> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/engage/program-activities/add-demographics-data.md).

# Add Demographics Data to a Program Activity

Learn how to enter participant demographic data for a program activity in PEARS.

The Demographics section records the demographic makeup of the participants in your program activity. The fields available depend on your reporting period and program areas.

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**TIP:** The red asterisk **\*** next to the heading of a field indicates that the field is required.
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## Navigate to Demographics

After completing any required custom data sections — and the **Evaluation** section, if your organization uses it — PEARS directs you to the Demographics page. You can also access this section from the program activity detail page by clicking **Demographics** in the progress panel.

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#### Enter Total Participants

In the **Total** field, enter the total number of unique participants in the program activity. This number must be greater than zero.
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#### Select Reach Method

In the **Method used to determine demographic makeup of participants** field, select the option that best describes how the demographic makeup was collected:

* **Actual Count** — You have self-reported demographic data for the entire population of this activity, such as survey responses or demographics for the whole class as provided by the school.
* **Estimated Count** — You have some reasonable basis or partial data on which to base an estimate, such as site-wide demographic percentages applied to a subset of the population.
* **Unknown** — You have no data and no basis for making an estimate.

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**NOTE:** For SNAP-Ed program activities, the **Unknown** option is not available. You must select either **Actual Count** or **Estimated Count**.
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#### Select a Data Source

In the **Source of Data** field, select the source used to determine the demographic makeup of participants from the dropdown.

If the appropriate source is not listed, select **Other** and enter the source in the text field that appears.

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**NOTE:** This field is required for every program activity.
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#### Enter Gender Data

Enter the number of participants for each gender category:

* **Female**
* **Male**
* **Non-Binary**
* **Prefer not to respond**
* **Unknown**
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#### Enter Age Data

Enter the number of participants for each age range. The age categories available depend on the program areas attached to the program activity:

**For a program activity with a SNAP-Ed program area:**

* **Less than 5 years**
* **5 – 17 years**, broken down into **5 – 7 (grades K-2)**, **8 – 10 (grades 3-5)**, **11 – 13 (grades 6-8)**, and **14 – 17 (grades 9-12)**
* **Total youth**
* **18 – 59 years**
* **60 – 75 years**
* **76 years or older**
* **Total adults**
* **Prefer not to respond**
* **Unknown**

**For an Extension-only program activity:**

* **Less than 5 years**
* **5 – 17 years**
* **Total youth**
* **18 – 29 years**
* **30 – 59 years**
* **60 – 75 years**
* **76 years or older**
* **Total adults**
* **Prefer not to respond**
* **Unknown**

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**TIP:** On a program activity with a SNAP-Ed program area, **Total youth** and **Total adults** are calculated from the age ranges above them and cannot be edited.
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#### Enter Ethnicity Data

Enter the number of participants for each ethnicity category:

* **Hispanic / Latino**
* **Non-Hispanic / Latino**
* **Prefer not to respond**
* **Unknown**
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#### Enter Race Data

On a program activity whose program areas are all SNAP-Ed, enter the number of participants for each race category:

* **American Indian or Alaska Native**
* **Asian**
* **Black or African American**
* **Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander**
* **White**
* **Prefer not to respond**
* **Unknown**

When the program activity also has an Extension program area, the Race table has two columns instead. In the **One Race Only** column, count the participants who identified with a single race. In the **2 or More Races** column, count the participants who identified with more than one race, counting each of them once for every race that applies. Then enter how many participants identified with more than one race in **# Unique participants with 2 or more races**; **# Unique participants with one race only** is calculated for you.
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#### Save and Continue

Click the **Save and Continue** button to save the demographic data and proceed to [Mark a Program Activity as Complete](/engage/program-activities/mark-a-program-activity-as-complete.md).

To save without continuing, click the **Save** button instead.
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**TIP:** PEARS can fill in this page for you from survey responses, event registrations, site-wide demographics, or youth programming data. See [Auto Calculate Program Activity Demographics](/engage/program-activities/auto-calculate-demographics.md).
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**TIP:** The demographic form layout changes based on the reporting period of the program activity. Program activities with reporting periods before 2023 will see a different set of age categories and demographic fields than those with 2023+ reporting periods.
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