Chapter 1. Demographics

Indicator 1. The Youth Population in the United States

In 2010, there were 47.1 million youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24 living in the United States, representing 15 percent of the total population. The number of these youth and young adults in 2010 was greater than the 46.2 million in 1980. However, the number of youth and young adults had declined from 46.2 million in 1980 to 40.2 million in 1990, before beginning a gradual rise. Between 1980 and 2010, the total population increased from 227.2 to 309.6 million, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of youth and young adults. The proportion of youth and young adults ages 14 to 24 declined from 20 percent of the U.S. population in 1980 to 15 percent in 2010.

View Table 1
View Figure 1