Census data, as published by the Census Bureau, is classified as what type of information?

The classification of census data as public information is based on the nature of the data collection and its intended use. The Census Bureau collects demographic, social, and economic data about the population, which is designed to inform a variety of public policies and funding decisions at local, state, and national levels.

Public information is accessible to anyone and is intended to foster transparency in governmental operations and to serve the public interest. Since census data is published and widely distributed to the public, it does not contain personally identifiable information that could compromise individual privacy, unlike confidential or sensitive information, which is restricted to protect individuals' identities or sensitive details.

By categorizing census data as public, it emphasizes the importance of the data for civic engagement and statistical analysis, while also acknowledging that the Census Bureau takes necessary precautions to maintain the anonymity of individual respondents in the data released.