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The first U.S. census, in 1790, recorded four million Americans. By 2000, this number had grown to over 281 million, and is expected to reach 308 million by 2010.
The United States is an urbanized nation, with 80.6 percent of its population residing in cities and suburbs.2003 Estimates of US Urban Population. United States Census Bureau. The mean population center of the United States has consistently shifted westward and southward, with California and Texas currently the most populous states. According to Californians for Population Stabilization, U.S. population growth is now the highest among developed countries.Immigration & Overpopulation Issues - Californians for Population Stabilization CAPS Births, supplemented by immigration, help to offset the aging population. The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2007 is 2.09, which is roughly the replacement level for industrialized countries. 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 (on Tuesday, October 17).Statistical Abstract of the United States. United States Census Bureau. "U.S. population hits 300 million mark", MSNBC (Associated Press), 2006-10-17. Retrieved on 2006-10-17. The U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century - a growth rate of about 1.3 percent 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.
U.S. population clock hits the 300 million mark
United States population pyramid.
Wikinews has related news:
US population reaches 300 million
According to U.S. Census Bureau\'s estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities.Population Is Now One-Third Minority In 2006, the nation’s minority population reached 100.7 million. A year before, the minority population totaled 98.3 million. Hispanics accounted for almost half (1.4 million) of the national population growth of 2.9 million between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006.U.S. Census Bureau: Minority Population Tops 100 Million In thirty-five of the country\'s fifty largest cities, white people are or soon will be in the minority.Asthana, Anushka (2006-08-21). Changing Face of Western Cities. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
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Based on a population clock maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the current U.S. population, as of 11:13 GMT (EST+5) March 13, 2008 is 303,622,602.U.S. Population Clock, U.S. Census Bureau, <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>. Retrieved on 2008-01-09 The US population is meant to increase by one third by the year 2050. By current growth calculations, the US population should reach its first one billion inhabitants by the year 2295.
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 figures expressed below are for populations within city limits. A different ranking is evident when considering U.S. metro area populations, Census Bureau\'s 2005 estimates, are as follows. In historic areas that were settled very early, e.g., New Haven, etc., the boundaries were set in the 1700s and therefore the populations appear small even though, in actuality, the cities are very large.
| Rank | City | Population within city limits | Population Density per sq km | Population Density per sq mi | Metropolitan Area | Region | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions | rank | ||||||
| 1 | New York City, New York | 8,143,197 | 10,194.2 | 26,402.9 | 18.7 | 1 | Northeast |
| 2 | Los Angeles, California | 4,324,526 | 3,041.2 | 7,876.8 | 12.9 | 2 | West |
| 3 | Chicago, Illinois | 3,158,790 | 4,922.9 | 12,750.3 | 9.4 | 3 | Midwest |
| 4 | Houston, Texas | 2,016,582 | 1,301.8 | 3,371.7 | 5.2 | 7 | South |
| 5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1,463,281 | 4,337.3 | 11,233.6 | 5.8 | 5 | Northeast |
| 6 | Phoenix, Arizona | 1,461,575 | 1,074.1 | 2,782.0 | 3.7 | 14 | West |
| 7 | San Antonio, Texas | 1,256,509 | 1,084.4 | 2,808.5 | 1.8 | 29 | South |
| 8 | San Diego, California | 1,255,540 | 1,456.3 | 3,771.9 | 2.9 | 17 | West |
| 9 | Dallas, Texas | 1,213,825 | 1,339.7 | 3,469.9 | 6.3 | 4 | South |
| 10 | San Jose, California | 953,679 | 2,003.1 | 5,188.1 | 1.7* | 30* | West |
2000 U.S. population density 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. cities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| City name | Density | ||
| Union City, New Jersey | 20,454/km² | 52,978/mi² | |
| West New York, New Jersey | 17,124/km² | 44,352/mi² | |
| Hoboken, New Jersey | 11,675/km² | 30,239/mi² | |
| New York, New York | 10,173/km² | 26,348/mi² | Manhattan (25,550/km² or 66,173/mi²) |
| Somerville, Massachusetts | 7,194/km² | 18,633/mi² [1] [2] | |
| San Francisco, California | 6,349/km² | 16,443/mi² | |
| Chelsea, Massachusetts | 6,211/km² | 16,086/mi² | |
| Jersey City, New Jersey | 6,120/km² | 15,852/mi² | |
| Central Falls, Rhode Island | 5,973/km² | 15,471/mi² [3] | |
| Chicago, Illinois | 4,866/km² | 12,603/mi² | Edgewater (13,800/km² or 35,743/mi²) |
| Santa Ana, California | 4,751/km² | 12,306/mi² | |
| Boston, Massachusetts | 4,697/km² | 12,166/mi² | Back Bay/Beacon Hill (11,463/km² or 29,690/mi²) |
| Hamtramck, Michigan | 4,537/km² | 11,750/mi² | |
| Newark, New Jersey | 4,459/km² | 11,548/mi² | |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 4,190/km² | 10,852/mi² | |
| Yonkers, New York | 4,162/km² | 10,780/mi² | |
| Miami, Florida | 4,048/km² | 10,483/mi² | |
| Washington, District of Columbia | 3,502/km² | 9,070/mi² | |
| Los Angeles, California | 3,078/km² | 7,972/mi² | |
| Baltimore, Maryland | 2,970/km² | 7,693/mi² | |
| Buffalo, New York | 2,786/km² | 7,217/mi² | |
| Oakland, California | 2,724/km² | 7,054/mi² | |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2,691/km² | 6,969/mi² | |
| Seattle, Washington | 2,563/km² | 6,639/mi² | |
| New Haven, Connecticut | 2,527/km² | 6,554/mi² | Downtown New Haven (5,633/km² or 14,590/mi²) [4] |
| Detroit, Michigan | 2,470/km² | 6,398/mi² | |
| Cleveland, Ohio | 2,353/km² | 6,095/mi² | Lakewood (3,895/km² or 10,088/mi²) |
| St. Louis, Missouri | 2,199/km² | 5,696/mi² | University City (2,457/km² or 6,363.1/mi²) |
| San Jose, California | 1,953/km² | 5,059/mi² | |
| Cincinnati, Ohio | 1,612/km² | 4,174/mi² | |
| Portland, Oregon | 1,503/km² | 3,894/mi² | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | 1,425/km² | 3,690.5/mi² | |
| Denver, Colorado | 1,396.4/km² | 3,642/mi² | |
| Dallas, Texas | 1,348/km² | 3,492/mi² | Vickery Meadows (22,354/km² or 57,897/mi²)Dallas Population Density Map: 57,897 (people/mi²) |
| Columbus, Ohio | 1,307/km² | 3,384/mi² | |
| Houston, Texas | 1,287/km² | 3,333/mi² | |
| Phoenix, Arizona | 1,061/km² | 2,749/mi² | |
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,Census 2000 Population Distribution in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, <http://www.census.gov/geo/www/mapGallery/2kpopden.html>. Retrieved on 14 December 2007 as well as complete listings of population density by place name.Density Using Land Area For States, Counties, Metropolitan Areas, and Places, U.S. Census Bureau, <http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/density.html>. Retrieved on 14 December 2007
The U.S. population\'s racial distribution in 2006 was as follows:U.S. Census Bureau; B02001. RACE - Universe: TOTAL POPULATION; Data Set: 2006 American Community Survey; Survey: 2006 American Community Survey. Retrieved 2008-01-24
Each of the above categories includes people who identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino.U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation and Comparison of Race and Hispanic Origin Data. Retrieved on 2007-04-05. “Race and Hispanic origin are two separate concepts in the federal statistical system. People who are Hispanic may be of any race. People in each race group may be either Hispanic or Not Hispanic. Each person has two attributes, their race (or races) and whether or not they are Hispanic.” U.S. federal law defines Hispanic or Latino as any person with ancestry from a Spanish-speaking Latin American country or Spain, regardless of race.United States Office of Management and Budget. Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity
The table below represents 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 church 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.Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005 (tables 67-69). U.S. Census Bureau.
The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2001 was based on a random digit-dialed telephone survey of 50,281 American residential households in the continental U.S.A (48 states). 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.
Plurality religion by state, 2001. Data is unavailable for Alaska and Hawaii.
Self-Described Religious Identification of U.S. Adult Population: 1990 and 2001 [5]
All figures after adjusting for refusals to reply, which jumped from 2.3% in 1990 to 5.4% in 2001
| 1990 | 2001 | Change in % point | Numerical growth in % terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Christian | 88.3% | 79.8% | -8.5% | +5.3% |
| Catholic | 26.8% | 25.9% | -0.9% | +10.6% |
| Baptist | 19.8% | 17.2% | -2.6% | -0.4% |
| Methodist | 8.3% | 7.2% | -1.1% | -0.2% |
| Christian - no denomination reported | 4.7% | 7.2% | +2.5% | +75.3% |
| Lutheran | 5.3% | 4.9% | -0.4% | +5.2% |
| Presbyterian | 2.9% | 2.8% | -0.1% | +12.3% |
| Protestant - no denomination reported | 10.0% | 2.4% | -7.7% | -73.0% |
| Pentecostal/Charismatic | 1.9% | 2.2% | +0.4% | +38.1% |
| Episcopalian/Anglican | 1.8% | 1.8% | -- | +13.4% |
| Mormon/Latter Day Saints | 1.5% | 1.4% | -0.1% | +12.1% |
| Churches of Christ | 1.0% | 1.3% | +0.3% | +46.6% |
| Congregational/United Church of Christ | 0.3% | 0.7% | +0.4% | +130.1% |
| Jehovah\'s Witnesses | 0.8% | 0.7% | -0.1% | -3.6% |
| Assemblies of God | 0.4% | 0.6% | +0.2% | +67.6% |
| Evangelical | 0.1% | 0.5% | +0.4% | +326.4% |
| Church of God | 0.3% | 0.5% | +0.2% | +77.8% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 0.4% | 0.4% | -- | +8.4% |
| Eastern Orthodox | 0.3% | 0.3% | -- | +28.5% |
| Other Christian (less than 0.3% each) | 1.6% | 1.9% | +0.3% | +40.2% |
| Total other religions | 3.5% | 5.2% | +1.7% | +69.1% |
| Jewish | 1.8% | 1.4% | -0.4% | -8.1% |
| Non-denominational | 0.1% | 1.3% | +1.2% | +1,176.4% |
| Muslim | 0.3% | 0.6% | +0.3% | +109.5% |
| Buddhist | 0.2% | 0.5% | +0.3% | +169.8% |
| Hindu | 0.1% | 0.4% | +0.3% | +237.4% |
| Unitarian Universalist | 0.3% | 0.3% | -- | +25.3% |
| Others (less than 0.07% each) | 0.6% | 0.7% | +0.1% | +25.4% |
| No Religion/Atheist/Agnostic | 8.4% | 15.0% | +6.6% | +105.7% |
In 2006, the median household income in the United States was around $46,000. Household and personal income in the US is dependent on multiple variables such as race, number of income earners, educational attainment and maritial status.
| Median income levels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | Persons, age 25 or older with earnings | Household income by race | |||||||
| All households | Dual earner households | Per household member | Males | Females | Both sexes | Asian | White, non-hispanic | Hispanic | Black |
| $46,326 | $67,348 | $23,535 | $39,403 | $26,507 | $32,140 | $57,518 | $48,977 | $34,241 | $30,134 |
| Median personal income by educational attainment | |||||||||
| Measure | Some High School | High school graduate | Some college | Associate degree | Bachelor\'s degree or higher | Bachelor\'s degree | Master\'s degree | Professional degree | Doctorate degree |
| Persons, age 25+ w/ earnings | $20,321 | $26,505 | $31,054 | $35,009 | $49,303 | $43,143 | $52,390 | $82,473 | $70,853 |
| Male, age 25+ w/ earnings | $24,192 | $32,085 | $39,150 | $42,382 | $60,493 | $52,265 | $67,123 | $100,000 | $78,324 |
| Female, age 25+ w/ earnings | $15,073 | $21,117 | $25,185 | $29,510 | $40,483 | $36,532 | $45,730 | $66,055 | $54,666 |
| Persons, age 25+, employed full-time | $25,039 | $31,539 | $37,135 | $40,588 | $56,078 | $50,944 | $61,273 | $100,000 | $79,401 |
| Household | $22,718 | $36,835 | $45,854 | $51,970 | $73,446 | $68,728 | $78,541 | $100,000 | $96,830 |
| Household income distribution | |||||||||
| Bottom 10% | Bottom 20% | Bottom 25% | Middle 33% | Middle 20% | Top 25% | Top 20% | Top 5% | Top 1.5% | Top 1% |
| $0 to $10,500 | $0 to $18,500 | $0 to $22,500 | $30,000 to $62,500 | $35,000 to $55,000 | $77,500 and up | $92,000 and up | $167,000 and up | $250,000 and up | $350,000 and up |
| SOURCE: US Census Bureau, 2006; income statistics for the year 2005 | |||||||||
While social classes in the US lack distinct boundaries and may overlap, they constitute the perhaps most important demographical groups. The following table provides a summarization of currently prominent academic theories on the societal stratification of American society:
| Academic Class Models | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Gilbert, 2002 | William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005 | Leonard Beeghley, 2004 | |||
| Class | Typical characteristics | Class | Typical characteristics | Class | Typical characteristics |
| Capitalist class (1%) | Top-level executives, high-rung politicians, heirs. Ivy League education common. | Upper class 1% | Top-level executives, celebrities, heirs; income of $500,000+ common. Ivy league education common. | The super-rich (0.9%) | Multi-millionaires whose incomes commonly exceed $350,000; includes celebrities and powerful executives/politicians. Ivy League education common. |
| The Rich (5%) | Households with net worth of $1 million or more; largely in the form of home equity. Generally have college degrees. | ||||
| Upper middle class1 (15%) | Highly educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried, professionals and middle management with large work autonomy | Upper middle class1 (15%) | Highly educated (often with graduate degrees) professionals & managers with household incomes varying from the high 5-figure range to commonly above $100,000 | Middle class (plurality/ majority?; ca. 46%) | College educated workers with incomes considerably above-average incomes and compensation; a man making $57,000 and a woman making $40,000 may be typical. |
| Lower middle class (30%) | Semi-professionals and craftsmen with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white collar. | Lower middle class (32%) | Semi-professionals and craftsman with some work autonomy; household incomes commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000. Typically, some college education. | ||
| Working class (30%) | Clerical and most blue collar workers whose work is highly routinized. Standard of living varies depending on number of income earners, but is commonly just adequate. High school education. | Working class (32%) | Clerical, pink and blue collar workers with often low job security; common household incomes range from $16,000 to $30,000. High school education. | Working class (ca. 40% - 45%) | Blue collar workers and those whose jobs are highly routinized with low economic security; a man making $40,000 and a woman making $26,000 may be typical. High school education. |
| Working poor (13%) | Service, low-rung clerical and some blue collar workers. High economic insecurity and risk of poverty. Some high school education. | ||||
| Lower class (ca. 14% - 20%) | Those who occupy poorly-paid positions or rely on government transfers. Some high school education. | ||||
| Underclass (12%) | Those with limited or no participation in the labor force. Reliant on government transfers. Some high school education. | The poor (ca. 12%) | Those living below the poverty line with limited to no particiaption in the labor force; a household income of $18,000 may be typical. Some high school education. | ||
| 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. 1The 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. | |||||
| 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 | 28.0% | |
| 1890 | 62,979,766 | 27.6% | |
| 1900 | 76,212,168 | 21.0% | |
| 1910 | 92,228,496 | 21.0% | |
| 1920 | 106,021,537 | 15.0% | |
| 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% | |
| Est. 2007 | 303,111,027 | 7.7% | |
Historical movement of U.S. population.
Age structure: (2007 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.00% (2007 est.)
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. [7]
In 2006, there were 4,265,996 births. Of which 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. [8]
Death rate: 8.30 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.05 migrants/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratios: (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: (2007 est.)
Life expectancy (source: Census Bureau, 2007):
Total fertility rate: 2.101 children born/woman (2006 est.) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr56/nvsr56_07.pdf
[9] 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):
(See List of U.S. states by unemployment rate)
Much of the material in this section comes from the CIA World Factbook 2006.
The US population is expected to rise to 420 million in 2050 and then 571 million in 2100.
| Income in the United States |
|---|
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Income by:
|
| Demographics of the United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Demographic history | ||
| Economic and social |
Affluence · Educational attainment · Household income · Homeownership · Immigration · Income inequality · Language · Middle classes · Personal income · Poverty · Social class · Unemployment by state · Wealth |  |
| Religion |
Buddhist Americans · Christian Americans · American Jews · American Sikhs · Hindu Americans · Mormons · Muslim Americans | |
| Race, ethnicity and ancestry |
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census ·
Maps of American ancestries ·
2000 Census ·
Race/ethnicity by EEOC ·
Racism | |
Major topics in the 