PUBLIC USE FILES

ABOUT THE DATA

EPOP survey data is available for researchers to explore, analyze, and share findings on entrepreneurship in the US. Public use files (PUFs) are comprehensive data sets available to the general public without restriction. PUFs are fully anonymized, meaning that the risk of re-identifying survey respondents is negligible. This data supports analysis at national, state, and regional levels.

To request EPOP PUFs, please complete the form below and agree to the Conditions of Use. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

When the request form is submitted, the EPOP research team will email you instructions on accessing the PUF data package which includes:

Data files and formatting programs
Questionnaire: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
PUF Codebook: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
User Guide: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Survey Item Crosswalk (shows the survey variables and survey pathways for the different categories of entrepreneurship): 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Methodology Report: 2022, 2023, 2024

Currently, data is available for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The PUF release dates are:

2022 data: January 20, 2023
2023 data: April 15, 2024
2024 data: October 15, 2024
2025 data: July 31, 2025

Note: Because the same survey participant can respond to multiple waves of the EPOP Survey, data users should not pool data from multiple waves in a single analysis. A longitudinal release of the data is planned for 2026, which will include anonymous identifiers for survey respondents so data users can account for respondents who participated multiple times in EPOP from 2022 through 2026 and who contribute to longitudinal estimation in the 2026 data.

Citations, referred to below in the Conditions of Use, should appear as:

“Entrepreneurship in the Population (EPOP) Survey Project Public Use Data File: <year>.” NORC at the University of Chicago. <month> <day>, <year>. EPOP.norc.org

Details on the EPOP Survey methodology are available at About the Study.

If you have comments or questions about the PUF data, please contact the EPOP research team at EPOPresearch@norc.org.

Request Public Use Files

Please select the survey year(s) for the data you will receive*

When do you expect to publish, report, or present using EPOP data?

Conditions of Use:

I agree to the following Conditions of Use for EPOP public use data sets. These conditions are required to access the files.

Credit and Citations:
I will give proper credit to the EPOP study by including this citation in any material, published or unpublished, using EPOP data:
”Entrepreneurship in the Population (EPOP) Survey Project Public Use Data File: <year>.” NORC at the University of Chicago. <month> <day>, <year>. EPOP.norc.org

Redistribution:
I will not redistribute EPOP public use files without permission. Individuals interested in this data must provide their own contact information above and receive their own copy of the PUFs via their own email address.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH

We want to hear about your research and analysis using EPOP Survey data. Let us know about your presentations, reports, and publications, and we will add them to Publications.

IN THE NEWS

Disability-Owned Business Fact Sheet

Using EPOP:2024 data, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) describes the unique experiences of entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Learn More June 2025

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Business Ownership Fact Sheet

Using EPOP:2024 data, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) shows the contributions of AANHPI entrepreneurs in the U.S. business community.

Learn More May 2025

Returning Citizen Business Ownership Fact Sheet

Using EPOP:2024 data, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) looks at the entrepreneurial experiences of individuals who have reentered society after incarceration.

Learn More April 2025

VIEW ALL