5 days ago
America's older population is growing as its younger cohort shrinks
America's older population is growing while its younger cohort is shrinking, per new census data.
Why it matters: This demographic trend presents big policy and economic challenges — more older Americans means we'll need more care workers, for instance.
Driving the news: The U.S. population aged 65 and up grew by 13% between 2020 and 2024, the Census Bureau says, while the number of those under 18 fell by 1.7%.
The U.S. median age hit a new record high of 39.1 in 2024, up from 38.5 in 2020.
The big picture: These latest figures continue a longstanding trend of an aging America.
The share of the U.S. population 65 and up increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18% in 2024, the bureau notes, while the share of children fell from 25% to 21.5%.
Zoom in: The number of people 65 and up increased in all states between 2020 and 2024, while that of people under 18 increased in only a handful, including Texas and Florida.
Stunning stat: There are now 11 states with more older adults than children, up from only three in 2020.
They include Maine, Vermont, Florida, Delaware, Hawai'i, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
What they're saying: The gap between children and older adults "is narrowing as baby boomers continue to age into their retirement years," Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Branch, said in a statement accompanying the new data.
"In fact, the number of states and counties where older adults outnumber children is on the rise, especially in sparsely populated areas."
Between the lines: The latest findings could fuel "pronatalist" beliefs driven partially by fears of economic decline.
Pronatalism — increasingly common especially in — frames procreation as a patriotic act and civic duty.
Yes, but: Having kids is an expensive affair, especially for those who need full-time care, don't get parental leave, and so on.
