140 Million New Americans

Projections released this week by the US Census Bureau suggest that the American population could grow 49% by 2050, in sharp contrast to most European countries, whose populations are expected to decline by mid-century. America's 420m people would be roughly 50% non-Hispanic whites, with Hispanic and Asian populations tripling, according to the release.

The figures suggest that after 2030 the rate of increase might be the slowest since the Great Depression of the 1930s as the size of the 'baby boom' population continues to decline.

From 2000 to 2050, the non-Hispanic white population would increase from 195.7m to 210.3m, an increase of just 14.6m or 7%, and would actually lose population in the 2040s to comprise just 50.1% of the total population in 2050, compared with 69.4% in 2000.

By contrast nearly 67m people of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race - see below) would be added between 2000 and 2050 - growing 188% to 102.6m. Their share of the nation's population would nearly double, from 12.6% to 24.4%.

The Asian population is projected to grow 213 percent, from 10.7m (3.8% of the population) to 33.4m (8%), while the black population is projected to rise from 35.8m (12.7%) to 61.4m (14.6%) in 2050 - an increase of about 26 million or 71%.

Childbearing rates are expected to remain low, and the population will age - by 2030, about 1 in 5 people would be 65 or over. The female population would continue to outnumber the male population - in 2000 there were 143.7m females and 138.4m males and by 2050 there would be 213.4m females and 206.5m males.

Notes: Statements on race groups in the above are limited to the single-race white, black, and Asian populations and do not cover other single-race groups or the population of two or more races. The federal government treats Hispanic origin and race as distinct concepts. (See U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation and Comparison of Race and Hispanic Origin Data). Projections are based on Census 2000 results and assumptions about future childbearing, mortality and international migration.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.