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In general, the count of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders Alone or in Combination in the U.S. Census is relatively accurate. The net undercount rate for Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders Alone or in Combination in 2010 was 1.0% compared to a net overcount of 0.8% for the Non-Hispanic White Alone population. The omissions rate for Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders Alone or in Combination (7.9%) is about double the rate for Non-Hispanic White Alone (3.8%). The Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders Alone or in Combination demographic group with the highest net undercount rate was males age 18–29 who had a net undercount rate of 8.0% in 2010. This is the only net undercount rate among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders that was statistically significantly different than zero.

Over the past several decades the population living in rental housing units has consistently had net undercounts while the population living in owner-occupied housing units had net overcounts. In this Chapter the coverage differentials by tenure are analyzed and the impact of this differential on different sociodemographic groups is explored.

Knowing the characteristic of people most likely to be missed in the Census is not the same as knowing why they are missed. In this Chapter information is provided on several of the leading ideas about why people are missed in the Census along with data related to many of the ideas. The topic is first approached from broad theoretical perspective then more detailed reasons are examined. The chapter draws heavily on the literature in survey research methodology.

Over the past several decades the Census Bureau has engaged in many activities and programs aimed at reducing or eliminating differential undercounts. Several of the more prominent efforts to solve this problem are reviewed in this Chapter.

As this book is being written, the 2020 Census is getting closer and the Census Bureau’s plans are becoming more concrete. However, there are several factors which raise concerns about whether differential undercounts will be reduced in the 2020 Census. Lack of adequate funding for the Census Bureau and high reliance on the internet are two areas which may lead to higher differential undercounts in 2020.

Differential undercounts in the US Census are a substantial and on-going problem. Some of the largest undercount differentials are outlined in this Chapter and the relationship between net undercounts and omissions is reiterated. The importance of the Census is highlighted and ways in which readers can get involved in promoting a better 2020 Census are described here.