Demographics in the United States, Trends and Developments

In October 2006, the U.S. became only the third country—behind China and India—to reach 300 [Page 628]million people. Since 2000, more than 28 million people have been added to the U.S. population, making the United States one of the fastest-growing developed countries in the world. Based on the current growth rate and immigration levels, the U.S. population is projected to reach 400 million by 2039, just 33 years after reaching the 300 million mark. U.S. population growth is being accompanied by rapid racial/ethnic change, as well as changes in the age structure of the population. These trends are important because social and economic conditions are highly correlated with race, ethnicity, age, and other demographic characteristics. This entry provides an overview of key demographic trends in ...