How The ‘Citizenship Question’ Changed Over The Decades
A question about citizenship or naturalization has been included on the census for either all households or selective households, on and off, since 1820.
1820
Heads of household were asked how many foreign-born people "not naturalized" were in their homes.
1830
Heads of household were asked how many white "foreigners not naturalized" were in their homes.
1870
"Is the person a male citizen of the United States of 21 years or upwards?" was asked of all people.
1890
Census workers asked about the naturalization status of foreign-born men age 21 or older.
1900
Census workers asked about the naturalization status of foreign-born men age 21 or older.
1910
Census workers asked about the naturalization status of foreign-born men age 21 or older.
1920
Census workers asked about the naturalization status of foreign-born people.
1930
Census workers asked about the naturalization status of foreign-born people.
1940
Census workers asked about the citizenship status of foreign-born people.
1950
"Is he naturalized?" was asked of foreign-born people.
1970
"Is this person naturalized?" was asked of foreign-born people in 1 out of 20 households.
1980
"Is this person a naturalized citizen of the United States?" was asked of foreign-born people in 1 out of 5 households.
1990
"Is this person a citizen of the United States?" was asked of all people in 1 out of 6 households.
2000
"Is this person a citizen of the United States?" was asked of all people in about 1 out of 6 households.
2020
"Is this person a citizen of the United States?" may be asked of all people in every household.