 |
Jan
22 |
Dec
21 |
Nov
21 |
Oct
21 |
Sep
21 |
Aug
21 |
Jul
21 |
Jun
21 |
May
21 |
Apr
21 |
Code | Label |
ASEC
21 |
Mar
21 |
Feb
21 |
Jan
21 |
ASEC
20 |
ASEC
19 |
ASEC
18 |
ASEC
17 |
ASEC
16 |
ASEC
15 |
ASEC
14 |
ASEC
13 |
ASEC
12 |
ASEC
11 |
ASEC
10 |
ASEC
09 |
| 818 | Black-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 818 | Black-American Indian-Asian | X | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · |
| 819 | White-American Indian-Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | · | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | 819 | White-American Indian-Asian-Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | · | · | · | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | · | X | · | · | · | · |
| 820 | Two or three races, unspecified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | X | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | · | · | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 820 | Two or three races, unspecified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 830 | Four or five races, unspecified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 830 | Four or five races, unspecified | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 999 | Blank | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 999 | Blank | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Can't find the category you are looking for? Try the Detailed codes
Description
Racial categories in the CPS have been more consistent than racial categories in the census. Up through 2002, the number of race categories ranged from 3 (white, negro, and other) to 5 (white, black, American Indian/Eskimo/Aleut, Asian or Pacific Islander, and other). Beginning in 2003, respondents could report more than one race, and the number of codes rose to 21, and then up to 26 codes in 2013.
Comparability
For ASEC samples in 1962-1987, only "white," "negro," and "other" races were recognized. "American Indian/Aleut/Eskimo" and "Asian or Pacific Islander" were added beginning in the 1988 ASEC, and "other" was dropped beginning in the 1997 ASEC. Only "white", "black" and "other were recognized in the Basic Monthly samples from 1976-1988, and the slightly more detailed codes which appear in the 1988 ASEC become available in Basic Monthly samples beginning in 1989. Comparability across all years prior to 2003 can be achieved by combining all codes except "white" and "negro/black" into a single "other" category.
Beginning in 2003, the groups "Asian" and "Hawaiian/Pacific Islander" were separated, rather than combined into a single classification, yielding 5 single race categories ("white," "black," "American Indian/Alaskan native," "Asian," and "Hawaiian/Pacific Islander"). Because respondents could report more than one race beginning in 2003, 14 specific combinations of 2 to 4 race groups were given for 2003 forward, as were the nonspecific categories of "two or three races" and "four or five races."
Beginning in 2013, the Census Bureau introduced a new coding scheme that includes all race combinations of up to 4 races for a total of 26 groups.
Comparability with IPUMS-USA
IPUMS-CPS uses the same codes for racial categories as IPUMS-USA, but the meaning of those codes is sometimes very different. For example, "other" serves as a residual category in both data sets, but a larger number of groups is subsumed under this label in IPUMS-CPS (e.g., all persons not identified as "white" or "negro" up through 1987). Similarly, the code "650" refers to all Asians or Pacific Islanders in IPUMS-CPS but excludes identified subgroups such as "Chinese" and "Japanese" in the general RACE variable in IPUMS-USA. In the 2000 census and the ACS, respondents could report as many races as necessary to describe themselves. Multiple race identification was not incorporated in the CPS until 2003. Because of the inclusion of the nonspecific categories "two or three races" and "four or five races" beginning in 2003 for the CPS, researchers cannot identify all persons who mentioned a particular race, and the dichotomous race codes of RACAMIND, RACASIAN, RACBLK, RACPACIS, and RACWHT of census 2000 and the ACS cannot be exactly duplicated for IPUMS-CPS. These dichotomous categories can be approximated, however, because only a few respondents were coded as "two or three races" and "four or five races" for 2003 forward in the CPS.
Universe
- 1962-1967 (ASEC): Persons age 14+ (pre-1968 samples do not include persons under age 14).
- 1968+ (ASEC): All persons.
- 1976+ (non-ASEC): All persons.
Availability
| Years | Jan | Feb | ASEC | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 – 1975 | - | - | X | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1976 – 2024 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 2025 | X | X | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Flags
QRACEUnharmonized Variables
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