Summary of U.S. social and economic characteristics
Summary of U.S. social and economic characteristics
| 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total U.S. resident population (thousands)a | 227,225 | 237,924 | 248,791 | 262,803 | 265,229 | 267,784 | 270,248 | 272,691 | 276,059 |
| Age (thousands)a | |||||||||
| Under 18 | 63,754 | 62,623 | 63,949 | 68,555 | 69,109 | 69,603 | 69,903 | 70,199 | 70,484 |
| 18-24 years | 30,022 | 28,902 | 26,961 | 25,112 | 24,843 | 24,980 | 25,476 | 26,011 | 26,748 |
| 25-34 | 37,082 | 41,696 | 43,174 | 40,730 | 40,246 | 39,559 | 38,743 | 37,936 | 37,189 |
| 35-44 | 25,634 | 31,691 | 37,444 | 42,555 | 43,365 | 44,014 | 44,498 | 44,813 | 44,813 |
| 45-54 | 22,800 | 22,460 | 25,062 | 31,100 | 32,358 | 33,625 | 34,575 | 35,804 | 37,685 |
| 55-64 | 21,703 | 22,135 | 21,116 | 21,132 | 21,353 | 21,813 | 22,666 | 23,389 | 24,209 |
| 65 and over | 25,550 | 28,415 | 31,083 | 33,619 | 33,957 | 34,185 | 34,385 | 34,540 | 39,301 |
| Sex (thousands) b | |||||||||
| Male | 110,053 | 116,160 | 121,284 | 128,294 | 129,504 | 130,783 | 132,030 | 133,277 | 134,979 |
| Female | 116,493 | 122,576 | 127,507 | 134,510 | 135,724 | 137,001 | 138,212 | 139,414 | 141,080 |
| Metropolitan areas (population in millions) | |||||||||
| Large (over 1 million) | 119 | U | 139 | U | 149 | U | U | U | U |
| Medium (250,000-999,999) | 41 | U | 41 | U | 44 | U | U | U | U |
| Small (less than 250,000) | 17 | U | 18 | U | 19 | U | U | U | U |
| Rural vs urban (thousands) | |||||||||
| Rural | 59,495 | U | 61,656 | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Urban | 167,051 | U | 187,053 | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Metropolitan areas (population in millions) | |||||||||
| Large (over 1 million) | 119 | U | 139 | 147 | 149 | 151 | 153 | 156 | U |
| Medium (250,000-999,999) | 41 | U | 41 | 44 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 43 | U |
| Small (less than 250,000) | 17 | U | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | U |
| Rural vs urban areas (population in thousands) | |||||||||
| Rural | 59,495 | U | 61,656 | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Urban | 167,051 | U | 187,053 | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Regions (population in millions) c | |||||||||
| Northeast | 49.1 | 49.9 | 50.8 | 51.4 | 51.6 | 51.6 | 51.7 | 51.8 | U |
| South | 75.4 | 81.4 | 85.5 | 91.8 | 93.1 | 94.2 | 95.3 | 96.5 | U |
| Midwest | 58.9 | 58.8 | 59.7 | 61.8 | 62.1 | 62.5 | 63.0 | 63.2 | U |
| West | 43.2 | 47.8 | 52.8 | 57.7 | 58.5 | 59.4 | 60.3 | 61.2 | U |
| Immigrants admitted | 530,639 | 570,009 | 1,536,483 | 720,461 | 915,900 | 798,378 | 660,447 | U | U |
| Total area (square miles) | 3,618,770 | U | 3,717,796 | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (chained $ 1996 billions)d | 4,901 | 5,717 | 6,708 | 7,544 | 7,813 | 8,160 | 8,516 | 8,876 | 9,319 |
| Total civilian labor force (thousands)e | 106,940 | 115,461 | 125,840 | 132,304 | 133,943 | 136,297 | 137,673 | 139,368 | 141,489 |
| Participation rate of men | 77.40% | 76.30% | 76.40% | 75.00% | 74.90% | 75.00% | 74.90% | 74.70% | 74.60% |
| Participation rate of women | 51.50% | 54.50% | 57.50% | 58.90% | 59.30% | 59.80% | 59.80% | 60.00% | 60.20% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.10% | 7.20% | 5.60% | 5.60% | 5.40% | 4.90% | 4.50% | 4.20% | 4.00% |
| Men | 6.90% | 7.00% | 5.70% | 5.60% | 5.40% | 4.90% | 4.40% | 4.10% | 4.00% |
| Women | 7.40% | 7.40% | 5.50% | 5.60% | 5.40% | 5.00% | 4.60% | 4.30% | 4.00% |
| Number of households (thousands) | 80,776 | 86,789 | 93,347 | 98,990 | 99,627 | 101,018 | 102,528 | U | U |
| Average size of households | 2.76 | 2.69 | 2.63 | 2.65 | 2.65 | 2.64 | 2.62 | U | U |
| Median household income (chained $ 1996) | 33,722 | 34,439 | 35,945 | 35,082 | 35,492 | 36,175 | 37,430 | U | U |
| Families below poverty level (thousands) | 6,217 | 7,223 | 7,098 | 7,532 | 7,708 | 7,324 | 7,186 | U | U |
| Average household expenditures (chained $ 1996) | U | 34,253 | 34,070 | 33,217 | 33,797 | 34,038 | 34,205 | U | U |
KEY: U = Unavailable
a Estimates as of July 1 except 1980 and 1990, which are
as of April 1, and 2000, which is as of November 1.
b 1995 through 2000 data are estimates.
c As of July 1 for all years except 1980 and 1990.
d Net output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.
e For 2000, as of December.
SOURCES: 1980-1998 data: Multiple sources as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 1999, Table A, p. xix.
1999 Data: Population: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, available at: http://www.census.gov.
Immigration: U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Services, Annual Report: Legal Immigration FY 1998, available at: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/statistics/index.htm.
GDP, Average household expenditure, Median household income: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Employment (1980-1999): U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, available at: http://www.bls.gov/cpsatabs.htm.
Average Size of Households, Families below poverty level: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1999.