Release 2 of the 2024 GSS Cross-section data are now available. This updated data features questions related to religious affiliation and practice, industry and occupation, household composition, and new topical questions. We encourage users to review the documentation and consider the potential impact of the experiments and data collection approach on the survey estimates. Release 2 also reflects adjustments to some variables following a disclosure review process that was implemented to better protect GSS respondent privacy (for details, see the GSS 2024 Codebook).
Cumulative Data Set (cross-sectional samples from all years)
GSS 1972-2024 Cross-Sectional Cumulative Data (Release 2, October 2025)
The cumulative data file is also available via SDA, The Roper Center, ICPSR, and the GSS Data Explorer.
Merged Single-Year Data Sets (cross-sectional and all panels)
Other
Because of the potential for deductive disclosure, in order to obtain more restricted information, researchers need to complete a formal application to work with the GSS sensitive data. Please refer to “Obtaining GSS Sensitive Data Files”.
Alerts
Data Changes
Given recent updates, a thorough reading of the documentation is strongly advised. The GSS has made changes to the data structure to better protect GSS respondent privacy. These updates may affect how trends are analyzed over time. The GSS is using the original variable names for data that supports the most up-to-date trend analysis while creating new names for variables that were changed. Users can find more details in the GSS 2024 Codebook.
Missing Values
With the release of the 2024 cross-section data, please note that missing values have been implemented differently from previous versions to make use of the full range of missing values currently utilized by the GSS and to standardize across variables. Key missing values to know are:
- -100: Inapplicable
- -99: No answer
- -98: Don't know
- -97: Skipped on web
- -90: Refusal
- -80: Not available in this release
- -70: Not available in this year
The 2024 GSS Codebook contains description of other, less common missing values. This change does not currently apply to panel and merged data sets.
SPSS Student Version
The SPSS student version, which can handle up to 50 variables and 1500 cases, cannot open the GSS data files.
