Demographics of the United States

The United States has a total resident population of 311,359,000.^[1] It is a very urbanized population, with 81% residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-2005 (the worldwide urban rate was 49%).^[2] California and Texas are the most populous states,^[3] as the mean center of United States population has consistently shifted westward and southward.^[4]

The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2009 is 2.05 children per woman,^[5] which is slightly lower than the replacement level of 2.1.^[6] However, U.S. population growth is among the highest in industrialized countries,^[7] since the vast majority of these have below-replacement fertility rates and the U.S. has higher levels of immigration.^[5][8] The United States Census Bureau shows population increases ranging between 0.85% and 0.89% for the twelve-month periods ending in 2009.^[9] Nonetheless, though high by industrialized country standards, this is below the world average annual rate of 1.19%.^[7]

People under 20 years of age made up over a quarter of the U.S. population (27.6%), and people age 65 and over made up one-eighth (12.6%) in 2007.^[10] The national median age was 36.7 years.^[10] Racially, the U.S. has a White American majority. Minorities compose just over one-third of the population (102.5 million in 2007), with Hispanic and Latino Americans and African Americans as the largest minority groups, by ethnicity and race, respectively.^[11]

The American 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. It reached the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark on October 17, 2006.^[12][13] Currently, population growth is fastest among minorities as a whole, and according to the Census Bureau's estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 belonged to minority groups.^[14]

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.^[15] Immigrants and their U.S.-born descendants are expected to provide most of the U.S. population gains in the decades ahead.^[16]

The Census Bureau projects a U.S. population of 439 million in 2050, which is a 46% increase from 2007 (301.3 million).^[17] However, the United Nations projects a U.S. population of 402 million in 2050, an increase of 32% from 2007 (the UN projects a gain of 38% for the world at large).^[18] In either case, such growth is unlike most European countries, especially Germany, Russia, Italy, and Greece, or Asian countries such as Japan or South Korea, whose populations are slowly declining, and whose fertility rates are below replacement.

As of 14 February 2011, the United States has 4.51% of the world's population.

The first U.S. census, in 1790, recorded four million Americans. By 2000, this number had grown to 281 million. It is expected to reach 310 million by 2010 and 439 million[17] by 2050.

U.S. population clock hits the 300 million mark

United States population pyramid.

History

Since the liberalization of immigration policy in 1965,^[19] the number of first-generation immigrants living in the United States has quadrupled,^[20] from 9.6 million in 1970 to about 38 million in 2007.^[21] Almost 97% of residents of the 10 largest American cities in 1900 were non-Hispanic whites.^[22] In 2006, non-Hispanic whites were the minority in thirty-five of the fifty largest cities.^[23] The Census Bureau reported that minorities accounted for 48.6% of the children born in the U.S. between July 2008 and July 2009.^[24]

Cities

The United States has dozens of major cities, including 8 of the 60 "global cities"^[25] of all types, with three in the "alpha" group of global cities: New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.^[26][27] As of 2008^[update], the United States had 52 metropolitan areas with a population of over 1,000,000 people each. (See Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas.)

The following table shows the populations of the top ten cities and their metropolitan areas, as of July 1, 2008.

Leading population centers
Rank	Core city	State	Pop.[28]	Metro area rank	Metro area pop.[29]	Region[30]	New York City Los Angeles
1	New York	New York	8,363,710	1	19,006,798	Northeast
2	Los Angeles	California	3,833,995	2	12,872,808	West
3	Chicago	Illinois	2,853,114	3	9,569,624	Midwest
4	Houston	Texas	2,242,193	6	5,728,143	South
5	Phoenix	Arizona	1,567,924	12	4,281,899	West
6	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,447,395	5	5,838,471	Northeast
7	San Antonio	Texas	1,351,305	28	2,031,445	South
8	Dallas	Texas	1,279,910	4	6,300,006	South
9	San Diego	California	1,279,329	17	3,001,072	West
10	San Jose	California	948,279	31	1,819,198	West
2008 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).

Population density for selected U.S. census-designated places (CDPs)

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,^[34] as well as complete listings of population density by place name.^[35]

Race and ethnicity

The U.S. population's distribution by race and ethnicity in 2008 was as follows:^[36][37]

• Total population: 304.1 million

These figures add up to more than 100% on this table 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.^[38] 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.""^[39] The total population of Hispanic and Latino Americans comprised 46.9 million or 15.4% of the national total in 2008, with the following racial distribution:^[37]

• White alone: 62.4% or 29.2 million
• Some other race alone: 30.5% or 14.3 million
• Two or more races: 3.9% or 1.8 million
• Black or African American alone: 1.9% or 0.885 million
• American Indian or Alaska Native alone: 1.0% or 0.450 million
• Asian alone: 0.37% or 0.174 million
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone: 0.05% or 0.025 million

Projections

A report in August 2008^[40] from the U.S. Census Bureau projects that non-Hispanic whites will no longer make up the majority of the population by 2042, but will remain the largest race. This is a revision of earlier projections that this would occur in 2050. Today, non-Hispanic White Americans make up about 66% of the population. This percentage is expected to fall to 46% in 2050. The report foresees the Hispanic and Latino population rising from 15% today to 30% by 2050. Today, African Americans make up 14% 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 308 million people today, and is projected to reach 400 million by 2039 and 439 million in 2050.^[17][41][42]

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.^[43] Non-Hispanic whites made up 85% of the population in 1960.^[44] It foresees the Hispanic population rising from 14% in 2005 to 29% by 2050.^[45] 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 immigration.^[46]

Of the nation's children in 2050, 62% are expected to be of a minority ethnicity, up from 44% today. Approximately 39% are projected to be Hispanic (up from 22% in 2008), and 38% are projected to be single-race, non-Hispanic whites (down from 56% in 2008).^[47]

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).

There were 22.1 million veterans in 2009.^[48]

In 2010, there were an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.^[49]

Density of same-sex households compared to all households by state.

The 2000 U.S. Census counted same-sex couples in an oblique way; asking the sex and the relationship to the "main householder", whose sex was also asked. One organization specializing in analyzing gay demographic data reported, based on this count in the 2000 census and in the 2000 supplementary survey, that same-sex couples comprised between 0.99% and 1.13% of U.S. couples in 2000.^[50] A 2006 report issued by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation concluded that the number of same-sex couples in the U.S. grew from 2000 to 2005, from nearly 600,000 couples in 2000 to almost 777,000 in 2005. 4.1% of Americans aged 18–45 identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual^[51] (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 2000 U.S. Census estimated 776,943 same-sex couple households in the country as a whole, representing about 0.5% of the population.^[51]

Less than 1% of Americans serve in the Armed Forces.^[52]

Religion

Major religions by overall percentage

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 750,000 or more. The definition of a member is determined by each religious body.^[53] As of 2004^[update], the US census bureau reported that about 13% of the population did not identify itself as a member of any religion.^[54]

Religions of the United States

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.

Religions of American adults

The United States government does not collect religious data in its census. The survey below, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2008, was a random digit-dialed telephone survey of 54,461 American residential households in the contiguous United States. The 1990 sample size was 113,723; 2001 sample size was 50,281

Adult respondents were asked the open-ended question, "What is your religion, if any?". Interviewers did not prompt or offer a suggested list of potential answers. The religion of the spouse or partner was also asked. If the initial answer was "Protestant" or "Christian" further questions were asked to probe which particular denomination. About one third of the sample was asked more detailed demographic questions.

Religious Self-Identification of the U.S. Adult Population: 1990, 2001, 2008^[57]
Figures are not adjusted for refusals to reply; investigators suspect refusals are possibly more representative of "no religion" than any other group.

Marriage

In 2010, the median age for marriage for men was 27; for women, 26.^[58]

Income

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

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

References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The American Class Structure: In An Age of Growing Inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005). Society in Focus. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon; Beeghley, L. (2004). The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon.

¹ The upper middle class may also be referred to as "Professional class" Ehrenreich, B. (1989). The Inner Life of the Middle Class. NY, NY: Harper-Colins.

Health

A nationwide study io 2010 indicated that 19.5% of teens, aged 12-19, have developed "slight" hearing loss. "Slight" was defined as an inability to hear at 16 to 24 decibels.^[59]

Demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.^[60]

Median age

• 36.7 years (2009 est.)

Age structure

A population pyramid that shows the age of the population by sex from 1950-2010.

(2009 est.)

• 0–14 years: 20.2%
  (male 31,639,127/female 30,305,704)
• 15–64 years: 67.0%
  (male 102,665,043/female 103,129,321)
• 65 years and over: 12.8%
  (male 16,901,232/female 22,571,696)

Population growth rate

0.977% (2009 est.)

Birth rate

13.5 births/1,000 population/year (Provisional Data for 2009). This is the lowest in a century. There were 4,136,000 births.^[61]

13.9 births/1,000 population/year (Provisional Data for 2008)

14.3 births/1,000 population/year (Provisional Data for 2007)^[62]

In 2009, Time magazine reported that 40% of births were to unmarried women.^[63]

The drop in the birth rate from 2007 to 2009 is believed to be associated with the Great Recession^[64]

Death rate

8.38 deaths/1,000 population/year (2009 est.)

Immigration

13% of the population was foreign-born in 2009.^[65]

Net migration rate

4.32 migrants/1,000 population (2009 est.)

Sex ratios

(2009 est.)

• at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
• 15−64 years: 1 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
• total population: 0.97 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

(2009 est.)

• total population: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 5.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

(2009 est.)

• total population: 78.11 years
• male: 75.65 years
• female: 80.69 years

Total fertility rate

• 2.05 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

(2008^[66])

• All workers: 5.8%
• Adult men: 6.1%
• Adult women: 5.4%
• White: 5.2%
• Black or African American: 10.1%
• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity: 7.6%
• Asians: 4.0%

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

Nationality

• noun: American(s)
• adjective: American

Population projections

2008 US Census Bureau data^[17]

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

See also

• U.S. demographic birth cohorts
• Maps of American ancestries
• Languages of the United States
• Immigration to the United States
• Emigration from 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
• Historical Statistics of the United States

Lists:

• Lists of U.S. cities with non-white majority populations
• List of the largest metropolitan areas in the Americas
• List of U.S. states and territories by population

Income:

• Household income in the United States
• Personal income in the United States
• Affluence in the United States
• Highest-income places in the United States
• Lowest-income counties in the United States

References

External links

• 2000 Census of Population and Housing United States, U.S. Census Bureau
• U.S. Demographics and State Rankings
• Asian-Nation: Demographics of Asian American /2006-07-04-us-population_x.htm?csp=34 Countdown to 300 million
• Census Ancestry Map
• USA Today 2004 Election County by County Map
• BeliefNet State by State Religious Affiliation (archived from the original on 2008-04-21)
• Health by State
• U.S. Demographics and Maps
• America's Changing Demographics a Nightly Business Report special
• The Realignment of America - The Wall Street Journal
• Religion U.S. Census Bureau
• Google - public data "Population in the U.S."

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