US Population Growth Driven by Immigration, Despite Aging Baby Boomer Generation

The US population continues to experience growth due to immigration, counteracting a broader demographic shift as the baby boomer generation ages, according to data from the US Census Bureau. The number of Americans 65 and older is increasing, while the population under 18 is declining. However, immigration is helping to offset this decline, particularly among Hispanics and Asians.

Key Takeaways:

• The number of Americans 65 and older climbed by 3.1% from 2023 to 2024, while the population under 18 declined by 0.2%.
• There are more older adults than children in nearly half of US counties, particularly in sparsely populated areas.
• The Hispanic population in the US rose by about 9.7% from April 2020 to July 2024, including both immigration and births.
• The Asian population grew by about 13% in the same period.
• The decline in US birth rates since the late 2010s has sparked interest from policymakers.
• The median age is rising across every racial group in the United States.
• The number of metro areas with more older adults than children increased from 58 in 2020 to 112 in 2024, representing nearly one-third of all metro areas.

Statistics:

• The population gain in the US was bigger than ever before in 2024, driven by immigration.
• White Americans accounted for 57.5% of the total population in 2024 but for 47.5% of the population under age 18.
• Hispanic people accounted for 20% of the total population but 26.9% of children.
• Women outnumbered men by 3.4 million, making up 50.5% of the US population in 2024.
• The Asian population saw a 4.2% and 13% growth from 2023 to 2024 in some states, such as California and Texas.

Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau (Thursday release)
• Lauren Bowers, Chief of the Census Bureau's population estimates branch, in a statement
• Bill Frey, Senior Demographer at the Brookings Institution
• Steven Martin, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute