Which agency is responsible for counting the population of the United States?

The Census Bureau is the agency specifically tasked with counting the population of the United States. This agency conducts the decennial census, a comprehensive count of everyone living in the country, which occurs every ten years, as mandated by the Constitution. The primary purpose of the Census is to provide data that will influence political representation, federal funding allocation, and a wide range of demographic analytic needs. The Census Bureau also conducts several surveys between censuses, including the American Community Survey, which gathers detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing information.

While the Department of Commerce oversees the Census Bureau, it is the Bureau itself that carries out the actual counting and data collection process. Other agencies mentioned, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Archives, have distinct missions focusing on law enforcement and record-keeping, respectively, and do not play a role in population counting.