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Iranian-Americans in U.S. Census 2010 -- FAQ Q: How many Iranians are there in the United States? A: Estimates range from 1,500,000 to 2,000,000. Q: Some people say there are 338,266 Iranians living in the U.S. Where does that number come from? A: The number comes from the United States Census Bureau, based on the U.S. Census 2000 data. Q: How did the U.S. Census Bureau come up with the 338,266 number? A: In 2004, the Census Bureau published a report called Ancestry: 2000. In that report, the Census Bureau listed the number of Americans of various ancestry based on data collected in Census 2000. For example, according to the report, there are more Americans of German ancestry than any other, a total of 57,947,171. Q: There was no question about Ancestry on the Census 2000 form. How did the Census Bureau compile the ancestry numbers from census data? A: Even though there is no specific question about ancestry (or ethnicity, or national origin) on the census form, the Census Bureau treats the answers given to the question about race as indicating ancestry. Q: Are all possible ancestries listed on the Census form in the question about race? A: No. Only a handful of ancestries are listed as part of the question about race. Q: If all ancestries are not listed on the Census form, how can people whose ancestry is not listed correctly specify their ancestry? A: By selecting the "Some other race" option of the question about race, and printing (writing in) their specific ancestry, e.g., "GERMAN", or "IRANIAN". Q: Why is the Census Bureau number from Census 2000 so much lower than the estimated number of Iranians living in the U.S.? A: Possible reasons are: Some households of Iranian ancestry did not participate in Census 2000; or of those who participated, many answered the question about race by selecting "White", or if they selected "Some other race", they did not write in "IRANIAN". Q: When is the next U.S. Census? A: The U.S Census Bureau conducts the census once every 10 years. The next one is in 2010. Census forms will start arriving in the mail beginning in March, and should be returned before April 1, 2010. Q: How can Iranians living in the U.S. ensure their numbers are more accurately counted in Census 2010? A: By answering question 9: "What is Person 1's race?" in a specific way, namely selecting the "Some other race" option and then printing (writing in) "IRANIAN". Q: Can I write anything other than "IRANIAN" under the "Some other race" option? A: The Census Bureau has indicated it will recognize only "IRANIAN" and "IRANIAN-AMERICAN" in the Iranian category when it analyzes the Census 2010 data to publish its next ancestry report. |