Web EpiMonitor

Highlights From First Detailed Look At 2020 Census Data

The Bureau of the Census has provided the first detailed statistics from the 2020 Census and the results afford a picture of the total size of the US population, its age composition, residential patterns, and its increased diversity by race and ethnicity. The data reflect where Americans were living as of April 1, 2020 .

Total Population by Age

In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau counted 331.4 million people living in the United States; more than three-quarters (77.9%) or 258.3 million were adults, 18 years or older — a 10.1% increase from 234.6 million in 2010. The aging of baby boomers is partly driving the growth in the adult population.

By comparison, the younger population under age 18 numbered 73.1 million, or 22.1% of the U.S. population in 2020, a 1.4% decrease from 74.2 million in 2010. The slow decline of the younger population is in part due to a general decrease in fertility ongoing since 2007.

During the same period, the total U.S. population grew at a slower rate than the adult population: up 7.4% from 308.7 million in 2010.

TABLE 1

Metro Areas

The population of US metro areas grew by 9% from 2010 to 2020 and now accounts for 86% of the US population.

accounts for 86% of the US population. Overall growth during the decade 2010to 2020 was lower than in any decade since the 1930’s. “Our nation is growing slower than it used to,” according to Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau. More than half of the counties in the US ( 52%) had fewer people in 2020 than in 2010. In contrast, more than 80% of US metropolitan areas gained population during the decade.

Race and Ethnicity

It is important to understand how the Census Bureau collects race and ethnicity data. Two separate questions were asked to collect the races and ethnicities of the US population (one for race and one for Hispanic or Latino origin). The Office of Management and Budget identifies five minimum categories for race (White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) as required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Bureau of the Census uses a sixth category called “Some Other Race” for people who do not identify with any of the five OMB race categories. According to Census Bureau analysts, statistics are tabulated on people who report only one race in one of these six “race alone” categories.

People who report multiple races are tabulated in the “Multiracial” population also known as the “Two or More Races” population. This approach results in seven different categories to report out race data. (see Table 2 below)

For ethnicity, OMB standards only have two categories---Hispanic or Latino OR Not Hispanic or Latino. People of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.

According to the Census Bureau, the improvements and changes enabled a more thorough and accurate depiction of how people self-identify, yielding a more accurate portrait of how people report their Hispanic origin and race within the context of a two question format. These changes reveal that the US population is much more multiracial and more diverse than what the Bureau has measured in the past.

The Hispanic or Latino population which includes people of any race was 62.1M in 2020. This population grew by 23% over the decade while the Non Hispanic or Latino population grew by 4.3% since 2010.

Diversity Index

A Census Bureau Diversity Index is used to measure the probability that two people chosen at random will be from different racial and ethnic groups. The chance that two people chosen at random will be from different groups increased from 54.9% in 2010 to 61.1% in 2020.

In making these diversity calculations, the Census Bureau makes use of mutually exclusive racial AND ethnic non-overlapping categories. The following groups are used in the diversity calculations summing up to the total population:

     ♦  Hispanic

     ♦  White alone, non Hispanic

     ♦  Black or African American alone, non Hispanic

     ♦  American Indian and Alaska Native alone, non Hispanic

     ♦  Asian alone, non Hispanic’

     ♦  Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, non Hispanic

     ♦  Some other race alone, non Hispanic

TABLE 2

Privacy  |  Terms of Use  |  Sitemap

Digital Smart Tools, LLC