As NCI continues to evaluate the comparability of race data between cancer incidence and the Census Bureau’s population estimates to explore reporting options, cancer incidence and mortality rate statistics released in April 2024 will continue to use bridged race categories.

Note: We anticipate releasing Vintage 2023 county population data by the end of 2024. Vintage 2023 total population is not significantly revised, however, there are revisions in population by age. For the U.S. total, population cohorts age 18-27 and age 75 and over are both revised downward approximately 3%, and other age cohorts are revised upward approximately 0.6% in Vintage 2023 compared to Vintage 2022. The revisions in county and census tract population by age may be greater in some instances.

The county bridged race population estimates currently used in the SEER*Stat software to calculate cancer incidence and mortality rates are available for download (see Download U.S. Population Data). They represent a modification of intercensal and postcensal Vintage 2022 annual time series of July 1, county population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.

Unlike in previous data releases, where all intercensal and postcensal populations are produced by U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, current 2010-2019 intercensal population estimates are produced by Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. (W&P) through a contract with NCI. The methodology used follows previously published Census methodologies to align closely with the anticipated Census Bureau’s intercensal population estimates that are tentatively scheduled to be released in Fall 2024 and prepare for a smooth transition to use Census Bureau’s intercensal population data in NCI’s next release. Detailed methodology is described in W&P's technical report (PDF, 290 KB).

Vintage 2022 data is produced by U.S. Census Bureau through an Interagency Agreement with NCI. Vintage 2022 data also marks the first time that nine planning regions are used as county-equivalent geographic units for reporting July 1 population estimates series for the state of Connecticut. To align with the geographic unit currently used for tracking cancer incidence and deaths, W&P converted 2020-2022 populations for Connecticut from planning regions to counties.

The modifications made by NCI to W&P and Census Bureau estimates are documented in Modifications to the County Population Data and are summarized below.

  • The population estimates incorporate intercensal (for July 1, 2000-2009, July 1, 2010-2019) and Vintage 2022 (for July 1, 2020-2022) bridged race estimates that are derived from the original multiple race categories in the 2000, 2010 and 2020 Censuses. The bridged race estimates and a description of the methodology used to develop them appear on the National Center for Health Statistics website.
  • A modification that NCI has made to the Census Bureau estimates only affects population estimates for the state of Hawaii. Based on concerns that the native Hawaiian population has been vastly undercounted in previous censuses, the Epidemiology Program of the Hawaii Cancer Research CenterExternal Web Site Policy has recommended an adjustment to the populations for their state. The "Hawaii-adjustment" to the Census Bureau’s estimates has the net result of reducing the estimated white population and increasing the estimated Asian and Pacific Islander population for the state. The estimates for the total population, black population, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations in Hawaii are not modified.
  • Population estimates for 2005 are adjusted for population shifts due to hurricanes Katrina (August 29) and Rita (September 24). These estimates are lower for counties/parishes that had direct hurricane impact and higher for counties/parishes that were destinations for those displaced. See Adjusted Populations for the Counties/Parishes Affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita for more information.

Single year of age population estimates by county are available on the Download U.S. Population Data page. The methods used to create these estimates are described in Single Year of Age County Population Estimates.

Standard Population Data Files containing age distributions used as weights to create age-adjusted statistics are also available.

Suggested Reference for Intercensal 2010-2019 Population Estimates: 2010 to 2019 Intercensal Estimates of County Population by Age, Sex, and Bridged Race for Vintage 2020 Postcensal Estimates, Woods & Poole Economics, Inc., Washington D.C. February 2024.