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Indicator 1: Population Distribution
(Last Updated: February 2019)

Between 2000 and 2017, the percentages of U.S. school-age children who were White decreased from 62 to 51 percent and the percentage who were Black decreased from 15 to 14 percent. In contrast, the percentages of school-age children from other racial/ethnic groups increased: Hispanic children, from 16 to 25 percent; Asian children, from 3 to 5 percent; and children of Two or more races, from 2 to 4 percent.

The population of the United States has increased and become more diverse over the past two decades. Measuring population growth and diversity is important for anticipating the needs of schools and teachers. An awareness of the shifting demographics of the U.S. population can help ensure that educators are prepared to work with diverse groups of students.1


Figure 1.1. Estimates of the U.S. resident population, by age group: Selected years, 2000 through 2017

Figure 1.1. Estimates of the U.S. resident population, by age group: Selected years, 2000 through 2017


NOTE: The “resident population” includes the civilian population and armed forces personnel residing within the United States; it excludes armed forces personnel residing overseas. Data are for the resident population as of July 1 of the indicated year.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2000 through 2009 Population Estimates, retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html; and 2010 through 2017 Population Estimates, retrieved September 5, 2017, from https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2016/demo/popest/nation-detail.html. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 101.20.


From 2000 to 2017, the U.S. population increased by 15 percent, from 282.2 million to 325.3 million. During this period, the population of adults (i.e., those age 25 and over) increased by 21 percent (from 182.5 million to 221.1 million). While the population of 18- to 24-year-olds (i.e., the traditional college-age population) increased 13 percent between 2000 and 2010 (from 27.3 million to 30.8 million), it then fluctuated between 2010 and 2017. Similarly, the population of children under age 5 increased from 19.2 million in 2000 to 20.2 million in 2010, and then fluctuated between 2010 and 2017. The population of 5- to 17-year-olds (i.e., school-age children) increased from 53.2 million in 2000 to 53.9 million in 2010 and then declined to 53.7 million in 2017.


Figure 1.2. Estimates of the U.S. resident population, by race/ethnicity: Selected years, 2000 through 2017

Figure 1.2. Estimates of the U.S. resident population, by race/ethnicity: Selected years, 2000 through 2017


NOTE: The “resident population” includes the civilian population and armed forces personnel residing within the United States; it excludes armed forces personnel residing overseas. Data are for the resident population as of July 1 of the indicated year. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2000 through 2009 Population Estimates, retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html; and 2010 through 2017 Population Estimates, retrieved September 5, 2017, from https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2016/demo/popest/nation-detail.html. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 101.20.


Since 2000, the populations of all racial/ethnic groups have increased, with the population of those who were of Two or more races, Asian, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander increasing at a faster rate than the populations of those who were White, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Between 2000 and 2017, the population of those of Two or more races doubled (from 3.5 to 7.0 million), the Asian population increased by 74 percent (from 10.5 million to 18.3 million), the Hispanic population increased by 64 percent (from 35.7 million to 58.6 million), and the Pacific Islander population increased by 56 percent (from 0.4 million to 0.6 million). During the same period, the Black population increased by 18 percent (from 34.4 million to 40.6 million), the American Indian/Alaska Native population increased by 14 percent (from 2.1 million to 2.4 million), and the White population increased by 1 percent (from 195.7 million to 198.0 million).

As a result of the differing rates of increase, the racial/ethnic composition of the U.S. population has shifted. The percentage of the population who were White decreased from 69 percent in 2000 to 61 percent in 2017. In contrast, the percentages of the population who were Asian and Hispanic increased from 4 to 6 percent and from 13 to 18 percent, respectively. In 2017, some 12 percent of the population was Black, 1 percent was American Indian/Alaska Native, and less than one-half of 1 percent was Pacific Islander. Between 2000 and 2017, these percentages changed by less than 1 percentage point.


Figure 1.3. Percentage distribution of the U.S. resident population 5 to 17 years old, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2017

Figure 1.3. Percentage distribution of the U.S. resident population 5 to 17 years old, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2017


# Rounds to zero.
NOTE: The “resident population” includes the civilian population and armed forces personnel residing within the United States; it excludes armed forces personnel residing overseas. Data are for the resident population as of July 1 of the indicated year. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded estimates. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2000 Population Estimates, retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html; and 2017 Population Estimates, retrieved September 5, 2017, from https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2016/demo/popest/nation-detail.html. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 101.20.


The population of 5- to 17-year-olds, or school-age children, was higher in 2017 (53.7 million) than it was in 2000 (53.2 million). The racial/ethnic distribution of the school-age population in the United States changed during this period. Between 2000 and 2017, the percentage of school-age children who were White decreased from 62 percent to 51 percent and the percentage who were Black decreased from 15 to 14 percent. In contrast, the percentage of school-age children from other racial/ethnic groups increased: Hispanic children, from 16 to 25 percent; Asian children, from 3 to 5 percent; and children of Two or more races, from 2 to 4 percent. In 2017, the percentage of school-age children who were American Indian/Alaska Native was 1 percent, and the percentage who were Pacific Islander was less than one-half of 1 percent. Between 2000 and 2017, these percentages changed by less than 1 percentage point.


Figure 1.4. Percentage distribution of the U.S. resident population 18 to 24 years old, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2017

Figure 1.4. Percentage distribution of the U.S. resident population 18 to 24 years old, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2017


# Rounds to zero.
NOTE: The “resident population” includes the civilian population and armed forces personnel residing within the United States; it excludes armed forces personnel residing overseas. Data are for the resident population as of July 1 of the indicated year. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded estimates. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2000 Population Estimates, retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html; and 2017 Population Estimates, retrieved September 5, 2017, from https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2016/demo/popest/nation-detail.html. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 101.20.


The 18- to 24-year-old population, or the traditional college-age population, increased from 27.3 million in 2000 to 30.6 million in 2017. The majority of the increase, about 3.5 million, occurred between 2000 and 2010. The changes in the racial/ethnic composition of the traditional college-age population in the United States were similar to the patterns in the school-age population, with the exception of the Black college-age population that increased compared to the decrease seen in the school-age population. Thus, from 2000 to 2017, the percentage of the college-age population which was White decreased from 62 to 54 percent, while the percentages of other races/ethnicities increased: Black, from 13.8 to 14.4 percent; Hispanic, from 18 to 22 percent; Asian, from 4 to 6 percent; and of Two or more races, from 1 to 3 percent. In both 2000 and 2017, less than one half of 1 percent of the college-age population was Pacific Islander and 1 percent of the college-age population was American Indian/Alaska Native.

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Endnotes

1 Frankenberg, E., and Siegel-Hawley, G. (2008). Are Teachers Prepared for Racially Changing Schools? Teachers Describe Their Preparation, Resources, and Practices for Racially Diverse Schools. University of California, Los Angeles. Los Angeles: The Civil Rights Project. Retrieved from https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/integration-and-diversity/are-teachers-prepared-for-racially-changing-schools/frankenberg-are-teachers-prepared-racially.pdf.