[pnh102]

If China manages to get this done in 10 days, it would put out make-work census efforts to shame. How long did it take to count 300ish million people here, 10 months?

[Vigilanteman]

Each census taker basically has to count 167 people in ten days, if you do the math. It could be challenging if there are a lot of people not home or not responding, for whatever reason. But it is well within the realm of possible.

[NonValueAdded]

If China manages to get this done in 10 days, it would put out make-work census efforts to shame. How long did it take to count 300ish million people here, 10 months?

Oh, if only WE had the threat of the bullet or the gulag to back up our door to door effort, I think you would have seen different results.

Not advocating it, mind you; just illustrating with absurdity. Seriously, there was no downside to not answering the US Census and Americans have a different view of authority than do the Chinese. You are comparing apples and lychees.