# Vast Overestimation of Population **URL:** \ **Category:** USA\ **Created:** [November 28, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/vast-overestimation-of-population/2042 "2017-11-28T17:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zachary.bickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zachary.bickel](https://forum.ipums.org/u/zachary.bickel)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/vast-overestimation-of-population/2042/1 "2017-11-28T17:53:00Z")
I am analyzing the specific household and individual characteristics of a limited number of counties in New Jersey. I downloaded the 2016 household and individual variables I wanted and tried to check my population counts to verify everything. However, when I apply the HHWT or PERWT to the PUMA counts I get a population of 8.9 million. According to the FactFinder the population should be closer to 3.1 million. I double checked my PUMAs and made sure the sample was limited to the geography in question, but it still seems way too big. What am I doing wrong? ---
**Author:** ![JeffBloem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/jeffbloem/32/40_2.png) [@JeffBloem](https://forum.ipums.org/u/JeffBloem)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/vast-overestimation-of-population/2042/2 "2017-11-28T18:38:00Z")
I just looked into your most recent data extract and I’ve noticed that you haven’t included a state identifier variable ([STATEFIP](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/STATEFIP#description_section)). This is important because [PUMA](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/PUMA#codes_section) codes are state-dependent and must be read in combination with one of the state identifier variables. I suspect this is the main source of the descrepency. If you continue to not find population counts that are close to American Fact Finder, send me your code and I can take a closer look.