Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)
Overview
Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) is a geographic area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for the dissemination of public use microdata samples, typically containing a population of at least 100,000 people. PUMAs enable researchers to access individual-level census responses while protecting respondent privacy.
Key Concepts
Microdata is individual-level survey response data (anonymized). PUMS (Public Use Microdata Sample) is the dataset containing individual records. Population threshold is the minimum 100,000 population required for privacy protection. State-based means PUMAs do not cross state boundaries. Nesting ensures PUMAs are built from whole census tracts.
Use Cases
- Custom demographic tabulations not available in standard products
- Multivariate analysis of individual characteristics
- Statistical modeling and microsimulation
- Academic and policy research
Data Products
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| ACS PUMS | Annual microdata from American Community Survey |
| Decennial PUMS | Microdata from decennial census |
| CPS PUMS | Current Population Survey microdata |
Appendix
Created: 2025-12-13 | Modified: 2025-12-13
See Also
- Block Group (BG)
- Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER)
- US Census Bureau