What type of data is considered public information?

Census data is classified as public information because it is collected by governmental bodies and is intended to provide demographic and statistical insights about the population. This data is made available for public access to inform research, policy-making, and various analyses. The core idea behind the census is to gather information that reflects societal structures, such as population size, age distribution, and housing characteristics, without compromising individual privacy.

In contrast, personal health records, credit histories, and employee evaluations are considered private information. These categories contain sensitive data that pertain to individual rights and privacy, and access to them is typically restricted to protect individuals from unauthorized surveillance or misuse. Therefore, the distinctive nature of census data lies in its broad accessibility and the public interest it serves, making it the correct choice for identifying what constitutes public information.