Release of Bridged-Race 1990-1999 Intercensal Population Estimates for Calculating Vital Rates

The National Center for Health Statistics released bridged-race intercensal estimates of the resident population of the United States for 1990-1999 on April 15, 2003. These estimates, which represent a revision of the annual time series of July 1 county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, were produced by the Population Estimates Program of the U.S. Bureau of the Census with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These intercensal population estimates are based on the bridged single-race estimates of the April 1, 2000 resident population developed by the Bureau of the Census in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) (1, 4, 5).

Derivation of the race-specific intercensal population estimates for the 1990’s was complicated by the incomparability of the race data on the 1990 and the 2000 censuses. The race data on the 1990 Census were collected in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 1977 standards on race and ethnicity, while the race data on the 2000 Census were collected in accordance with the OMB’s 1997 standards on race and ethnicity (2,3). The race classification used for the bridged-race intercensal estimates is consistent with the four single-race categories enumerated in the 1990 Census (White; Black; American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander). To produce the race-specific intercensal estimates the Census bureau used the same methodology that was used to produce the age-sex-specific national- and state-level intercensal estimates, and distributed the difference between the 1990-based postcensal estimates of the 2000 resident population and the April 1, 2000 bridged-race population estimates (1, 6).

The intercensal estimates for 1990-1999 released on the NCHS website differ from the estimates released on the NCI website (http://seer.cancer.gov/popdata). NCI modified the Census Bureau’s estimates for the state of Hawaii. The Epidemiology Program of the Hawaii Cancer Research Center has developed their own set of population estimates, based on sample survey data collected by the Hawaii Department of Health. This effort grew out of a concern that the native Hawaiian population has been vastly undercounted in previous censuses. The NCI adjustment to the Census Bureau Hawaii estimates has the net result of reducing the estimated White population and increasing the Asian and Pacific Islander population for the state. NCI did not modify the Census Bureau estimates for Hawaii’s total population, Black population, or American Indian and Alaska Native population.

Release of estimates. The bridged-race intercensal estimates by county, race (White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander), 19 age groups (<1, 1-4, 5-9,…, 80-84, 85+), sex, and Hispanic origin (not Hispanic or Latino, Hispanic or Latino) are available for download from this website. There is one file for each of the years 1990-1999. The bridged-race intercensal estimates with the NCI “Hawaii adjustment” are available for download from the NCI website: http://seer.cancer.gov/popdata

NCHS is using the bridged -race postcensal interlation estimates to revise birth and death rates for the 1990’s. The revised estimates have been or will be published in NCHS reports (7,8).

Although efforts were made to use the best available data and methods to produce these estimates, the modeling process introduces error into the estimates. The potential for error will be greatest for the smallest population groups, particularly the smaller race groups and county level estimates. NCHS would appreciate receiving feedback on the usefulness of the estimates as well as any problems that have been identified. Please provide comments via e-mail to: .

Suggested citation:

National Center for Health Statistics. Bridged-race Intercensal estimates of the July 1, 1990-July 1, 1999, United States resident population by State, county, age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau with support from the National Cancer Institute. Available on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/popbridge/popbridge.htm. 2003.

References

1. National Center for Health Statistics. Estimates of the April 1, 2000, United States resident population by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, prepared under a collaborative arrangement with the U.S. Census Bureau. Available on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/popbridge/popbridge.htm . 2003.

2. Office of Management and Budget. Revisions to the standards for the classification of Federal data on race and ethnicity, Federal Register 62FR58781-58790, October 30, 1997. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/r&e_app-a-update.pdf

3. Office of Management and Budget. Race and ethnic standards for Federal statistics and administrative reporting. Statistical Policy Directive 15, 1977.

4. Ingram DD, Weed JA, Parker,JD, Hamilton B, Schenker N, Arias E, Madans JH. U.S. Census 2000 with bridged race categories. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 2. Forthcoming 2003.

5. ParkerJD, Schenker N, Ingram DD, Weed JA, Heck KE, Madans JH.

Bridging between two standards for collecting information on race and ethnicity: application to Census 2000and vital rates. Submitted for publication.

6. Bureau of the Census. Methodology: national intercensal population estimates.

2002. http://eire.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/usintercensal.php.

7. Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ. Revised birth and fertility rates for the 1990s and new rates for Hispanic populations, 2000 and 2001: United States. National vital statistics reports; vol 51 no 12. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2003.

8. Arias E, Anderson RN, Kung HC, Murphy S, Kochanek KD. Deaths: Final Data for 2001. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 51 (in preparation). Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2003.

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