Is the U.S. population declining?

No, the U.S. population isn't declining yet, but it's slowing significantly and projected to peak and start declining later this century, around the 2080s, with some recent analyses suggesting a potential small decline as soon as 2025 due to plummeting immigration and low birth rates, though this hinges on ongoing policy shifts. The main trend is slower growth and an older population, driven by fertility below replacement levels and increased deaths, but immigration has consistently offset this, keeping growth positive.

What is the #1 overpopulated state?

The U.S. state with the largest population is California, which has some 39,000,000 residents.

Is the US overpopulated or underpopulated?

The U.S. isn't simply overpopulated or underpopulated; it's complex, with arguments for both depending on the metric, but current trends show slowing growth, declining birth rates (below replacement levels), and increasing reliance on immigration, leading to concerns about future workforce/budget impacts versus urban crowding and resource strain in specific areas. While the U.S. has vast land, making overall density low, major cities face overcrowding, and slower growth raises issues for an aging population and economic stability, making it a balancing act between population size, growth rate, and distribution. 

What is the fastest declining country?

The UN says Bulgaria is actually the world's fastest shrinking nation, with its current population of about 7 million people expected to dwindle to 5.4 million by 2050 and 3.9 million by the end of the century.

Why is America's birth rate declining?

The U.S. birth rate is declining due to a mix of economic pressures (high cost of living, childcare, education debt), changing social norms (women prioritizing careers/education, delaying marriage), increased access to contraception, and shifting cultural values that sometimes de-emphasize large families, all leading people to have children later or fewer children overall, creating a "baby bust" with potential economic impacts like an aging workforce.
 

Breaking down the demographic cliff facing the U.S.

Which country has the worst birth rate?

The country with the "worst" (lowest) birth rate depends on the metric, but South Korea consistently has the lowest fertility rate (around 0.72 children per woman in 2023), while Macao SAR (China) and Taiwan also rank extremely low (around 0.6 to 1.1), far below the 2.1 replacement level needed for population stability, with high costs, career focus, and cultural factors driving the decline.
 

Are we in an underpopulation crisis?

But it looks like it will be a few decades at least before population collapse will begin posing a problem. A report from the United Nations says that while the rate of new people being born around the world is certainly slowing down, the global population is expected to continue growing for many more decades.

Is population decline really a problem?

The effects of a declining population can be negative. As a country's population declines, GDP growth may grow even more slowly or decline. If that condition continues, a country would experience an economic recession. If these conditions become permanent, the country could find itself in a permanent recession.

What year will world population start to decline?

Most projections, including the United Nations, suggest the global population will peak around the 2080s, likely 2084, at about 10.3 billion, and then begin a slow decline towards 10.2 billion by 2100, with significant regional differences as some nations (like China) are already shrinking while others in Africa continue growing. 

What does Elon Musk say about population?

Demographers say it's not happening | CNN. Billionaire Elon Musk tweeted, not for the first time, that "population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming." Climate change is a serious problem facing the planet and experts say it's difficult to compare problems.

When was the last time the U.S. was 90% white?

America was last around 90% white in the early 1950s, with the 1950 Census showing about 89.5% of the population identifying as White, a figure that had hovered near 90% since the 1920s but began a steady decline from that point forward as racial diversity increased. 

What is the most overpopulated city in the United States?

Since 1790, when the first U.S. census was conducted, New York City has held the title as the most-populated city in the United States. In that initial census, New York City had 33,131 people. Today it is home to more than 8,335,000.

What is the #1 state to live in the US?

1. Massachusetts. According to WalletHub's study, Massachusetts is the best state to live in, excelling in all key factors—and earning the top spot in the ranking. It has the lowest premature death rate in the US, and residents earn a cushy median household income of over $101,000.

Which state is expected to gain the most?

Over the next 25 years, Texas is projected to gain 8.6 million residents, the highest absolute increase across states. Like Texas, Florida and California are projected to lead nationally in population gains, adding 5.2 million and 3.1 million people, respectively.

What is the blackest state by population?

Texas has the largest Black population by sheer numbers, but the District of Columbia (a territory, not a state) and states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Maryland have the highest percentages (or proportions) of Black residents relative to their total populations. So, Texas has the most, but D.C., Mississippi, and Louisiana are "blackest" by percentage. 

How long will humans live in 2300?

The projections in the report assume this with no upper limit, though at a slowing pace depending on circumstances in individual countries. By 2100, the report assumed life expectancy to be from 66 to 97 years, and by 2300 from 87 to 106 years, depending on the country.

What is the fastest shrinking country in the world?

From 2020 to 2050, the highest drop in population, 22.5%, will be recorded in Bulgaria. Lithuania follows with a 22.1% projected decline for the same period and Latvia ranks third with 21.6%.

How long before Earth is overpopulated?

The world population is projected to peak around 2084 at about 10.3 billion people, according to the United Nations' latest (2024) report, before beginning a slight decline by 2100, driven by falling fertility rates and aging populations. This is an earlier peak than previous estimates, as global fertility drops faster than anticipated, with many countries already experiencing population declines. 

What is the emptiest state in the US?

The emptiest state in America, based on population density (people per square mile), is Alaska, with roughly only 1.3 people per square mile, followed by Wyoming and Montana, due to their vast size, harsh climates, and remoteness. While Wyoming often has the absolute lowest total population, Alaska's immense land area makes it the most sparsely populated by far.
 

What city are most Americans moving to?

Big Cities Still Draw the Most Movers

New York City tops the list with more than 702,000 new residents in 2024, even though only 20% came from out of state. Los Angeles (371,000) and Houston (356,000) also remain top destinations, driven by work opportunities and cultural influence.

What is the most unpopular city in the United States?

America's least popular city revealed in new report as residents flee in droves. Residents of a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, may be trying to flee the city at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country, an analysis found.

What did Elon Musk say about population?

“The biggest issue the world will face in 20 years is population collapse.”

Will birth rates ever go back up?

Our fertility rate has fallen steadily since the Great Recession, from 2.1 to 1.6. One might therefore expect the decline to continue. But the UN projects that the U.S. birth rate will stay flat, not just this year but also in 2026 and 2030 and 2060 and 2090, never rising above 1.7 or dipping below 1.6.

What is the maximum population the earth can handle?

There's no single answer to how many people Earth can sustain; estimates vary wildly (from 4 billion to over 100 billion) because it depends on our consumption levels, technology, resource management, and lifestyle choices, not just raw numbers. While some scientists suggest capacity might be around 9-10 billion, many studies show we're already straining resources, with current consumption patterns straining ecosystems, meaning sustainability hinges on reducing overconsumption and increasing efficiency.