According to a new report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2035 there will be more people aged over 65 than there will be under the age of 18 for the first time. The 2017 National Population Projections reveals that in 2035 there will be an expected 78.0 million people over 65, as opposed to 76.4 million individuals under 18. The report reveals a range of statistics concerning the demographic future of the US, with all baby boomers becoming at least 65 by 2030; the result of this change will see one fifth of US residents reaching retirement age. Furthermore, the 2030s will see the population grow at a slower rate, become more diverse and age significantly. An illustration of that is the expected shift of the ratio between older adults and working-age adults, known as the dependency ratio. By 2020 the dependency ratio will see around three-and-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age individual but, by 2060, this could shift to just two-and-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age person. In addition to these projections, the Bureau also released its projections on how many Americans would live below the poverty line during their lifetimes. Accompanying this will be an increase in the US death rate as the baby boomer generation ages which will offset the expected quadrupling of the birth rate. By 2060, the US population is expected to reach 404 million people, with the average age growing from 38 to 43 alongside an increased life expectancy.
According to a new report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2035 there will be more people aged over 65 than there will be under the age of 18 for the first time. The 2017 National Population Projections reveals that in 2035 there will be an expected 78.0 million people over 65, as opposed to 76.4 million individuals under 18. The report reveals a range of statistics concerning the demographic future of the US, with all baby boomers becoming at least 65 by 2030; the result of this change will see one fifth of US residents reaching retirement age. Furthermore, the 2030s will see the population grow at a slower rate, become more diverse and age significantly. An illustration of that is the expected shift of the ratio between older adults and working-age adults, known as the dependency ratio. By 2020 the dependency ratio will see around three-and-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age individual but, by 2060, this could shift to just two-and-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age person. There will also be a significant demographic change as international migration is set to overtake natural increase as the main driver of population growth in the US for the first time. Accompanying this will be an increase in the US death rate as the baby boomer generation ages which will offset the expected quadrupling of the birth rate. By 2060, the US population is expected to reach 404 million people, with the average age growing from 38 to 43 alongside an increased life expectancy.