IPUMS Terms of Use

  1. Users of IPUMS data must agree to terms of use when registering. For most IPUMS projects, the terms require that users cite the data appropriately and define users' rights to redistribute the data. Some projects have additional terms due to the nature of the data or our agreements with data providers. All IPUMS user agreements are valid for one year and may be renewed.

See below for specific Terms of Use for each IPUMS data collection. You can use the data only in accordance with these terms, and any other use is a violation of the agreement. Violations may result in revocation of the agreement and prohibition from using other IPUMS data.

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IPUMS USA

You will not redistribute the data without permission: For IPUMS USA Sample data, you may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution of IPUMS USA Sample data; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

IPUMS Full Count. You will not redistribute the data. These data will be used for research and educational purposes only. These data will not be republished. User will not link individual records with original enumeration images.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS CPS

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS International

Redistribution: You will not redistribute the data. All data extracted from the IPUMS International database are intended solely for the use of the licensee. Under IPUMS International agreements with collaborating agencies, redistribution of the data to third parties is prohibited. Each member of a research team using the data must apply for access and be licenses individually.

Usage: You agree to use IPUMS International data for scholarly research and educational purposes only. Commercial use is strictly prohibited. These microdata extracts are provided for the exclusive purposes of teaching and scholarly research, and may not be used for any other purposes without explicit written approval from the relevant official statistical authority. Users are prohibited from using IPUMS International data or other authorized distributors in the pursuit of any commercial or income-generating venture either privately, or otherwise. The publishing of research results based on IPUMS International microdata is permitted in communications such as scholarly papers, journals, research reports and the like. Using this data for genealogical purposes is strictly prohibited.

Confidentiality: You will not use the data to identify individuals. Users will maintain the confidentiality of persons and households. All direct identifiers, as well as any characteristics that might lead to identification, are omitted from the data. Any attempt to ascertain the identity of persons or households from the microdata is prohibited. Alleging that a person or household has been identified in these data is also prohibited. Statistical results that might reveal the identity of persons or entities may not be reported or published in any form.

Data Security: Microdata extracts must always be safely secured. Users will implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to microdata acquired from IPUMS International, its partners or authorized distributors. Upon the completion of this research, data extracts may be retained only if they can be safely secured. If security cannot be guaranteed, the microdata must be destroyed.

Violations: Any violation of this license agreement will result in disciplinary action, including possible loss of employment. Violation of this agreement will lead to revocation of this license, recall of all microdata acquired, a motion of censure to the relevant professional organization(s) and civil prosecution under national or international statutes, at the discretion of the Regents of the University of Minnesota and the official statistical agencies. Sanctions likewise may be taken against the institution with which the violator is affiliated.

User agrees to notify ipums@umn.edu regarding errors in the data.

IPUMS INTERNATIONAL LEGAL NOTICE: Submission of this application constitutes a legally binding agreement between the applicant, the applicant's institution, the University of Minnesota, and the relevant official statistical authorities. Submitting false, misleading or fraudulent information constitutes a violation of this agreement.

Violations: Any violation of this license agreement will result in disciplinary action, including possible loss of employment. Violation of this agreement will lead to revocation of this license, recall of all microdata acquired, a motion of censure to the relevant professional organization(s) and civil prosecution under national or international statutes, at the discretion of the Regents of the University of Minnesota and the official statistical agencies. Sanctions likewise may be taken against the institution with which the violator is affiliated.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

You are required to cite IPUMS International and the relevant official statistical authority as the source of the microdata. Each extract is accompanied by appropriate citation language and for information on proper citation refer to the citation and use pages for IPUMS International. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS International should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS DHS

The authorization process for IPUMS DHS is controlled by The DHS Program. Dataset access is granted solely for research purposes. I have read and agreed to the DHS terms and conditions.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS PMA

Usage: You agree to use IPUMS PMA data only for scholarly research, educational purposes, or to inform and improve programs. Commercial use is strictly prohibited. These microdata extracts are provided for the exclusive purposes of teaching and scholarly research, and may not be used for any other purposes without explicit written approval from the relevant official statistical authority. Users are prohibited from using IPUMS PMA data or other authorized distributors in the pursuit of any commercial or income-generating venture either privately, or otherwise. The publishing of research results based on IPUMS PMA microdata is permitted in communications such as scholarly papers, journals, research reports and the like.

Confidentiality: You will not use the data to identify individuals. Users will maintain the confidentiality of persons, households, and service delivery providers. All direct identifiers, as well as any characteristics that might lead to identification, are omitted from the data. Any attempt to ascertain the identity of persons, households, or service delivery providers from the microdata is prohibited. Alleging that a person, household, or service delivery provider has been identified in these data is also prohibited. Statistical results that might reveal the identity of persons or entities may not be reported or published in any form.

Data Security: Microdata extracts must always be safely secured. Users will implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to microdata acquired from IPUMS PMA, its partners or authorized distributors. Upon the completion of this research, data extracts may be retained only if they can be safely secured. If security cannot be guaranteed, the microdata must be destroyed.

Violations: Any violation of this license agreement may result in disciplinary action. Violation of this agreement will lead to revocation of this license, recall of all microdata acquired, a motion of censure to the relevant professional organization(s) and may result in civil prosecution under national or international statutes. Sanctions likewise may be taken against the institution with which the violator is affiliated.

User agrees to notify ipums@umn.edu regarding errors in the data.

IPUMS PMA LEGAL NOTICE: Submission of this application constitutes a legally binding agreement between the applicant, the applicant's institution, the University of Minnesota, and the relevant principal investigators on Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grants. Submitting false, misleading or fraudulent information constitutes a violation of this agreement.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

You are required to cite IPUMS PMA and the relevant official statistical authority as the source of the microdata. Each extract is accompanied by appropriate citation language and for information on proper citation refer to the citation and use pages for IPUMS PMA. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS PMA should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS MICS

The authorization process for IPUMS MICS is controlled by UNICEF MICS. Dataset access is granted solely for research purposes. I have read and agreed to the UNICEF MICS terms and conditions.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS NHGIS

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS IHGIS

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS Time Use (ATUS, MTUS, AHTUS)

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

I have read and agree to the University Central London's terms and conditions. Terms can be viewed here (https://uma.pop.umn.edu/mtus_terms.pdf).

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS NHIS

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Usage: You will use the data in these data files for statistical reporting and analysis only. The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m and 42 U.S.C. 299 a-1, Sections 308 (d) and 903 (c)) provides that the data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) may be used only for the purposes of health statistical reporting and analysis.

Confidentiality: You will not use the data to identify individuals. Any effort to determine the identity of any reported case is prohibited by this law. NCHS does all they can to assure that the identity of data subjects cannot be disclosed. All direct identifiers, as well as any characteristics that might lead to identification, are omitted from the data files. Any intentional identification or disclosure of a person or establishment violates the assurances of confidentiality given to the providers of the information. Make no use of the identity of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently and advise the Director of NCHS of any such discovery in the NHIS data (301-458-4500). Do not link these data with individually-identifiable data from any other datasets, other than the MEPS or NHIS. Linkage of individual records from the MEPS and NHIS may only occur inside the AHRQ Data Center, NCHS Research Data Center, or the U.S. Census RDC network.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS MEPS

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Usage: You will use the data in these data files for statistical reporting and analysis only. The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m and 42 U.S.C. 299 a-1, Sections 308 (d) and 903 (c)) provides that the data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) may be used only for the purposes of health statistical reporting and analysis.

Confidentiality: You will not use the data to identify individuals. Any effort to determine the identity of any reported case is prohibited by this law. AHRQ do all they can to assure that the identity of data subjects cannot be disclosed. All direct identifiers, as well as any characteristics that might lead to identification, are omitted from the data files. Any intentional identification or disclosure of a person or establishment violates the assurances of confidentiality given to the providers of the information. Make no use of the identity of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently and advise the Director Office of Management of AHRQ of any such discovery in the MEPS data. Do not link these data with individually-identifiable data from any other datasets, other than the MEPS or NHIS. Linkage of individual records from the MEPS and NHIS may only occur inside the AHRQ Data Center, NCHS Research Data Center, or the U.S. Census RDC network.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS CDOH

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS HigherEd

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS GeoMarker

You will not redistribute the data without permission. You may publish a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication. Contact us for permission for any other redistribution; we will consider requests for free and commercial redistribution.

Usage: You agree to use IPUMS GeoMarker data for scholarly research and educational purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited. Geocoding services and data are provided for the exclusive purposes of scholarly research and teaching. Users are prohibited from using GeoMarker in the pursuit of any commercial or income-generating venture. The publishing of research results, such as tables, models, figures and maps, based on GeoMarker data is permitted in communications such as scholarly papers, journals, and research reports.

Submission of PHI to IPUMS: If you are submitting any information to the University that is Protected Health Information (PHI), as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (HIPAA), you represent that you: 

  1. received appropriate authorization as required by HIPAA from the individuals whose PHI is being submitted; or
  2. received a waiver of authorization from an IRB for such PHI; or
  3. are submitting a Limited Data Set (as defined by HIPAA) for purposes of research, public health or health care operations (all as defined by HIPAA). If you are submitting a Limited Data Set, the University will (i) only use the Limited Data Set for the purposes of performing geocoding and linking of contextual variables requested by the User, (ii) not further use or disclose the Limited Data Set, (iii) use appropriate safeguards to prevent further use or disclosure of the Limited Data Set, (iv) report to the User any use or disclosure of the Limited Data Set beyond the purposes described here of which University becomes aware, (v) ensure that any of the University’s agents who may have access to the Limited Data Set agree to the same terms and conditions provided for here, and (vi) not attempt to identify the individuals whose information is included in the Limited Data Set or attempt to contact such individuals. For additional information about submitting a Limited Data Set to the University for analysis, please contact IPUMS GeoMarker user support at geomarker@umn.edu.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.

IPUMS Terra

You will not redistribute the data: For some of the IPUMS Terra area-level, raster, and boundary data, you may be able to redistribute the data. You must contact us for permission. You should contact us about publishing even a subset of the data to meet journal requirements for accessing data related to a particular publication.

Cite the IPUMS data appropriately: For information on proper citation refer to citation. Publications and research reports making use of IPUMS data should be added to our Bibliography.