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Facts About U.S. Population Growth
Over four
million babies are born each year in the United States.
The U.S. population is growing by about 2.5 million people
each year. Of that, immigration contributes over one
million people to the U.S. population annually.
The U.S. fertility rate is currently 2.0 births per woman, an
increase from 1.8 in 1988.
The United States has one of the highest natural growth rates(0.7%) of any industrialized country in the world. For comparison, the United Kingdom's natural increase is one quarter the rate of the U.S. at 0.2%, while Germany's natural increase is 0.
Using the Census Bureau's medium projections, U.S. population
will grow to 394 million by the year 2050.
Eight states have population growth rates over 2.0%, which means their population will double in less than 35 years.
Along our coasts, where nearly half the population lives,the U.S. is among the more densely populated countries in the world. The Northeast averages 767 people per square mile, while Haiti, for comparison, has 580.
By 2010, when California's population reaches 50 million, population densities in coastal California will reach 1,050 people per square mile.
46% of the U.S. population lives in coastal regions where ecosystems are the most fragile.
California,Florida and Texas account for one-quarter of the U.S. population and were responsible for 38% of all U.S. population growth between 1940 and 1990.
Florida's population has grown from 1.9 million in 1940 to 15 million today. That is over a 600% increase in just 50 years.
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