U.S. Population Distribution 1900 to 2060

Mark Perry has posted this interesting animated GIF file showing the distribution of the U.S. population by age from 1900 through, based on current projections, 2060:

PopDist

As you watch the animation you can clearly see the impact of factors such as the increase in the quality of health care, longer life expectancy, the aging of the baby boomers, and the decline in family size. With specific reference to the baby boomers, you can see that segment of the population explode onto the scene, age, and then slowly die off. By the time you get to 2040, most of the baby boom is long gone and the under 40 cohort once again starts to become the largest segment of the population.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. al-Ameda says:

    It is interesting.

    Smells like teen spirit.

  2. John Peabody says:

    Fun! My group is the tallest, at least until I’m 65…I’m smack in the middle of the boomers.

  3. C. Clavin says:

    Interesting…
    Not as intersting as the deficit hitting a 5 year low.
    But interesting.

  4. al-Ameda says:

    @C. Clavin:

    Not as intersting as the deficit hitting a 5 year low.
    But interesting.

    I have not heard a single conservative commentator point this out, have you?

  5. C. Clavin says:

    @ al-Ameda…
    Of course not…it doesn’t fit their pre-concieved narrative.
    Rand Paul, Faux Libertarian:

    “…But what I would say is extreme is a trillion-dollar deficit every year. I mean, that’s an extremely bad situation. I would say it’s a very reasonable proposition to say that we would only spend what comes in…”

    The deficit is actually going to be around $670B…the lowest since Bush left us with a 9% contraction in his last quarter.
    That’s a pretty clear example of today’s GOP and their total aversion to facts.

  6. C. Clavin says:

    “…I would say it’s a very reasonable proposition to say that we would only spend what comes in…”

    And actually…no…that’s an extremely radical idea…considering it has only happened 12 times since 1940.

  7. michael reynolds says:

    @C. Clavin:

    Don’t you know that the deficit will grow and grow and grow until we all die like dogs in a ditch? Or until a Republican is elected at which point suddenly we won’t care about deficits?

  8. C. Clavin says:

    D’oh…I forgot…

  9. Tillman says:

    You know, you can’t really extrapolate trends all that accurately beyond ten years or so.