U. S. POPULATION GROWTH
According to the CIA World Factbook, the current population growth rate for the United States is less than 1% (.975%). That means more than two-and-a-half million people will be added to the population this year (accounts for births, deaths and immigration). That’s about the same number of Americans as were alive when the United States became an independent nation in 1776.
From Joseph Chamie, Research Director of Center for Migration Studies, as of 2006:
- The country’s population in 1776 was 2.5 million (2,527,450).
- The total number of births since 1776: 483.5 million (483,465,018)
- The total number of immigrants since 1776: 72.1 million (72,105,369).
- The total number of Americans deceased since 1776: 258.1 million (258,097,000).
- The total number of Americans who have ever lived: 558.1 million (558,097,837).
- About 54% of Americans who have ever lived were living in 2006 (2006 U.S. population of 300,000 divided by the number of Americans who have ever lived: 300,000/558,097,837 = 53.7%)
From 2.5 million in 1776, the nation’s population grew to 4 million by 1790, the year the first U.S. census was conducted. Throughout the 1800s, the U.S. population grew in leaps and bounds, primarily through immigration. The “Land of Opportunity” increased its population by an average of over 30% each decade in the 19th Century; more than 3% per year.
During the 20th Century, the U.S. population, while gradually slowing, more than tripled – from 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. Growth in the 1900s started out at over 20% per decade and dropped to under 10% by the end of the century. The average annual rate during the century was about 1.3%. The total U.S. population surpassed the 100 million mark around 1915, the 200 million mark in 1967 and the 300 million mark in 2006. It is projected to pass the 400 million mark in 2039.
If the current growth rates continues, the U.S. population of 305 million will take 79 years to double, reaching 610 million in 2087.
History of the U,S, Population
1776: 2.5 million
1790: 3.9 million
1800: 5.2 million
1810: 7.2 million
1820: 9.6 million
1830: 12.8 million
1840: 17.1 million
1850: 23.2 million
1860: 31.4 million
1870: 38.6 million
1880: 49,4 million
1890: 63.0 million
1900: 76.2 million
1910: 92.2 million
1915: 100 million
1920: 106.0 million
1930: 123.2 million
1940: 132.2 million
1950: 151.3 million
1960: 179.3 million
1967: 200 million
1970: 203.2 million
1980: 226.5 million
1990: 248.7 million
2000: 281.4 million
2006: 300 million
2009: 305.5 million
(Sources: Wikipedia – Demographics of the United States; U.S. Census Bureau.)
U.S Population - 21st Century
2000: 282,194,308
2001: 285,112,030
2002: 287,888,021
2003: 290,447,644
2004: 293,191,511
2005: 295,895,897
2006: 298,754,819
2007: 301,621,157
2008: 303,583,000
2009: 305,529,237
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
The U.S. Census Bureau expects the U.S. population to grow to reach these estimates over the next few decades:
2010: 309,162,581
2020: 336,031,546
2030: 363,811,435
2040: 392,172,658
2043: 400,527,776 (the year of 400 million; since revised to 2039)
2050: 420,080,587
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
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