Population articles
These reports cover the American experience ranging from aging population to civil rights to childcare to poverty.
How many subsidized housing units are available in the United States?
There were about 5.1 million in 2023, of which around 13% were unoccupied and available to rent. Federally subsidized rental housing began with 1937’s US Housing Act, which created the United States Housing Authority and provided financial assistance to state and local governments for housing low-income people. Since then, the government has provided housing assistance to low-income renters through programs overseen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How long do people wait for subsidized housing in the United States?
Two years and three months, on average, in 2024. That’s an 8% increase since 2023, when recipients spent two years and one month on waiting lists before moving in to subsidized housing.
Updates annuallyWhat is the labor force participation rate in the US?
It was 62.3% in August 2025. The labor force participation rate measures the percent of people ages 16 and older engaged in the labor market, including those who are working or who are unemployed but actively looking for a job.
Updates monthlyWhat are the main sources of US greenhouse gas emissions?
In 2022, the transportation sector released more greenhouse gas emissions than any other: more than 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, or 28.4% of emissions overall. Since 1990, emissions have increased for the transportation, agricultural, commercial and residential sectors. Conversely, emissions from the electric power, industrial and US territories have declined. Power plants stood out among the highest greenhouse gas-emitting facilities reported to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2023: — 82 of the top 100 reporting facilities were power generation sites. In September 2025, the EPA proposed a rule change to eliminate greenhouse gas emission reporting until 2034.How much greenhouse gas does the US emit?In 2022, the US emitted 6.3 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent metric tons. That’s 3.0% lower than measured in 1990, and 15.8% lower than 2007, when the US hit its recorded peak of 7,530 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. For context, a typical passenger vehicle in the US emits an average of 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Emissions in 2022 were equivalent to nearly 1.4 billion cars. While total emissions declined by 3.0% from 1990 to 2022, greenhouse gas emissions per person decreased by 27.3%.
Oct 1, 2025How many people are on Medicaid in the US?
On average, 88.8 million or 26.2% of the US population during FY 2024. Enrolling about 1 in 4 people in the US, Medicaid is one of the largest single health insurers in the country. Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program that provides free or low-cost coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Updates annuallyWhat is the poverty rate in the US?
About 10.6% of the population as of 2024. The poverty rate is the percentage of people whose household income falls below the poverty threshold set by the government. It measures the percentage of people in households that don’t earn enough to pay for basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare. In 2024, 35.8 million people lived in poverty.
Updates annuallyHow many voters cast ballots early and by mail?
In the 2024 election, nearly 60% of voters cast their ballots early or by mail: 29.0% voted by mail, 30.7% voted early, and 39.6% went to the polls on Election Day. That’s up from about 40% in 2018 and 50% in 2022 but lower than 2020, when 69% voted early or by mail as states expanded early in-person and mail-in options in response to COVID-19.
Sep 8, 2025Are hate crimes on the rise?
Nationwide, the number of reported hate crimes have increased by about 100% since 2015, rising from 5,843 to 11,679. 2015’s numbers marked a near low in reported crimes, the 3rd fewest since this data collection began in 1991. However, there’s a chance low numbers of any kind are due to underreporting rather than fewer hate crimes. For example, between 2010 and 2019, an estimated 56% of hate crimes were not reported to the police.
Sep 5, 2025How are Americans doing financially?
More than a quarter of US adults say they’re struggling financially: 73% of Americans reported “living comfortably” or “doing okay,” according to October 2024 survey data from the Federal Reserve. Another 27% said they were either “just getting by” (19%) or “finding it difficult to get by” (8%). The share of people who say they’re doing okay or better is two percentage points lower than pre-pandemic levels, and the lowest since 2016.
Sep 4, 2025How many voters have a party affiliation?
As of August 2025, 189.5 million Americans are registered to vote. That’s almost eight in 10 Americans who are 18 or older.Forty-five percent of registered voters declared a party affiliation on their registration. And some states have comparatively high percentages of one affiliation or another.How many registered voters are in each state?Among states reporting 2025 voter registration data, California has the most registered voters, 22.9 million, followed by Texas (18.3 million) and Florida (13.5 million). These states also rank highest in overall populations.
Aug 29, 2025How does voter turnout in the US differ by state, age and race?
In the 2024 presidential election, 73.6% of eligible Americans were registered to vote, and 65.3% of them did. Most likely to cast ballots? Older and white voters.How many Americans turn out to vote?Voter turnout is consistently highest in presidential election years.So far this century, 47.8% of voting-age US citizens turned out for the average midterm election, compared to 63.8% for the average presidential elections.
Aug 20, 2025How many people are in prisons in the US?
About 1.23 million at the end of 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. This number is up 2.1% from 2021 and includes anyone under state or federal jurisdiction. Prisoners sentenced to one or more years — usually for a felony conviction — make up 96.4% of this group, and the remainder includes people who are serving shorter sentences or awaiting sentencing.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Social Security Administration (SSA) do?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering Social Security, a program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible people. Its functions include managing the distribution of monthly payments to beneficiaries, enrolling Medicare recipients, and overseeing the issuance of Social Security numbers and cards. It was established in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) do?
The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) is a subdivision of the Department of Housing and Urban Development responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination in housing. The agency ensures equal access to housing and promotes inclusive communities through the administration of fair housing laws, public education, and outreach. It also investigates complaints of housing discrimination and works to eliminate discriminatory practices. It was established in 1968.
Updates annuallyWhat is the income of a US household?
About $77,700 in median income in 2023. Household income is the total money received in a year — wages, pensions, investments, public assistance, and more — by everyone in a household over 15.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Census Bureau (CENSUS) do?
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is a subdivision of the US Department of Commerce responsible for collecting and analyzing data about the population and economy of the United States. The agency conducts the decennial census, which provides data for government representation, allocation of federal funds, and policy making. It also conducts numerous other surveys on topics such as housing, business, and demographics. It was established in 1902.
Updates annuallyWhat is the main reason people immigrate to the US via authorized channels?
45.3% immigrated for work in 2022. That’s around 1.7 times higher than the number that came for education, the next most common reason. Other reasons for immigration included family, safety, and various other factors.
Updates annuallyHow many immigrants are in the United States?
About 47.8 million immigrants in 2023. This represents approximately 14.3% of the population, or about 1 in 7 residents in the United States. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents. This includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., for work), or are undocumented residents.
Updates annuallyHow many people immigrate to the US via authorized channels each year?
About 2.6 million in 2022. This is a 67.2% increase from the 1.5 million new immigrant arrivals in 2021.
Where are authorized immigrants to the US coming from?
In 2022, the largest number of immigrants came from Mexico. Immigrants from Mexico made up 20.8% of all people who immigrated to the US in 2022. Authorized immigrants are those who came to the US through channels such as a visa, green card, or as a refugee or asylee.