Presented are data from the National Census of the Deaf Population (NCDP) which gathered information on the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the deaf population of the U.S. The population studied is defined as those persons who could not hear and understand speech and who had lost (or never had) that ability prior to 19 years of age. The first chapter provides an introduction and overview of results of the census. Six chapters analyze the deaf population under the following topics: size, distribution, and salient characteristics; civil status, family composition, and fertility; education and communication; occupation; economic status; and morbidity and mortality. Chapter 7 explains the design and execution of the survey. Appendixes include a list of organizations and individuals who contributed names to the NCDP (arranged by state); a summary of a special meeting on problems of identifying the black deaf population; observations on sample design for the NCDP; and an interviewer's manual for the NCDP. (LS)