US Population Data - 1969-2001
Release date: January 16, 2004

The county population estimates currently used in the SEER*Stat software to calculate cancer incidence and mortality rates are available for download (see Download US Population Data). They represent a modification of the annual time series of July 1 county population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin produced by the US Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, with support from the NCI through an interagency agreement. Population Estimates Used in NCI’s SEER*Stat Software (PDF) documents the specific modifications made by the NCI to the Census Bureau estimates. The following summarizes these modifications.

• The population estimates now incorporate bridged single-race estimates for July 1, 2000 and 2001, that are derived from the original multiple race categories in the 2000 Census (as specified in the 1997 Office of Management and Budget standards for the collection of data on race and ethnicity). The bridged single-race estimates and a description of the methodology used to develop them appear on the National Center for Health Statistics Web site.
• Another modification only affects population estimates for the state of Hawaii. The Epidemiology Program of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii 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 "Hawaii-adjustment" to the Census Bureau estimates has the net result of reducing the estimated White population and increasing the Asian and Pacific Islander population for the state. The Census Bureau estimates for the total population, Black population, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations in Hawaii are unaffected.
• An additional modification to the Census Bureau estimates was implemented in order to meet requirements for age-adjustment according to the year 2000 US standard population. Population estimates for two new age groups (less than one-year-olds and one-to-four year-olds) were created for the 1969-1989 estimates.

Because NCI cancer rates are calculated by dividing the number of cancer cases by a census-generated denominator, rates can be heavily influenced by changes or uncertainties in census counts. Please review NCI FACT SHEET: How Changes in US Census Counts Affect NCI Cancer Rates.

Standard Population Data Files are also available.

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