As of October 20 2009, the United States has a total resident population of 308 million.^[1] It is a very urbanized nation, with 81% of the population residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-2005 (the worldwide urban rate was 49%).^[2] The mean population center of the United States has consistently shifted westward and southward,^[3] with California and Texas currently the most populous states.^[4] The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2008 is 2.1 children per woman,^[5] which is roughly the replacement level.^[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] Accordingly, the United States Census Bureau shows an increase of 0.95% between November 2007 and November 2008 for the resident population.^[9] Nonetheless, though high by industrialized country standards, this is below the world average annual rate of 1.19%.^[7] Long term, the U.S. growth rate is projected to surpass that of the world at large, per Census Bureau projections of 439 million in 2050,^[10] which is a 46% gain from 2007. However, the United Nations projects the U.S. population to grow from 306 million in 2007 to 402 million in 2050, an increase of 32%, less than the world's 38%.^[11]

People under 20 years of age make 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.^[12] The national median age was 36.7 years.^[12]

The American population reached the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark in 2006 (estimated on Tuesday, October 17).^[13][14] 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, or Asian countries such as Japan or South Korea, whose populations are slowly declining, and whose fertility rates are below replacement.

Population growth is fastest among minorities (taken as a group), and according to the United States Census Bureau's estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities.^[15] In 2007, the nation's minority population reached 102.5 million.^[16] 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.^[17]

Based on a population clock maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the current U.S. population, is about 308,071,000.^[18] A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau report predicted an increase of over 35% by the year 2050.^[19] A subsequent 2008 report projects a population of 451 million, which is a 44% increase from 2008. The Pew Hispanic Center and the Center for Immigration Studies have predicted that the large majority of this growth will be due to future immigrants and their descendants.^[20][21]

As of November 2008, the U.S. comprises approximately 4.5% of the world's population.^[22]

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 451 million by 2050.

U.S. population clock hits the 300 million mark

United States population pyramid.

[edit] Cities

The United States has dozens of major cities, including 8 of the 60 "global cities"^[23] of all types, with three "alpha" global cities: New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.^[24] 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.)

[edit] 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,^[28] as well as complete listings of population density by place name.^[29]

[edit] Race and ethnicity

The U.S. population's distribution by race and ethnicity in 2006 was as follows:^[30][31]

• Total population: 299 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.

[edit] Hispanic and Latino Americans

Each of the racial categories includes people who identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino.^[32] 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.""^[33]

• • Hispanic or Latino ethnicity: 16.8% or about 51 million:^[31]
  • 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 or 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

[edit] Projections

A report in August 2008^[34] 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 66% 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 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 nearly 305 million people today, and is projected to reach 400 million by 2039 and 439 million in 2050.^[35][36]

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.^[37] Non-Hispanic whites made up 85% of the population in 1960.^[38] It foresees the Hispanic population rising from 14% in 2005 to 29% by 2050.^[39] 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.^[40]

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).^[41]

[edit] 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.

There were 22.1 million veterans in 2009.^[42]

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.^[43] 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^[44] (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.^[44]

Self-identified Gay, lesbian and bisexual populations tend to be concentrated in urban areas.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Religious affiliation

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. 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.^[45]

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.

[edit] Religious self-identification of the U.S. adult population: 1990, 2001, 2008

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^[47]
Figures are not adjusted for refusals to reply; investigators suspect refusals are possibly more representative of "no religion" than any other group.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Social class

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:

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.

[edit] Demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

[edit] Median age

• 36.7 years

[edit] Age structure

(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)

[edit] Population growth rate

0.888% (2008 est.)

[edit] Natural population growth rate

• 0.590%

[edit] Population projections

(2008 US Census Bureau data)^[48]

• 2010: 314,232,863
• 2020: 342,386,665
• 2030: 378,503,674
• 2040: 420,655,295
• 2050: 451,010,253

[edit] 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.^[49]

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.^[49]

17.6 births/1,000 population (in the first half of the 1930s)^[50]

About 1.7 million babies were born in 2007 to unmarried women, a 26% rise since 2002. This figure represents nearly four out of every 10 births.^[51]

[edit] Death rate

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

[edit] Immigration|Net migration rate

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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Life expectancy

(source: Census Bureau, 2007):

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

[edit] Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)^[49]

• Hispanics: 3.0
• African Americans: 2.2
• White Americans: 2.0
• Asian and Pacific Islanders: 1.9^[52]

2.06 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)

3.10 children born/women (1950)

[edit] Unemployment rate

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

• all workers: 100.2% (adjusted for 2010)
• 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)

[edit] 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 451 million in 2050 and then 595 million in 2100.

[edit] 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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• 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
• 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

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