Demographics of the United States

The United States is an urbanized nation, with 80.8% of its population of 305,186,613^[1] residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-year 2005.^[2] The mean population center of the United States has consistently shifted westward and southward, with California and Texas currently the most populous states. U.S. population growth is among the highest in developed countries, although its annual rate of 0.88% is below the world average annual rate of 1.16%.^[3] The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2008 is 2.1, which is roughly the replacement level for industrialized countries. However, the U.S. Census bureau states that the population is projected to reach 439 million in 2050,^[4] which is a 44% increase from 2008 compared to the UN projection of a world population increase of 37% for the same period. Children (people under age 18) made up a quarter of the U.S. population (24.6%), and people over age 65 one-eighth (12.7%) in 2006.^[5]

Population growth

See also: List of U.S. states by population growth rate

Historical populations Census Pop.  %± 1790 3,929,214 — 1800 5,236,631 33.3% 1810 7,239,881 38.3% 1820 9,638,453 33.1% 1830 12,866,020 33.5% 1840 17,069,453 32.7% 1850 23,191,876 35.9% 1860 31,443,321 35.6% 1870 38,558,371 22.6% 1880 49,371,340 28% 1890 62,979,766 27.6% 1900 76,212,168 21% 1910 92,228,496 21% 1920 106,021,537 15% 1930 123,202,624 16.2% 1940 132,164,569 7.3% 1950 151,325,798 14.5% 1960 179,323,175 18.5% 1970 203,211,926 13.3% 1980 226,545,805 11.5% 1990 248,709,873 9.8% 2000 281,421,906 13.2%

The first U.S. census, in 1790, recorded four million Americans. By 2000, this number had grown to over 281 million. It is expected to reach 308 million by 2010 and 439 million by 2050. U.S. population clock hits the 300 million mark United States population pyramid.

The total U.S. population crossed the 100 million mark around 1915, the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark in 2006 (estimated on Tuesday, October 17).^[6][7] The U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century — a growth rate of about 1.3% a year — from about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. This is unlike most European countries, especially Germany, Russia, Italy and Greece, whose populations are slowly declining, and whose fertility rates are below replacement.

Population growth is fastest among minorities, and according to the United States Census Bureau's estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities.^[8] In 2007, the nation's minority population reached 102.5 million.^[9] A year before, the minority population totaled 100.7 million. Hispanic and Latino Americans accounted for almost half (1.4 million) of the national population growth of 2.9 million between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006.^[10]

Based on a population clock maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the current U.S. population, as of 2:30 GMT (EST+5) November 17, 2008 is 305,682,072.^[11] A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau report predicted an increase of one third by the year 2050.^[12] A subsequent 2008 report projects a population of 439 million, which is a 44% increase from 2008.

As of November 2008 the US comprises approximately 4.5% of the world's population. ([1])

Cities

See also: United States metropolitan area and List of United States cities by population

The United States has dozens of major cities, including 11 of the 55 global cities of all types — with three "alpha" global cities: New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. The United States has 51 metropolitan areas with a population of over 1,000,000 people. (See Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas.)

The following table expresses the figures for the populations of the top ten cities and their metropolitan areas, as of July 1, 2006.

Leading population centers
Rank	Core city	State	Pop.[13][14]	Metro area rank	Metro area pop.[15]	Region[16]		New York City Los Angeles
1	New York City	New York	8,250,567	1	18,818,536	Northeast
2	Los Angeles	California	3,849,378	2	12,950,129	West
3	Chicago	Illinois	2,833,321	3	9,505,748	Midwest
4	Houston	Texas	2,169,248	6	5,539,949	South
5	Phoenix	Arizona	1,512,986	13	4,039,182	West
6	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,448,394	5	5,826,742	Northeast
7	San Antonio	Texas	1,296,682	29	1,942,217	South
8	San Diego	California	1,256,951	17	2,941,454	West
9	Dallas	Texas	1,232,940	4	6,003,967	South
10	San Jose	California	929,936	30	1,787,123	West
2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates

Population density

2000 U.S. population density within each county, in persons per sq. mile (lower 48 states only): Light to dark (yellow to blue): 1-4 (y), 5-9 (lt. green), 10-24 (teal), 25-49 (dk. teal), 50-99 (blue-green), 100-249 (blue), 250-66,995 (black).

The most densely populated state is New Jersey (1,121/mi² or 433/km²). See List of U.S. states by population density for maps and complete statistics.

The United States Census Bureau publishes a popular "dot" map showing population distribution at a resolution of 7,500 people,^[20] as well as complete listings of population density by place name.^[21]

Race and ethnicity

Main articles: Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States and Hyphenated American

The U.S. population's distribution by race and ethnicity in 2006 was as follows:^[22][23]

• Total population: 299 million
• White alone: 74% or 221.3 million
  • Not including the 23.2 million White Hispanic and Latino Americans: 66% or 198.1 million
• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, of any race: 14.8% or about 44.3 million
• Black or African American alone: 13.4% or 40.9 million
• Some other race alone: 6.5% or 19 million
• Asian alone: 4.4% or 13.1 million
• Two or more races: 2.0% or 6.1 million
• American Indian or Alaska Native alone: 0.68% or 2.0 million
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone: 0.14% or 0.43 million

These figures add up to more than 100% on this list because Hispanic and Latino Americans are distributed among all the races and are also listed as an ethnicity category, resulting in a double count.

Hispanic and Latino Americans

Each of the racial categories includes people who identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino.^[24] U.S. federal law defines Hispanic or Latino as "those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or Latino categories listed on the Census 2000 or ACS questionnaire - "Mexican," "Puerto Rican," or "Cuban" - as well as those who indicate that they are "other Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.""^[25]

• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity: 14.8% or about 44.3 million:^[23]
  • White alone: 52.4% or 23.2 million
  • Some other race alone: 41% or 18.2 million
  • Two or more races: 3.8% or 1.7 million
  • Black of African American alone: 1.4% or 0.62 million
  • American Indian or Alaska Native alone: 0.74% or 0.33 million
  • Asian alone: 0.34% or 0.15 million
  • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone: 0.09% or 0.04 million

Projections

A report in August 2008^[26] from the U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2042 non-Hispanic whites will no longer make up the majority of the population. This is a revision of earlier projections that this would occur in 2050. Today, non-Hispanic whites make up about 68% of the population. This is expected to fall to 46% in 2050. The report foresees the Hispanic population rising from 15% today to 30% by 2050. Today, African Americans make up 12% of the population, in 2050 they are projected to comprise 15%. Asian Americans make up 5% of the population and are expected to make up 9% in 2050. The U.S. has nearly 305 million people today, and is projected to reach 400 million by 2039 and 439 million in 2050.^[27][28]

A report from the Pew Research Center in 2008 projects that by 2050, non-Hispanic whites will make up 47% of the population, down from 67% projected in 2005.^[29] Non-Hispanic whites made up 85% of the population in 1960.^[30] It foresees the Hispanic population rising from 14% in 2005 to 29% by 2050.^[31] The proportion of Asian Americans would almost double by 2050. Overall, the population of the U.S. was due to rise from 296 million in 2005 to 438 million, with 82% of the increase due to immigrants.^[32]

Of the nation's children in 2050, 62% are expected to have a minority ethnicity, up from 44% today. 39% are projected to be Hispanic (up from 22% in 2008), and 38% are to be single-race, non-Hispanic white (down from 56% in 2008).^[33]

Other subgroups

According to 2004 figures from the Census Bureau, there were some 32 million disabled adults (aged 18 or over) in the United States, plus another 5 million children and youth (under age 18). If one were to add impairments - or limitations that fall short of being disabilities - Census estimates put the figure at 51 million.

According to the National Survey of Family Growth, 4.1% of Americans aged 18-45 identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual^[34] (Other estimates have varied depending on methodology and timing; see Demographics of sexual orientation for a list of studies.) The American Community Survey from the U.S. Census estimated 776,943 same-sex couples in the country as a whole, representing about 0.5% of the population.^[34] GLB populations are concentrated in urban areas. Shown in the chart on the right are the top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest GLB population in terms of numbers of total gay, lesbian and bisexual residents.

Religious affiliation

Main article: Religion in the United States

The table below is based mainly on selected data as reported to the United States Census Bureau. It only includes the voluntary self-reported membership of religious bodies with 60,000 or more. The definition of a member is determined by each religious body. A growing sector of the population, currently 14%, does not identify itself as a member of any religion.^[35]

The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2001 was based on a random digit-dialed telephone survey of over 50,000 American residential households in the 48 continental states of U.S.A. over a span of approximately four months. Respondents were asked to describe themselves in terms of religion with an open-ended question. Interviewers did not prompt or offer a suggested list of potential answers. The primary question of the interview was: "What is your religion, if any?". The religion of the spouse/partner was also asked. If the initial answer was 'Protestant' or 'Christian' further questions were asked to probe which particular denomination.^[37]

Plurality religion by state, 2001. Data is unavailable for Alaska and Hawaii.

Religious affiliation within each state that has the largest deviation compared to the national average, 2001.

Percentage of state populations that identify with a religion rather than "no religion", 2001.

===Self-described religious identification of U.S. adult population: 1990 and 2001===^[38]

All figures after adjusting for refusals to reply, which jumped from 2.3% in 1990 to 5.4% in 2001

Income

Main articles: Household income in the United States, Personal income in the United States, Affluence in the United States, and Income inequality in the United States

In 2006, the median household income in the United States was around $46,000. Household and personal income depends on variables such as race, number of income earners, educational attainment and marital status.

Social class

Main article: Social class in the United States

Social classes in the U.S. lack distinct boundaries and may overlap. The following table provides a summary of currently prominent academic theories on the stratification of American society:

Demographic statistics from the CIA World Factbook

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.

Age structure

(2007 est.)

• 0−19 years: 27.4% (male 42,667,761; female 40,328,895)
• 20−64 years: 60.1% (male 89,881,041; female 90,813,578)
• 65 years and over: 12.6% (male 15,858,477; female 21,991,195)

Population growth rate

0.883% (2008 est.)

Population projections

(2008 US Census Bureau data)^[39]

• 2010: 310,232,863
• 2020: 341,386,665
• 2030: 373,503,674
• 2040: 405,655,295
• 2050: 439,010,253

Birth rate

14.20 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Birth rate was 11.6 for non-Hispanic whites, 16.5 for non-Hispanic blacks, 14.8 for American Indians, 16.5 for Asians and 23.4 for Hispanics.^[40]

In 2006, there were 4,265,996 births. Of those, 2,309,833 (54.15%) were to non-Hispanic whites, 617,220 (14.47%) to NH Blacks, 47,494 (1.11%) to AI, 239,829 (5.62%) to Asians and 1,039,051 (24.36%) to Hispanics.^[40]

Mortality rate

8.30 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate

3.05 migrants/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Human sex ratios

(2007 est.)

• at birth: 1.05 males/female
• under 15 years: 1.05 males/female
• 15−64 years: 1 male/female
• 65 years and over: 0.72 male/female
• total population: 0.97 male/female
• state-by-state breakdown: United States sex ratio chart

Infant mortality rate

(2007 est.)

• total population: 6.40 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 7.00 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 5.70 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy

(source: Census Bureau, 2007):

• total population: 78.10 years
• male: 75.20 years
• female: 81.00 years

Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)^[40]

• Hispanics: 3.0
• African Americans: 2.2
• White Americans: 2.0
• Asian and Pacific Islanders: 1.9^[41]

2.05 children born/women (2000)

2.08 children born/women (1990)

1.83 children born/women (1980)

2.48 children born/women (1970)

3.65 children born/women (1960)

3.09 children born/women (1950)

Unemployment rate (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May. 2007 est):

• all workers: 4.5%
• adult men: 4.0%
• adult women: 3.8%
• teenagers: 15.7%
• white: 3.9%
• African American: 8.5%
• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity: 5.8%
• Asians: 2.9%

(See List of U.S. states by unemployment rate)

Nationality

• noun: American(s)
• adjective: American

Much of the material in this section comes from The World Factbook 2006.

The U.S. population is expected to rise to 420 million in 2050 and then 571 million in 2100.

See also

• U.S. demographic birth cohorts
• List of U.S. states by population
• United States metropolitan area
• Household income in the United States
• Personal income in the United States
• Affluence in the United States
• Maps of American ancestries
• Languages of the United States
• Immigration to the United States
• Internet in the United States
• Lists of U.S. cities with non-white majority populations
• World's largest cities
• List of the largest metropolitan areas in the Americas
• Highest-income places in the United States
• Lowest-income counties in the United States
• Places in the United States with notable demographic characteristics
• Demographic history of the United States
• Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States
• List of U.S. cities with high transit ridership

References

External links

• U.S. Demographics and State Rankings
• Asian-Nation: Demographics of Asian American Population
• Countdown to 300 million
• Census Ancestry Map
• USA Today 2004 Election County by County Map
• BeliefNet State by State Religious Affiliation
• Health by State
• America's Changing Demographics a Nightly Business Report special
• Religion U.S. Census Bureau

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