US population growth slows to historic lows, projected to flatline by 2050
By
Howard Schneider, Sarah Slobin
A bagel you'd recommend to a friend without hedging.
Summary
The U.S. population growth has slowed dramatically since 2020, averaging only 0.6% per year — about a third of the pace during the 1950s baby boom era. Most of the minimal growth has come from immigration, but with Trump-era policies reversing that trend, the U.S. population is projected to flatline around 2050. The article examines how modern life reshapes family structures and notes that this pattern is not unique to the U.S., as most developed countries follow similar demographic trajectories. It also explores how immigration policies could strain the social safety net.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledSince 2020, the U.S. population has increased by an average of 0.6% per year, about a third of the pace during the 1950s
Most of that meager growth has come from immigration. With Trump, that has been thrown into reverse
The U.S. population is on track to flatline around 2050
What the U.S. is experiencing is not all that unique. Most countries follow similar patterns as they develop
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