Population articles
These reports cover the American experience ranging from aging population to civil rights to childcare to poverty.
How many Americans voted in 2024?
According to the Census Bureau, 65.3% of US citizens voted in the 2024 election, the third-highest turnout in the past 34 years. Turnout increased by 13.1 percentage points since the most recent mid-term elections in 2022, but decreased by 1.5 percentage points since the 2020 presidential election.
Jun 18, 2025Minimum wage in America: How many people are earning $7.25 an hour?
Although the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the minimum an employer must pay depends on the state in which the employee resides. Many states have mandated minimum wages that are different from the federal minimum
Jun 3, 2025Just the Facts about the US population, demographics, and geography
Household size, racial demographics, the average age of an American: these stats are always changing. And who has a college degree? How many people are registered to vote? Here’s America by the numbers.
Data on Pacific Islander ethnicities, education, and income
There are 1.6 million Americans who identify as Pacific Islander, making up 0.49% of the population in 2023. From 2013 to 2023, the Pacific Islander population grew by 32.7%, or 400,000 people. Asian Americans are sometimes grouped with Pacific Islanders under the “AAPI” umbrella and are jointly celebrated every May during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This population is diverse, with education and income varying widely between ethnic groups. What are the different ethnic groups among Pacific Islanders?There are three Pacific Islands regions: Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Ethnicities are based on the island that a person’s family and ancestors originated from.
May 22, 2025What are the current swing states, and how have they changed over time?
Swing states, also known as battleground states, are states that could “swing” to either Democratic or Republican presidential candidates depending on the election. Because of their potential to go either "blue" or "red", political parties often spend much of their time and campaign resources on winning these states.While there is no universal definition of a swing state, they typically have small vote margins and vote for candidates from both major political parties over time. In the last nine elections, 20 states have “swung” from one party to the other at least twice. And 26 states were won by less than three points in at least one presidential election. What are the current swing states?Six states that voted for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 swung to Republican Donald Trump in 2024. These states were Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. All but Nevada also swung from Republican to Democratic in 2020. Tight margins may also indicate a swing state — a narrow race could mean a state has a better chance of swinging in future elections. In 2024, five states were won by a margin of three percentage points or less: Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
May 14, 2025How 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 annuallyAAPI Demographics: Data on Asian American ethnicities, geography, income, and education
There are 25.8 million Asian Americans living in the US, making up 7.7% of the population. Among them, 3.6 million identify as Asian in combination with another race.Asian Americans are sometimes grouped with Pacific Islanders under the “AAPI” umbrella, and the joint Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month is celebrated annually in May. The AAPI population is the fastest growing racial group in the US, with a population that nearly doubled from 2000 to 2023.The demographics of Asian Americans vary drastically across ethnic groups. Taiwanese and Indian Americans have the highest educational and income outcomes, while Southeast Asian Americans have lower incomes and educational attainment.
Apr 25, 2025What 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 annuallyWho are the nation’s veterans?
The population of living veterans in the US — nearly 16 million people — is both shrinking in size and growing more diverse. What is a veteran, and who is considered one? Title 38 of the United States Code defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” The code also outlines who qualifies for veteran status beyond active duty to include service members such as reservists, members of the National Guard, cadets and midshipmen at military academies, commissioned officers outside the Armed Forces, and those in training for military service. The Department of Veteran Affairs is responsible for determining veteran status and maintaining veteran benefit eligibility. What is a protected veteran? The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 prohibits discrimination against certain veterans. Protected veterans meet the Title 38 qualifications but are afforded additional consideration due to disability, recent discharge, participation in wartime, or service recognition.
Apr 14, 2025Six charts on the age of federal workers
The average federal worker is around 47 years old, and one out of 20 federal workers were over 65 in 2024. Of the 2.1 million full-time, permanent federal workers, over 28% were age 55 or above, according to September 2024 data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Apr 9, 2025What is the labor force participation rate in the US?
It was 62.4% in February 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.
Which states have the highest and lowest life expectancy?
From 2022 to 2023, life expectancy across the United States rose from 77.5 to 78.4 years, according to final death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).But what exactly does life expectancy mean? And how does it vary by state?
Mar 27, 2025How red or blue is your state?
In American political discourse, states are often labeled “red” for leaning towards Republican politics or “blue” for leaning Democratic. State political profiles are shaped by a host of factors — voting patterns in national elections, the party affiliations of governors and congresspeople, and state laws. Most states vote and act consistently along party lines, but some have less predictable political leanings. These states, which can “swing” to either major party in a presidential election, are sometimes called “swing states” or “purple” states. How have red and blue states voted in presidential elections? Voters in most states stick with presidential candidates from one party: In the 10 presidential elections held since 1988, 41 states stuck with candidates from the same party eight times or more. Twenty of them, along with Washington, DC, voted for the same party’s candidates in all 10 elections. Nine states — Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia — voted for each party at least three times in those nine elections, making them less consistent. Six states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — voted for different parties’ candidates in the last two elections.
Mar 27, 2025Do women live longer than men in the US?
In the United States, women are expected to outlive men by 5.3 years. This longevity gap, which was two years in 1900, grew to nearly eight around 1980 before dropping to its current level. What are the average lifespans for men and women born in the US?
Mar 21, 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 annuallyWhere has diversity changed in recent years?
The US has become more diverse over the past few years – but that doesn’t just mean “less white.” The Census Bureau uses the Diversity Index, which measures the probability that two people selected at random will be from different racial and ethnic groups. Based on this, each locale is given a score between 0% and 100%, where 0% indicates similar racial and ethnic backgrounds, and 100% indicates completely different racial backgrounds.
Mar 14, 2025How is same-sex marriage in the US changing?
In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges, thereby legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. In the years since the decision, households headed by married same-sex couples have become more common, but the changes have differed by state. How have the number of same-sex households changed since 2015? By the end of 2015, the year of the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, the nation’s number married same-sex households increased by 27.0%, the third largest increase on record. The largest were in 2013 and 2014 following 29 states legalizing these unions. Households headed by same-sex couples have increased 131.3%, from 334,829 in 2014 before the ruling to 774,553 in 2023. The number of households nationwide headed by same-sex married couples surpassed same-sex unmarried couples for the first time in 2016 and it’s remained that way through 2023 (the latest year such data is available).
Mar 7, 2025How many asylum applications does the US receive each year?
Around 945K applications in 2023. The US asylum system helps resettle people who fear persecution if they return to their home country. Unlike refugees who apply for protection before arriving in the US or at its borders, asylum seekers apply after they are already in the US.
Which states have the highest and lowest rates of homelessness?
About 771,000 Americans experienced homelessness in January 2024 according to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) point-in-time data, which measures homelessness across the US on a single night each winter. That’s an 18% increase from 2023. Nationally, approximately 22.7 people out of every 10,000 experienced homelessness during the 2024 count. Mississippi had the lowest rate of homelessness, at 3.5 people per 10,000, while in Hawaii, the rate was more than 20 times that — 80.5 per 10,000. In the District of Columbia, comprised entirely of the city of Washington, 80.0 people experienced homelessness for every 10,000.
Feb 28, 2025How many homeless people are in the US? What does the data miss?
Around 23 out of every 10,000 Americans — 771,480 people — experienced homelessness in January 2024 according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual point-in-time report, which measures homelessness across the US on a single night each winter. That’s an 18% increase from the same report in 2023.
Feb 28, 2025How many illegal crossings are attempted at the US-Mexico border each month?
About 8,700 attempted crossings were detected in May 2025, 92.6% fewer than in May 2024. These attempted crossings, sometimes referred to as “encounters,” are instances when the US Border Patrol (USBP) apprehended or expelled someone attempting to illegally cross into the US between official ports of entry. This number does not necessarily represent individual people, as one person may be counted several times if they make multiple attempts to cross the border.
Updates monthlyHow many refugees come to the US every month?
Around 12.5K people in December 2024. The US refugee system helps people fleeing persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group to resettle in the US. Unlike asylum seekers who apply for protection after arriving in the US or at its borders, refugees apply from outside the country. If approved, they undergo security screenings and health checks before being resettled by various agencies.
How 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.
What percent of jobs in the US are held by immigrants?
About 17.9% of jobs in 2023. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, including those who became US citizens, are authorized to work in the US, or are undocumented residents.
What 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 annuallyWhere 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.
How many households in the US spend too much on housing?
About 41.8 million in 2023. That’s 32.8% of all households. These households spent at least 30% of their total income on rent or mortgage payments and utilities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development considers households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing to be cost-burdened. Cost-burdened households may have less money for other necessities such as food, healthcare, or savings.
What is the homeownership rate in the United States?
About 65.9% in 2023. Nearly 2 out of every 3 households owned their home while the remainder rented.
How much do households in the United States spend on rent?
About $1.3K per month, or 31.7% of their income, in 2022. This is measured by comparing median rent and median monthly income for renting households.
Why does daylight saving time exist?
The ritual of changing the clocks twice a year to get more daylight has been in place for more than 50 years. But debates in state legislatures and Congress show that there’s some interest in stopping the process. At least 45 states have considered or passed legislation to shift to permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would move the US to permanent daylight saving time, has been introduced to Congress several times, beginning in 2018. It was introduced again in 2021 where it passed in the Senate but died in the House, and was introduced most recently in 2025. When does daylight saving time start and end? In 2025, daylight saving time starts on Sunday, March 9, and will end on Sunday, November 2. It will begin again on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and run through Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Feb 26, 2025What does the Social Security Administration 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 are the most common civil rights violations in education?
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), a branch of the Department of Education charged with investigating claims of discrimination in schools and other programs the department funds, received a record-high 19,201 complaints in 2023. This was up 2% from 2022. The OCR enforces a range of civil rights laws, including Titles II, VI, and IX. Anyone can file a discrimination complaint, whether they were the victim themselves or are filing on behalf of someone else. What is a civil rights violation? A variety of civil rights laws, and in some cases, the US Constitution, protect Americans against discrimination based on protected categories: race, disability, religion, immigration or citizenship status, language and national origin, age, genetic identification, servicemember status, and familial status (which includes marital, parental, and pregnancy status). They protect people in settings including housing, healthcare, the workplace, public spaces, businesses, polling places — and education. Which civil rights laws does the Department of Education’s OCR enforce?The OCR responds to alleged violations of: Title VI, barring discrimination based on race, color, or national origin Title IX, barring discrimination based on sex Section 504 and Title II, barring discrimination based on disability Age Discrimination Act of 1975, barring discrimination based on age (does not include employment) Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act prohibiting access discrimination by school facilities In fiscal year 2023, 96% of complaints fell under three of these: Sex-based discrimination under Title IX (42.5%), disability-based discrimination under Section 504 and Title II (35.1%), and race, color, and national origin-based discrimination under Title VI (18.4%). The remaining four percent of complaints were related to age or equal access discrimination.
Feb 14, 2025How do men and women use time differently?
People’s priorities and obligations are driven by factors like age, family situation, employment, and other demographics. Gender is another key factor: 2023 government data shows that the average man tends to spend more time on paid work, while women spend more time on unpaid labor like housework and caregiving than men do. What activities do men and women spend time on? In 2023, employed men ages 15 and over spent 7.47 hours each weekday on paid work and work-related activities, while women spent about an hour less — 6.52 hours a day. Combining paid work with typically unpaid labor like cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members gives us a more comprehensive measure of total labor performed and brings men and women closer in terms of hours or labor: 8.78 hours for men, and 8.86 for women. While employed men and women perform around the same amount of all types of work, men spent more time on paid labor.
Feb 12, 2025What percentage of the US population is transgender?
The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey started collecting information on gender identity in July 2021. This survey data allows for better understanding the transgender population in the United States.What does it mean to be transgender?According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page, “transgender” is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or expression is different from their sex assigned at birth. On the other hand, “cisgender” is a term for “individuals whose current gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.”
Feb 12, 2025How has marriage in the US changed over time?
In 2024, US adults were less likely to be married than at almost any point since the Census Bureau began tracking marital status in 1940. Fewer people are marrying, and they’re doing it later — both men and women are older when they first tie the knot. Most unmarried people have never been married, rather than divorced or widowed, although divorces have risen. The share of men and women who are widowed, the smallest group of unmarried Americans, has dropped.What percent of Americans are married?In 2024, 47.1% of households were headed by married couples, the second lowest share since 2022’s all-time low of 46.8%. The percentage of households with a married couple peaked 75 years ago: in 1949, it was 78.8%. That percentage has been below 50.0% since 2010, when the rate was 49.7%. In other words, less than half of American households have included a married couple for over a decade.
Feb 11, 2025Which US cities have the largest homeless populations?
About 771,480 people were experiencing homelessness in the US in January 2024, according to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data. HUD divides the US into 385 continuums of care, groups of service agencies — nonprofits, hospitals, law enforcement, mental health providers, and many more — responsible for coordinating homelessness services in a particular area. A continuum can cover a city, a city and county (e.g., Spokane County in Washington, which includes the city of Spokane), or a group of rural areas. In 2024: 48 continuums included major cities 61 were largely urban but without a major city 165 were largely suburban 111 were largely rural About 54% of the nation’s homeless people lived in the continuums containing the 50 biggest cities.
Feb 7, 2025How does marriage vary by state?
Does love last? According to the Census Bureau, marriages last an average of 20 years, as of 2023. But that could vary depending on where you live — residents in the northeast, where the population is older on average, also tend to report longer marriages. The government doesn’t just track marriage data for the romanticism of evaluating love against national and state averages: federal agencies use marriage and divorce data to assess funding needs for programs with spousal benefits, measure the effectiveness of current family policies, and forecast future policy. How do marriage and divorce rates vary by state? The US Census Bureau calculates marriage and divorce rate by looking at the “number of women who married or divorced in the last year per 1,000 women age 15 and over.” Washington, DC, had the nation’s highest marriage rate in 2023 with 22.5 marriages per every 1,000 women. Utah has the highest of all states with 21.9, and Alaska followed with 20.9.
Jan 30, 2025Why might prices feel high if inflation is slowing?
Inflation has eased since a 2022 peak, but an estimated three-quarters of American adults are still concerned about coming price increases. While the inflation rate has dropped to 2.9% as of December 2024, Americans are feeling the lasting impact of a historic spike. How is inflation trending? After rising to a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022, the inflation rate trended down for much of 2023 and 2024, falling to a low of 2.4% in September 2024 before ticking up over the next few months. The declining inflation rate means prices have been rising at a more gradual pace, and this can in turn mean less stress on consumers.
Jan 28, 2025Where are the largest immigrant communities in the US?
In 2023, the US was home to an estimated 335 million people, 13.8% of whom were immigrants. Those immigrant communities tended to cluster together and concentrate in some states, and even particular parts of states. Per the Census Bureau, an immigrant (or foreign-born person) is anyone who wasn’t a US citizen at birth, even if they later naturalized.California was home to the biggest immigrant population, with 10 million foreign-born residents — more than double the number in Texas, whose 5.1 million immigrants make up the second-largest foreign-born population among the 50 states.
Jan 24, 2025How many executive orders has each president signed?
When a president takes office, they often sign executive orders soon after inauguration, sometimes on Inauguration Day itself. An executive order is a presidential action that directs federal agencies on how to operate. It carries the effect of law provided it aligns with constitutional powers. Executive orders can also amend or revoke prior orders. In addition to executive orders, other presidential actions can include memorandums, and proclamations. How many executive orders have recent presidents signed? The 10 presidents since 1969 signed an average of 269 executive orders while in office. Two-term presidents averaged 328, while single-term presidents averaged 216. Jimmy Carter, a single-term president, signed the most executive orders per year, averaging 80. Barack Obama, who served two terms, signed the fewest per year: 35.
Jan 22, 2025How is the standard of living changing for veterans?
Veterans’ standard of living in 2023 was slightly better than the average American when measured by higher median incomes, lower unemployment rates, and a reduced likelihood of poverty.How many veterans are unemployed?In 2023, 2.8% of veterans — around 241,000 people — were unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The veteran population had a lower unemployment rate than non-veterans (3.6%). Of all Americans, veteran and not, younger people tend to have the highest unemployment rate. This is true for veterans aged 18 to 24, whose unemployment rate of 7.8% is more than double the general veteran average. Veterans with a service-related disability also had a higher unemployment rate; it stood at 6.0% as of August 2023.
Jan 6, 2025How common are triplets and higher-order births?
In 1998, around 19 in 10,000 babies born in the US was a triplet (or more). By 2023, around seven in 10,000 were. How many is 10,000? It's just over half the capacity of Madison Square Garden. Both medical professionals and the general public have long been interested in pregnancies that result in two or more babies — also called multiple birth pregnancies. While twins are a familiar phenomenon, triplets, quadruplets, or more, are less common.What does “multiple births” mean?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “multiple births” as when a pregnancy results in two or more fetuses being delivered. Twin births are the most common type of multiple birth. In 2023, the rate of twin births was 306 per 10,000 births, or 3.06%. How common are triplets and higher-order multiple births?In 1998, the rate of triplets or higher-order multiple births was 193.5 out of 100,000 live births, or a rate of 0.19%. In 2023, this rate was 73.8 out of 100,000. That’s 0.07% of live births that year. Overall, from 1998 to 2023, the rate of triplets and higher-order multiple births dropped 61.9%.
Jan 2, 2025How long do Americans stay at their jobs?
The average American worker has been at their job for just under four years, according to January 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Are Americans leaving their jobs earlier? Average job tenure, as measured by the median, dropped 15% between 2014 and 2024, falling from 4.6 years to 3.9. The last time it was as low as 3.9 was in 2002. From 1983 to 2002, the median job tenure was shorter than it is today. The BLS attributes the rise in the mid-2000s in part to an aging workforce — older workers tend to remain in their positions longer, bringing the median job tenure up. This underscores the drop since 2014, as the workforce has continued to age.
Dec 19, 2024Is flying safer than driving?
It’s safer to travel the US by air than on highways, according to US Transportation Department data. From 2002 to 2022, fewer people were hurt or killed each year while flying than riding in passenger cars and trucks. Flying is also safer than riding subways, trains, buses, or motorcycles.What is the safest way to travel? Air travel is the nation’s safest form of transit. Injury and death rates in US air travel have been almost zero per 100 million passenger miles traveled since 2002, and the number of aviation accidents declined from 2000 to 2022. In 2022, there were 47 passenger injuries over 709 billion miles of air travel — you could circle the globe over 600,000 times for every one airplane injury.
Dec 16, 2024How many Americans volunteer?
People volunteer both formally and informally – formal volunteering happens via official organizations, while informal volunteering often means neighbors helping neighbors. Formal volunteers support food banks and public health efforts, tutor students, among other efforts. Informal volunteering includes favors like providing free childcare or running errands. Over a quarter of Americans ages 16 and older — 75.7 million people — gave 5 billion hours of formal volunteering service in 2023. That’s an average of 66 hours per person (or 8.25 business days). Meanwhile, over half of Americans 16 and older provided informal help to neighbors. The rates of both volunteering types have increased since AmeriCorps last collected data in 2021. Nationwide, Americans were more likely to help neighbors than participate in formal volunteering efforts. State rates of informal volunteering in 2023 ranged from around 46% to 68% while formal volunteering rates hovered between 19% and 47%.
Dec 12, 2024USAFacts’ top 10 articles of 2024
In 2024, Americans came to USAFacts seeking information about safety and homelessness across the US, how many people are immigrating here, the 2024 election, and government spending related to foreign aid and foreign debt.Here are the 10 most-read articles of the year.10. How many voters have a party affiliation?With the presidential election on the horizon, Americans wanted to understand how many voters have a political affiliation. But such a thing isn’t on record nationwide: 32 states and Washington, DC, require party affiliation as part of voter registration.As of late September, Wyoming had the highest percentage of registered Republican voters (81%), and Washington, DC, had the highest percentage of registered Democrats (76%). Maryland had the highest percentage of registered Democrats of all states (52%).
Dec 3, 2024How many voters cast ballots early and by mail?
Nearly half of voters in the 2022 midterms reported voting early or by mail.Early and absentee voting rose from 40% of voters in the 2018 midterms to 69% for the 2020 presidential elections, held during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, some states expanded infrastructure for early in-person and mail-in voting.In 2022, 31.8% voted by mail, 18.0% voted early, and 49.5% went to the polls on Election Day.
Nov 5, 2024Are groceries more expensive than last year?
Grocery store food prices increased 1.3% from September 2023 to September 2024. That was less than the increase of 2.4% for commodities such as gasoline, utilities, consumer goods, apparel, medical services. It was also lower than the 2% FED inflation target, which is a long-term inflation target that aims to foster stable economic development.However, you may have deeply felt price changes depending on the meals you’re putting on your table.Which groceries cost more than a year ago?Out of nine grocery staples defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of a dozen eggs increased the most over last year, from $2.06 to $3.82, up 85.0%.Other grocery staples that cost more this year include beef, chicken, tomatoes, whole milk, and bread. Beef, chicken, tomatoes, and whole milk increased more than the 1.3% average for groceries. Beef prices increased the most (11.0%), then tomatoes (5.0%), chicken (4.1%), whole milk (1.4%), and bread (0.2%).
Nov 1, 2024How does voter turnout in the US differ by state, age and race?
In the 2020 presidential election, 72.7% of eligible Americans were registered to vote, and 66.8% 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 62.8% for the average presidential elections.
Nov 1, 2024How have US fertility and birth rates changed over time?
Women nationwide are giving birth to fewer children than they did 100 years ago, 10 years ago, and even a year ago. Those who do are increasingly having children later in life. Measuring a nation’s fertility and birth rates helps explain how demographics may shift over time.How are fertility rates calculated?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines the general fertility rate as the number of live births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44.
Oct 25, 2024How have American households changed over time?
What is the most common household makeup in the United States?In 2023, more than half of American households were childless: 29.4% were married households without children, and 29.0% were single households without kids. More than a quarter of households did include parents and children, including 17.9% married-parent households and 7.4% single-parent households.How have American households changed?In 1960, over 44% of all American households included married parents with children, while slightly over 13% were single with no children. Today, that’s inverted — in 2023, single people living alone and married couples without children outnumbered married-parent households. Single-person households increased more than fivefold, from 6.9 million in 1960 to 38.1 million in 2022.Other household types have also become more common. In 2020, the Census Bureau estimated that approximately 9 million US households were maintained by a cohabitating, unmarried couple, two-thirds of whom were childless.From 2022 to 2023, the share of single-parent households dropped from 8.1% to 7.4%, its lowest share since 1977, nearly a half-century ago.How have households stayed the same?The proportion of American households made up of married people without children at home has remained a relatively consistent between 28% and 31% since 1960.The number of married households has increased with the country’s population. There were 38.7 million married, childless households in 2023, a 143% increase over 1960; the country’s population grew by 88% during that same period.For the latest data on households and marriage, read our America in Facts report and sign up for our newsletter.
Oct 7, 2024How many Americans voted in 2020?
Over two-thirds of eligible Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to survey data from the Census Bureau. Turnout reached its highest level in three decades. The use of nontraditional voting methods, such as vote-by-mail and early voting, more than doubled as states adopted new policies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oct 3, 2024How many voters have a party affiliation?
As of September 2024, 186.5 million Americans nationwide are registered to vote based on available voter registration data. That’s nearly six in every ten Americans, and almost eight in ten Americans 18 and older.Of those, 47% of registered voters have declared a party affiliation on their registration. How many voters are registered with each political party?How many registered voters are in each state?Among states reporting 2024 voter registration data, California has the most registered voters, 22.1 million, followed by Texas (17.9 million) and Florida (13.7 million). These states also rank highest in overall populations.
Sep 30, 2024How many people live in subsidized housing in the United States?
About 9.05 million people in 2023, or about 2.0 people per unit. Subsidized housing options vary by location, ranging from high-rise or garden-style apartments to single-family dwellings, duplexes, and more. On average, residents in 2023 had lived in their units for ten years and two months.
How many people receive government assistance?
Nearly 100 million Americans received some form of government assistance in 2019, according to a 2023 estimate from the Department of Health and Human Services.The federal government has assistance programs in place to support Americans who can’t afford food, housing, healthcare, and other needs. This is sometimes referred to as a social safety net, a system of programs designed to support people struggling economically. In 2022, around one in three Americans was enrolled in at least one of those programs, including nearly half of all American kids.
Sep 24, 2024State of the Facts 2024: Americans’ views on data, election information, and AI
Impartial, trustworthy data is a crucial component of our mission at USAFacts, and we are committed to making government data accessible to the public. But how do Americans feel about data and facts?AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducts the State of the Facts poll in conjunction with USAFacts to better understand how Americans feel about facts and where data is sourced. This year’s findings show that adults find it hard to tell if information is true or not. They also rely on data and transparency to verify it.Do Americans trust information they get about the government?Although social media is among respondents’ most-used sources for getting information from the government (40% report using social media to get government data), Americans also cite low levels of trust in information on social platforms.They’re also less likely to trust businesses, and artificial intelligence (AI) for accurate data. They’re most likely to trust public TV or radio, national TV news networks, and local TV news.
Sep 10, 2024How do college and career courses vary across public schools?
Whether or not your local public high school offers college and career readiness courses depends on several factors, including its location in the country and the racial makeup of the student body.Advanced courses are most common in Northeast public schools: 89% of schools serving students in ninth grade or above offer such courses. Eighty-eight percent of public schools in the South and West offer career and technical education (CTE), higher than the 86% of schools nationwide.Both advanced academic courses and CTE programs are more commonly offered in schools where less than 25% of the student body are students of color.What are advanced courses?Advanced courses provide learning opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. These courses include Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), pre-AP, and dual enrollment, offering academic experiences similar to institutions of higher learning, in some cases translating to college credit.What is career and technical education?CTE instructs students in technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. CTE programs offer high school students opportunities to develop both academic and technical skills for various job markets.How do college and career readiness programs vary across the US?Most US public high schools offer both advanced courses and CTE. However, the availability of each varies by region.According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 73% of public high schools reported offering some type of advanced course. As of January 2024, Northeast public schools had the highest percentage at 89%. The Midwest had the lowest: 69%. Southern public schools matched the national average, while 72% of Western public schools offered them.Meanwhile, 86% of public schools in the US offered CTE programs. Southern and Western schools offered CTE courses at the highest rate — 88% of public high schools. Schools in the Northeast were least likely to offer such programs, still 82% did so. Eighty-five percent of schools in the Midwest did.
Sep 6, 2024How many electric cars are on the road in the United States?
Americans are traveling more and more miles in their cars.At the same time, transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions are rising.Vehicle miles traveled by light-duty vehicles — which include passenger cars and smaller trucks — increased 47% between 1990 and 2022. And in 2022, transportation accounted for the most greenhouse gas emissions of any sector in the US: 28%. Light-duty vehicles were the largest source of emissions in this sector.The US has invested in electric vehicle production to curb rising emissions, setting a goal to reach 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030.What are electric vehicles? What types are there?The Energy Department defines electric-drive vehicles as those that “use electricity as their primary power source or to improve the efficiency of conventional vehicle designs.” Electric-drive vehicles fall into three categories under this definition:Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by a conventional gasoline or diesel engine and by an electric motor that uses energy from both the engine and a battery. The engine powers the battery’s charge.Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are like HEVs but have an extra battery for the option of electric-only driving. They can run on gas alone but must be plugged in to use their electric features.All-electric vehicles (EVs) run on electricity alone. They have a larger battery that powers an electric motor and are charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric power source.The term “electric vehicle” is sometimes used to describe all-electric vehicles exclusively. However, it can also refer to plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars since both can be operated using electricity alone. A more specific term for this combination is “plug-in electric vehicle.”People who purchase all-electric or plug-in electric vehicles may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500, depending on the vehicle make and model as well as their income.
Sep 6, 2024How long do people wait for subsidized housing in the United States?
Two years and one month, on average, in 2023. That’s a 42.1% increase since 2009, when recipients spent one year and six months on waiting lists before moving in to subsidized housing.
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 often do dogs attack mail carriers?
It’s both a trope and a truth: postal workers are at risk for dog attacks on their mail routes. In 2023, the United States Postal Service (USPS) reported more than 5,800 dog bite incidents, an increase from 2022.Which cities report the most dog attacks on postal workers?The cities with the most reported dog bite incidents in 2023 were Los Angeles (65 bites), Houston (56 bites), and Chicago (48 bites).
Aug 30, 2024Is the US becoming more diverse?
The US population is becoming more diverse. The nation’s non-white population has almost doubled over the past four decades, growing from about 24% of the population in 1990 to over 40% in 2023.What is the racial breakdown of the US?In 2023, 58% of the population identified as non-Hispanic white, 20% as Hispanic, 13% as Black, 6% as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3% as other.Of the 335 million people in the US, 195 million identified as non-Hispanic white in 2023, or 12 out of every 20 people. This is down since 1990, when about 15 out of every 20 people identified as white.
Aug 28, 2024What do Americans think of their neighborhoods?
Three out of four Americans like where they live.According to survey data from the Federal Reserve, 76% of American adults were somewhat or very satisfied with their neighborhood in 2023.
Aug 27, 2024Where do US immigrants come from?
More than 2.6 million authorized immigrants came to the US in fiscal year 2022. About 41% of them, or 1.06 million people, came for work.What is the total number of immigrants in the US?There were 2.6 million new authorized immigrant arrivals in fiscal year 2022, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security and State Department. That’s an increase from 2020 and 2021, and similar to the 2017 level.
Aug 12, 2024Who owns American wealth?
In 2023, 97.5% of all net worth —totaling $139.4 trillion — was owned by the 50% of Americans with above-average net worth. The remaining 167 million Americans owned about 2.6% — or $3.6 trillion.
Aug 7, 2024How many immigrants come to the US each year?
The US is home to almost 335 million people, some 46.2 million of whom (13.8%) were born outside of the country.In each year from 2021 to 2023, immigration has driven the nation’s population growth, with net migration outnumbering natural population growth that comes from having more births than deaths. Of the 1.6 million-person increase in the population from 2022 to 2023, 1.1 million (68%) came from immigration, while 504,000 (32%) came from natural growth.What types of immigration are there?Immigration can be thought of as having three different types:temporary authorized immigration with visas that offer no path to citizenshippermanent authorized immigration with a path to citizenshipunauthorized immigrationHow many temporary authorized immigrants are in the US?The first type includes foreign-born people living in the US with temporary visas including work visas, school visas, and visas to be with family. In 2022, the federal government awarded over 2 million such visas, including:1 million for work700,000 for school330,000 to people coming to the US to be with family members
Aug 7, 2024How many people seek asylum in the US?
Asylum seekers play a key role in the US immigration system, as they seek refuge from persecution in their home countries. The US provides a platform for individuals who fear persecution or harm based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.Exploring the processes, statistics, and trends surrounding asylum seekers can clarify the challenges these migrants encounter when seeking safety in the US, and can focus immigration reform for those most vulnerable populations.What is asylum?Under current laws, migrants who arrive in the US may apply for asylum status if they have suffered persecution or fear they will suffer persecution if they return to their home country. These individuals fall under the category of asylum seekers.When someone seeks asylum in the US, they can follow one of two processes: affirmative or defensive asylum.
Aug 5, 2024Why are car insurance rates increasing?
Motor vehicle insurance covering damage, liability, and other risks is required for all drivers, across the US, with a few exceptions.Costs for this driver necessity been climbing since 2020, in part due to inflation driving up repair and part costs; between June 2023 and 2024, the price of personal motor vehicle insurance rose 19.5%.Additionally, motor vehicle insurers may be raising the cost of insurance due to rising repair costs and lower returns from insurers’ bonds.How much have insurance rates gone up?Insurance costs are rising faster than general inflation. The May 2024 Consumer Price Index data indicated that the motor vehicle insurance index — the change in insurance cost over time — was approximately 2.7 times higher than the nationwide inflation rate.What is the motor vehicle insurance index? This index tracks the changes in the cost of motor vehicle insurance over time. It considers the costs of physical damage, liability, and miscellaneous insurance coverage for private passenger vehicles.What is the US inflation rate index? This is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services — including the relative costs of a home, food, gas, and other commonly purchased items. The Federal Reserve aims to keep inflation around 2% to balance employment rates and price stability.
Aug 2, 2024What kinds of jobs do young people have?
More and more people from the ages of 16 to 24 are working, jumping into roles in fast food prep, waiting tables, and retail.Youth employment dropped from 2002 to 2012, but rose after that. People from Gen Z ages 16 to 19 began participating in the workforce at higher rates than teens in years prior, causing the youth employment rate to rise from 2012 to 2022.What kinds of jobs are common for young people?In July 2023, 54.8% of employed young people ages 16 to 24 worked in hospitality, retail, or education and health services industries.About a quarter of people in this age range had jobs in leisure and hospitality, the highest percentage of young people of any industry. This includes jobs like amusement park attendants, musicians and singers, fitness trainers, food preparation and servers, cooks in sit-down and fast-food restaurants, hotel and resort clerks, and waiters/waitresses.Another 17.6% of teens and young adults worked in in jobs including cashiers, customer service representatives, retail supervisors and managers, retail salespeople, and store clerks and order fillers.Education and health services employed 12.5% of young people, the third most of all industries. Jobs in education includes K-12 teachers, teacher’s assistants, and others. Jobs in health services include: home health aides, licensed practical and vocational nurses, and medical and health services managers.
Aug 2, 2024Who’s funding the 2024 election?
The 2024 election is approaching and fundraising for political parties and individual candidates is ramping up. Between January 2023 and April 2024, election-related activities raised $8.6 billion.So far, the ActBlue and WinRed political action committees (PACs) have contributed the most to election fundraising.The 2024 election cycle runs between January 2023 and December 2024.For comparison, parties and candidates raised nearly $30 billion in the 2020 election cycle. What does fundraising look like so far this cycle, and who's spending the most?Which PACs are raising the most this election?Most election funding comes from PACs. PAC funds pay for political ads, direct mail, and other election-related communications but can’t go directly to candidates or campaigns themselves.As of May 2024, PACs had amassed $5.6 billion in fundraising — over 65% of funds — in the 2024 election cycle. The largest single fundraiser is ActBlue, a hybrid PAC. ActBlue has raised more than $1.1 billion, almost 80% more than its closest competitor, WinRed, with $623.1 million.ActBlue and WinRed are the two largest PACs in terms of financing so far in this election cycle. ActBlue has been the highest fundraising PAC in every election since 2014.Following them are the Biden Victory Fund PAC, with $280.9 million as of May 13, 2023, followed by the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee at $194.9 million.
Aug 2, 2024Why do immigrants come to the US?
People immigrate to the US to work, reunite with family, study, or seek personal safety. In 2021, 42% of the 1.5 million people who immigrated to the US came for work.What reasons for immigration does the government track?The US government generally allows legal immigration for five broad reasons: work, school, family, safety, and encouraging diversity.People immigrating for work or school are often granted temporary entry rather than permanent residency. Immigration for family generally means the immigrant has a relative who is already in the US as a citizen, green card holder, or temporary visa holder with whom they want to be reunited with. Those who immigrate for safety are refugees or asylum-seekers. And finally, up to 50,000 immigrants obtain green cards annually through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program lottery that grants entry to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the US.
Aug 1, 2024How does the government help non-English speakers vote?
About 8.4% of the US speaks English less than “very well,” according to the Census Bureau in 2022. For otherwise-eligible voters, a lack of English proficiency can present a challenge to participating in the electoral process.In 1975, Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act increased voting access for non-English speakers who had historically been excluded from the political process, with a focus on Spanish, Asian, Native American, and Alaskan Native language-speakers — but with particular requirements that mean that not every locality is required to comply.Thirty states are required to provide non-English voting materials in at least one locality. Of the 20 states not required to do so, Oregon and North Carolina had the highest proportions of residents who spoke English “less than very well” at 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively, and Washington, DC, had a rate of 5.1%. West Virginia (0.8%) and Montana (1.1%) had the lowest proportions of residents who spoke English “less than very well.”Who is covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act?Section 203 covers localities that meet two criteria:More than 10,000 or over 5% of voting-age citizens in the state, county, or municipality must be “members of a single language minority group” with limited English proficiency. When the 5% criterion is met, ballots and election information must be made available in the second language state-wide: if 5.8% of a state’s population are Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency, all elections in the state must support Spanish, even in individual counties and cities that don’t meet the 5% threshold. The statewide coverage is only triggered by the 5% criteria; the 10,000-person threshold only mandates local second-language support.The language minority must have depressed literacy rates. A “depressed literacy rate” means that a percentage of the language minority’s voting-age citizens with a fifth-grade education is lower than the national share.
Aug 1, 2024How many refugees are entering the US?
There are 2.4 million refugees worldwide in need of resettlement, according to the United Nations.The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a foreign policy tool to offer hope to persecuted individuals worldwide.What is the definition of a refugee?Refugees and asylum seekers both leave their home countries due to fears of persecution. However, the process for seeking protection and the requirements within the US immigration system necessitates designating these people into two categories.Refugees apply for refugee status before coming to the US, while asylees apply for asylum status while already in the US or at a port of entry.According to the USRAP, refugees are people who have experienced past persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.How many refugees enter the US annually?Over 3.6 million refugees have entered the US since 1975 — more than the population of Utah.After hitting a 40-year annual low of 11,411 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, over 60,000 refugees entered the country in 2023, the most since 2016. By June 30, 2024, the annual total had already eclipsed that at 68,000.
Aug 1, 2024How long does family-based immigration to the US take?
Family-based immigration most often involves people moving to the US to reunite with their spouse/fiancé(e) and children, or children being adopted from abroad. Per recent Department of Homeland Security data, spouses, dependent children, and parents trying to join family members in the US have median wait times of nearly a year, give or take a few months.In other situations, family members can wait even longer. The family-based immigration process is subject to varying timelines, primarily influenced by the applicant’s relationship to a US citizen and their country of origin.What is family-based immigration?Family-based immigration, facilitated through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), allows American citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor visas for specific family members; these can ultimately lead to permanent residency. This visa pathway was solidified with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which relaxed Cold War-era immigration quotas to grant entry to more skilled laborers and allow more people to reunite with family members living in the US.Unlike employment-based and asylum visas that fulfill economic or humanitarian objectives, family-based immigration prioritizes keeping families together.
Aug 1, 2024How many teens are in the labor force?
At the end of every school year, many teens begin their search for, or start, their summer job. And in 2023, just over one in every three teenagers aged 16 to 19 was in the labor force.Typically, teen labor force participation has the most seasonal variation than that of other age groups. While this still holds true, there has been less variation in teen rates in recent years.
Aug 1, 2024Who is unbanked in the US?
About 6% of American adults are “unbanked,” meaning they don’t have a checking, savings, or money market account. This percentage stayed level in 2022 and 2023, according to data from the Federal Reserve.The Fed notes that accessing banking services can be important for a person’s financial well-being. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) encourages banking on the basis of financial safety, protection from scams and fraud, and convenience.Who is unbanked?According to the Fed, unbanked rates are higher among lower-income adults. Nearly a quarter of people with an income below $25,000 were unbanked (23%), compared to 8% of people with an income between $25,000 and $49,999, 2% of people with an income between $50,000 and $99,999, and 1% of people with an income over $100,000.
Jul 23, 2024When was your state founded?
Delaware ratified the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, thus becoming the first state. The newest states are Alaska and Hawaii, with Alaska being admitted as the 49th state on January 3, 1959. Hawaii followed as the 50th on August 21, 1959.In the intervening 172 years, 47 additional states were created. Sixteen states formed in the 18th century, 29 in the 19th century, and five in the 20th century.
Jul 17, 2024How are Americans doing financially?
More than a quarter of US adults are struggling financially. 72% of Americans reported “living comfortably” or “doing okay,” according to December 2023 data from the Federal Reserve.The remaining 28% were either “just getting by” (19%) or “finding it difficult to get by” (9%).The 72% at least doing okay is the lowest share since at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Prior to 2020, the rate hadn’t dipped that low since 2016.
Jun 21, 2024Mammograms are recommended beginning at age 50. Are women getting them?
Adjusting for age, 71.6% of women 50 and older have had a mammogram screening in the past two years. This figure includes women of all backgrounds, including education, race, income level, and other factors, including insurance status — which denotes the biggest gap between who does or doesn’t get screened.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, with approximately 119 per 100,000 women in the United States diagnosed with a new case in 2020. Among women’s cancer deaths, it is the second most common cause, responsible for approximately 19 deaths per 100,000 women in 2020.
Oct 24, 2023Has vehicle traffic returned to pre-pandemic levels?
Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration has American drivers logging a total of 2,154,571,000,000 miles this year to date — that’s 2.15 trillion — the most vehicle miles traveled during the first eight months of a calendar year since 2019.How much did the pandemic impact vehicle traffic?According to the USAFacts America in Facts 2023 report, the number of miles driven in the US increased at an average rate of 2% annually between 1970 and 2019. In 2020, fewer people traveled to work, school, or other destinations due to the pandemic, and vehicle miles dropped 11%. Miles driven rose again in 2021, 2022, and the first eight months of 2023.
Nov 3, 2023Where mental illness is increasing in the US
In 2019, adults in the US experienced mental illness at a higher rate than the decade prior. Within the previous year, 20.6% of adults had experienced a mental illness, compared to 18.1% in 2009, according to estimates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.The increase is more pronounced for adults ages 18–25, reflecting trends among children and teens in recent years. The implications reach throughout the world of public policy, prompting discussions about mental health and access to professional services, alternatives to police responses to mental health crises, and the role of schools in addressing mental health at an early age.
Nov 16, 2023Which groups have experienced an increase in hate crimes?
The number of reported hate crimes — crimes motivated by bias against someone’s race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity —rose by 7% between 2021 and 2022, according to updated 2022 hate crime data from the FBI.Black and/or African American people were the most frequent targets overall. Among gender-motivated hate crimes, anti-transgender hate crimes increased 35% year over year. Religiously motivated hate crimes increased 27%, and specifically, antisemitic hate crimes increased by 36% from 2021 to 2022.How many hate crimes are motivated by race?Although crimes motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry decreased 1% between 2021 and 2022, they were the largest category of hate crimes, accounting for 56% of all reported hate crimes.
Dec 14, 2023Which generation has the most wealth?
Baby boomers have the highest household net worth of any US generation.Defined by the Federal Reserve as being born between 1946 and 1964 (currently in the ages between 59 and 77), baby boomers are in often in the sunset of their career or early into retirement.Their higher net worth is expected: with most baby boomers financially planning for at least a few more decades, they benefit from wealth earned from long careers and have more robust retirement accounts than the silent generation, who have dipped further into retirement savings.The silent generation (born before 1946) has the second-highest net worth (or assets minus liabilities) at around $1.29 million per household, followed by Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) at $1.11 million per household. Millennials (born after 1980) are the generation with the least wealth. (The Federal Reserve does not have data on Generation Z yet.)
Mar 28, 2023Can people with felony convictions vote?
In the US, almost all people with felony convictions lose their voting rights for a certain period.States set rules about how a felony conviction affects a resident’s ability to vote. Most states automatically restore voting rights either after release from prison or after probation or parole. Some states automatically restore voting rights under specific circumstances, depending on the nature of the crime or an individual’s criminal history. Meanwhile, two states, plus Washington, DC, never revoke the voting rights of individuals convicted of a felony.At the end of 2021, more than 1.2 million people were incarcerated in state or federal prisons, according to the Department of Justice.
Dec 1, 2023Native Americans and the US Census: How the count has changed
Between 2000 and 2018, the number of American residents who were at least partially Native American increased 39%, according to the US Census Bureau.The estimated 5.7 million Americans in 2018 – 1.6 million more than 2000 – identifying with “American Indian or Alaska Native” racial backgrounds represent less than 2% of the total national population. That share was double the Native American group’s share in 2000.It’s unclear if that increase is entirely due to population growth or because more people are identifying as Native American racially. The Census Bureau has historically counted the Native American population in varying ways. The agency is making counting Native Americans a priority for the 2020 Census, after an estimated 4.88% of Native Americans living on reservations went undercounted. (Nationally, there was a total overcount of 0.01%.)In addition to the official decennial census conducted at the beginning of each decade, the Census Bureau also conducts the American Community Survey each year to learn more about the American population. Here’s a look at the Census’s history with Native Americans and what the agency’s most recent surveys say about that demographic group today.Who makes up the Native American population?In 2018, there were an estimated 2.8 million people identifying racially as Native American alone and 2.9 million more identifying as multiple races, including Native American.
Nov 27, 2019What is the definition of poverty in the US?
Poverty remains a persistent issue in the United States, with millions of Americans unable to make ends meet each year. According to data from the Census Bureau, nearly 38 million Americans lived in poverty in 2021.How does the federal government define poverty?The federal government defines poverty based on family size and income. If a family’s total income is less than the poverty threshold set by the federal government, then that family is considered impoverished. The official poverty measure is adjusted annually to account for inflation.Let’s use 2021 poverty data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an example. Using the official poverty measure, a family of four would be considered in poverty if their annual household income was $26,500 or less before taxes. (For 2020-2021, the median household income for a family of such size was $90,657.)Since the measure is set at the federal level, it does not take into account the varying costs of living in different parts of the country, which can lead to errors in counting.
Jul 10, 2023How many people die in traffic accidents in the US?
Traffic fatalities increased more than 10% in 2021, according to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The increase came along with a rise in out-of-state travel and greater miles traveled in 2021, rebounding after stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Most of the fatalities occurred on multilane highways and freeways.
Sep 2, 2022How many immigrants get green cards every year?
About 1.17 million during fiscal year (FY) 2023, 15.2% more than the previous year. That’s the number of people who became lawful permanent residents (LPR) of the U.S., commonly known as green card holders. Green cards grant immigrants the right to live and work permanently in the US with a path toward citizenship. The total includes individuals who obtained green cards through family sponsorship, employment, refugee or asylum status, and other avenues.
Updates monthlyWhat are the main sources of US greenhouse gas emissions?
In 2021, US transportation released more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector: more than 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, or 28.5% of emissions overall.Since 1990, emissions have increased for the transportation, agricultural, and residential sectors, as well as US territories. Conversely, emissions from the electric power, industrial, and commercial sectors have all declined.However, power plants disproportionately account for the highest greenhouse gas emissions, with 90 of the top 100 emitting facilities being power generation sites in 2022.How much greenhouse gas does the US emit?In 2021, the US emitted 6,340 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent metric tons. That’s 2.3% lower than measured in 1990, and 15.6% lower than 2007, when the US hit its recorded peak of 7,511 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. 2021 emissions were equivalent to over 1.4 billion cars driving – equal to about one metric ton for every 2,500 miles.While total emissions have declined marginally since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions per person have seen a steeper decrease over the last 31 years.
Jan 19, 2024What is the state of America’s highway bridges?
In 2021, there were 146,000 bridges in the US National Highway System. And as of that June, 44,000 of them were in “poor” condition.The National Bridge Inventory ranks bridge quality as good, fair, or poor. The inventory assigns bridges numerical ratings for the conditions of a bridge's roadway and structural components. A rating of seven or higher means that part is “good;” a five or six is “fair;” and four or less is “poor.” The four lowest ratings determine the overall bridge quality.
Jan 12, 2024Are train derailments becoming more common?
As of October 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recorded 742 train derailments.The most publicized of these happened on February 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The train caught fire and sent smoke and particulate matter into the air, while crash runoff contaminated nearby waterways. Following the disaster, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued an evacuation order for residents of the surrounding area.Less than a month later, a bipartisan coalition of US senators introduced The Railway Safety Act of 2023. If passed, the law would increase safety requirements for freight trains, especially those carrying hazardous materials. It would also increase penalties for rail companies over safety violations and provide additional funding for first responders in need of additional safety equipment.The bill was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in May and is headed for a vote on the Senate floor. The bill’s sponsors — including Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and J.D. Vance, a Republican — hope that additional scrutiny will prevent future train derailment disasters like the one in East Palestine.
Oct 25, 2023How does the US Postal Service serve rural Americans?
“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night” — while the United States Postal Service (USPS) has no official motto, this well-known refrain reflects a key aspect of the organization’s operations: the universal service obligation (USO).The USO is not contained in any one document, but has been defined through multiple statutes over the course of the past century. It outlines that the USPS is obligated to provide the American public with trusted, affordable, and universal service across multiple dimensions — including geography. Rural free delivery of mail by the USPS became a permanent service in July 1902. Today, despite being home to 16% of the US population, rural areas comprise 88% of the area served by the Postal Service, and 57% of post offices are in rural areas.A majority of rural Americans appreciate these efforts: According to the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG), which tracks nationwide postal performance, 81% of rural postal customers view the Postal Service as valuable. However, the USPS faces multiple financial challenges, leading to initiatives like reduced work hours for rural mail carriers and route optimization. Although these changes are meant to cut costs, they also impact the USO — which USPS OIG has called to reevaluate.How has the USPS performed in recent years?On-time performance has improved in the past several years, recovering from lows recorded both before and during the pandemic. Three-to-five day delivery of first-class single piece mail — including letters, postcards, flat envelopes, and small packages — has improved from 54.6% on-time delivery during Q1 2021 to 86.2% in Q3 2023. Marketing mail — one of the Postal Service’s most-used service types by volume — has also improved its end-to-end performance from 59.8% on-time delivery in Q2 2018 to 95.9% in Q3 2023.
Sep 15, 2023725,000 people left California in 2020. Which states did they move to?
Texas had the most California transplants from 2020 to 2021: 105,000. Arizona (with 63,000 California transplants) and Nevada (55,000) were next highest.
May 22, 2023Immigration is down and so are births: Why population growth slowed down
The population of the United States grew by 1.5 million between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 — the smallest annual growth since the 1940s.There are a few methods for measuring these population changes. First, there’s natural population change, which is the number of deaths in a given year subtracted from births. There’s also change from migration, which counts the number of immigrants arriving in a given year. Plus, migration between states needs to be counted for state populations.A drop in every facet of population change has led to slowing population growth. The graphic below breaks down population changes by state and region.
Jan 10, 2020What is the H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa is one of several temporary visas that allow people from other countries to live and work in the US, with 389,354 people who received or renewed an H-1B visa in 2019. Here is an explanation of the program, the lottery selection process, and the people who hold H-1B visas.
Oct 7, 2020Reapportionment and redistricting after the 2020 census: Explained
The Census Bureau made the official 2020 state population numbers public on April 26. With that release came reapportionment, which uses a formula to redistribute each state's share of the 435 House of Representative seats starting in the 2022 midterm election. That formula takes state population into account. The changes in apportionment will have a political effect, notably in the Electoral College, where states are allotted electoral votes based on the number of members in Congress.State redistricting comes next. By September 30, the Census Bureau will have provided each state with more granular population data separated into geographies like counties, cities, American Indian areas, census blocks, and voting districts. Any state allotted more than one representative will have to draw new maps splitting their states into geographic areas with equal populations. Each state's process and rules are different, with some of the maps drawn entirely in the legislature and others developed by independent commissions.Which states gained and lost seatsIn addition to Texas gaining two seats, five states gained one seat: Colorado, Florida, Oregon, Montana, and North Carolina. Seven states lost seats: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Oct 21, 2022Who are the nation’s nurses?
Almost four million nurses work in the US healthcare system, equal to one in every 85 Americans. Nurses work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and more. There are more nurses than in any other occupation within the healthcare industry.On top of the usual demands of the profession, the COVID-19 pandemic added unique pressure to America’s nurses. The critical needs of the healthcare system during the pandemic meant nursing employment rose while other occupations lost jobs over that time.
May 11, 2022Which cities have the most people living in food deserts?
More than 53 million or 17% of Americans were considered low-income and had little to no access to supermarkets or similar large food stores, according to 2019 data from the Department of Agriculture (USDA).The USDA defines food deserts as an area where low-income people do not have easy access to large food retailers. These food deserts particularly impact urban areas. Ninety-six percent of people in a food desert, 51.7 million, lived in urban areas in 2019.The USDA considers a tract low-access if at least 500 people or a third of the population lives more than a half-mile away from the nearest food retailer in urban tracts or more than 10 miles away in rural tracts. Types of food retailers considered in the count exclude convenience stores and smaller food sellers.Among the 51 metro areas with more than a million people in 2010, Memphis, Tennessee had the highest share of its population — 32% — who are both low-income and live in tracts with this definition. The New York City area had 3% of its population living in food deserts.
Jun 23, 2021Where are crime victimization rates higher: urban or rural areas?
In 2021, crime victimization rates were higher in urban than rural areas. In urban settings, 24.5 out of 1,000 people aged 12 or older reported being the victims of violent crimes, and 157.5 reported being the victims of property crimes. In rural settings, those figures were 11.1 and 57.7, respectively.
Sep 25, 2023Which airlines receive the most disability-related complaints?
In 2022, Allegiant Air recorded 10.5 disability-related complaints per 1 million passengers. For all large US airlines, these complaints increased 9% between 2021 and 2022, from 1.95 to 2.12 complaints for every 1 million fliers.The complaints reflect the difficulties millions of travelers face: in 2019, approximately 27 million people with disabilities traveled by air, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). For many of them, navigating ticket counters, Transportation Security Administration lines, terminals, and jetways can be a challenge.How many disability complaints do passengers file against airlines?Travelers filed 1,693 disability-related complaints against US airlines in 2022. Since 2020, disability complaints have more than tripled.Disability complaints from passengers are up 167% compared to pre-pandemic levels. From 1999 to 2019, the airline industry averaged 477 disability complaints per year. In 2021 and 2022, they averaged 1,462.The DOT has not explained this rise in disability complaints. However, in its assessment of general complaint data, the agency reports that passengers mostly complain about flight problems — cancellations, delays, or other deviations from airlines’ schedules — which add to passengers’ overall dissatisfaction with their experience. The agency also noted that in 2021, it issued the largest fines against airlines in the history of its consumer protection office. These fines reflected airlines’ violations of consumers’ rights.
Oct 2, 2023596,000 people moved to Texas from other US states in 2020. Which states did they come from?
From 2020 to 2021, Texas had the largest population growth of any state. Much of that increase came from people moving to Texas from other states. Around 596,000 Americans from other states moved to Texas during 2020. With 421,000 Texans also leaving the state, Texas gained a net 177,000 residents through domestic migration.Which states had the most residents move to Texas?In 2020, around 105,000 Californians moved to Texas, more than double the next-highest state. Florida had the second-highest number of residents move to Texas (37,000) and Louisiana was third (31,000).
May 15, 2023What does the Census mean by "Some Other Race"?
In the 2020 US census, 281.5 million Americans described their race using only one or more of the five races listed on the survey: white, Black or African American; Asian; American Indian and Alaska Native; and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander.The remaining 49.9 million Americans — 15.1% of the country — selected the “some other race” category, either on its own or in combination with other categories, to describe their racial identity.Nearly 28 million of those Americans selected “some other race” alone. The rest were multi-racial, identifying both with “some other race” and at least one of the listed racial categories.The states with the highest percentages of people categorized as “some other race” alone or in combination were along the southern border, where the Hispanic population is also at its highest. As it turns out, there’s a large overlap between the two groups.
Jan 23, 2024Three charts on diversity in the federal government's workforce
More than 1.5 million people work in the federal government. A new Office of Personnel Management report reveals that the proportions of white workers and men in the government are higher than their proportions of the US population overall. This is especially true at the senior level.What is the racial and ethnic breakdown of the federal government workforce?Just over 61% of the federal government workforce identifies as white, while 18.2% identifies as Black. These figures are higher than the overall percentage of Americans identifying as white (59.3%) and Black (12.6%).Hispanic Americans are the most underrepresented group in the federal workforce. Despite representing 18.9% of the US population, they are 9.5% of the federal government workforce.
Mar 28, 2023How many Americans have diabetes?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 38.4 million people had diabetes in 2021 — 29.7 million people with diagnosed cases and an estimated 8.7 million undiagnosed — or 11.6% of the US population. The CDC estimates that 22.8% of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed, meaning they meet lab criteria for the disease but were not aware of it or did not report having diabetes.Another 97.6 million adults, or 38.0% of the adult population, are estimated to have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
Feb 7, 2024Americans are struggling to afford enough food
One out of every eight American adults is struggling to afford enough food.According to October 2023 data from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, nearly 28 million adults nationwide — 12.5% of the adult population — were living in homes where there was either sometimes or often not enough to eat in the last week. This is the highest that figure has reached since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.The survey indicated that 3.0% of American adults “often” did not have enough to eat in the last week and 9.5% “sometimes” did not have enough food that October. Another 33.8% reported having enough food, but not always the kinds they wanted, while 53.7% could afford and access the kinds of food they wanted at all times.
Feb 5, 2024What is the state of RSV in the United States?
Weekly hospitalization rates for respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, rose from 0.2 per 100,000 people during the week of September 2, 2023, to 1.3 during the week of October 28, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s RSV Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RSV-NET).
Dec 5, 2023How many dams does America have?
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the US has 91,804 dams across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam.Approximately 65% of all dams are privately owned, while federal, state, and local government agencies own 31%. The remaining 4% belong to public utility companies and tribal governments, or remain unlisted. Federal agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the US Army Corps of Engineers, or the Bureau of Land Management, own and operate 5,399 dams.
Nov 16, 2023Who experiences anxiety and depression in the US?
Nearly 23% of American adults faced mental illness issues in 2021, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Young adults, adults aged 18–25, women, and unemployed and part-time workers reported higher rates of mental illness over the past year in 2021 compared to other groups in SAMHSA’s survey. SAMHSA runs an annual survey that collects mental health information and predicts the prevalence of mental health conditions using a statistical model. The survey includes phobias, psychotic symptoms, anorexia, and bulimia, as well as obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic stress, adjustment, bipolar, and panic disorders.How does current American mental health compare to pre-COVID-19?SAMHSA estimates of Americans with mental illness were trending upward before the pandemic, from 18% in 2008 to 21% in 2019. Young people had the largest percentage point increase during that period, with the rate among adults ages 18–25 rising from 19% to 29%.During the pandemic in 2021, the rate of young people (18–25) with mental illness rose to 33.7%. However, SAMHSA notes that 2021’s survey results aren’t comparable to previous years due to changes in data collection methodology.Percentage of adults with mental illnessAfter SAMHSA implemented new data collection methods in 2021, it reported that 23% of adults dealt with mental illness. Over one-third of adults below the age of 25 had a mental illness in 2021.
Nov 27, 2023Homeownership is rebounding, particularly among younger adults
The overall American homeownership rate — the proportion of households living in homes they own — grew from a recent low of 63.4% in 2016 to 65.8% in 2022, according to data from the US Census Bureau. The homeownership rate grew more for people under 35 than any other age group, up from 34.5% to 39.0%.What is the recent history of homeownership in the US?As a host of factors from low-interest rates to predatory lending practices drove an increase in homeownership in the mid-1990s, national homeownership rates rose through the turn of the millennium until the 2004 foreclosure crisis and the ensuing recession. After reaching a high of 69.0% in 2004, the national homeownership rate fell for 12 straight years to 63.4% in 2016, its lowest point since 1966.In 2017, the rate began to trend upward, increasing by 2.4 percentage points by 2022. That year’s rate of 65.8% is higher than it was in any year from 1960 to 1997.
Jan 29, 2024Population pyramids of every state
There’s more to measuring a state’s population than its big total.The age, sex, race, ethnicity, and other characteristics of each resident provides context about who lives in the state. Knowing the demographics of a place informs governments not only about the current residents within certain borders but can help prepare for the challenges they might face in the future.We’ve made population pyramids for the nation, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. These pyramids use Census data from 2010 to 2017 and can be filtered by various races and ethnicities.What is a "population pyramid"?A population pyramid is a data visualization tool showing the age makeup of a certain area. Demographers, or social scientists that study population trends over time, use population pyramids extensively because it’s a quick way to gather lots of insights about how a population is aging over time. Usually, the “pyramid” places older populations at the top, youngest at the bottom and splits the left and right sides by sex. There’s no strict requirement for how groups of the population are arranged by age.See how the shape of the population differs in each state. Scroll below for our analysis or if you need more insight on how to interpret population pyramids.
May 23, 2022How many people receive SNAP benefits in the US every month?
About 41.7 million people during fiscal year (FY) 2024. That’s 12.3% of the US population. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is determined based on household income levels. SNAP, once known as the Food Stamp program, is administered by the Department of Agriculture providing food assistance to low-income individuals.
Updates monthlyIs Congress representative of the American people?
The United States Congress consists of up to 541 individuals elected to represent a population of 335.9 million.The 118th Congress in US history convened on January 3, 2023. Here’s a look at how the demographics of this legislative body compare to those of the people it represents.What is the average age of Congress members?At the start of the 118th Congress, the average senator was 64.0 years old, and the average representative was 57.9. These averages are lower than those of the previous Congress: senators are younger by about four months and representatives by about five. This decrease is due to a relatively young class of new members — the newly elected class of both senators (50.4 years old) and representatives (47.8) were younger at the start of this session than any of the three incoming classes before them.
May 17, 2024What are the top causes of death for people 65 and older?
The top two causes of death for senior citizens in 2022 were heart diseases and cancer at 1,015.9 and 810.2 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).COVID-19 (262 per 100,000 people), cerebrovascular diseases (255.2 per 100,000), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (255.2 per 100,000) followed as the next most common causes of death for seniors. These were also the leading causes of death in 2021 — the most recent year with final data.
Jan 17, 2024US Census: What's new in 2020?
Once every ten years, the US Census Bureau does a complete population count, surveying every resident in the US. This count is mandated by the Constitution and requires reaching millions of households. USAFacts is giving you the history of the decennial census and everything you need to know to participate in 2020.Who participates in Census Bureau surveys?Everyone who has established a residence in the US is counted, including individuals with work visas, international students, and unauthorized immigrants, but excluding temporary visitors such as tourists.When should I be expecting to receive my survey notification?You don’t need to sign-up; the Census Bureau is hard at work making sure they get to you. You will receive a letter in the mail between March 12th - 20th.Those who do not respond online or by mail to the initial requests are visited in person by a team of Census surveyors.How is 2020 different than past counts?The 2020 Census will be the first time you can take the survey online. In fact, the bureau’s goal is to have 55% of responses submitted digitally, whether on a desktop computer or mobile phone. Most households will be contacted by mail with a unique code to fill out the survey online. However, in neighborhoods with low internet access or usage, the paper form will be included.The more people who take the survey online, the more money the Bureau saves having to track down non-respondents. The proposed budget for the 2020 survey is $15.6 billion, which works out to roughly $111 per household surveyed, depending on population growth.Why do I keep hearing about the need for a complete count?Data from the decennial Census is used for a variety of purposes. It determines legislative districts and representation and sets eligibility for government programs like housing assistance. The data is also used to allocate nearly $700 billion, or 13% of all government spending, to government grants and programs. When fewer people respond than actually live in a given area, the data may under-allocate elected representatives or reduce the amount of funding given to that community.Why have I been hearing about adding a question on citizenship?After a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court, the decennial census will not be asking about citizenship. Other sample-based Census surveys, such as the yearly American Community Survey, already collect data on citizenship.Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the Census Bureau, proposed adding a question regarding citizenship. The question would be “Is this person a citizen of the United States?” However, the Census Bureau was hesitant to add this question for fear it would deter respondents from completing the decennial Census, as has been found during tests of the 2020 census.Under-response affects the accuracy of the population data that determines Congressional seats and Electoral College votes. Several federal judges found this question violates administrative law.Why do we have a national census?Census-taking is intertwined with the birth of democracy in America. The first complete national census took place immediately following the US declaration of independence from Britain. The country’s founders needed to determine the number of seats per state in the House of Representatives as well as to determine how much states would pay in taxes to fund the new union. The Constitution calls for a complete Census once every 10 years.Today, the data collected through the Census helps determine legislative representation, conduct research, craft public policy, and allocate government funds.When was the US Census Bureau created?The first complete national census occurred in 1790 and took 18 months to complete. Compared to the modern-day census, the first survey collected only a few basic data points, like the name of the head of the household and the number of people in the household. Over time, the Census Bureau added new questions about demographics, occupations, and community activities to inform the research and planning that goes into running the country.In addition, new surveys were added to supplement the questions asked every 10 years. These surveys do not survey the whole population; they rely on sample populations to estimate national totals. The US Census Bureau now publishes monthly, quarterly, and annual statistics, in addition to the information collected from the complete Census. Some surveys you may have heard of before include the American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, American Housing Survey, and the Annual Business Survey.The Census Bureau is continually working on new surveys and supplements to meet the research needs of the government.Learn more from USAFacts and get the data directly in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Dec 5, 2019Who lacks health insurance in the US?
In 2014 — after most of the Affordable Care Act went into effect — the share of people without health insurance dropped from 14.5% to 11.7%. Since then, the share of people in the United States without health insurance has reached as low as 8.6% (in both 2016 and 2021), but gaps in coverage persist among certain racial and ethnic groups.Disparities in coverage are influenced by a variety of factors, such as differences in income, occupation, poverty levels, location, and age. Federal and state policies can also affect access to healthcare.By understanding these differences in coverage, healthcare professionals may find ways to make healthcare more accessible and equitable for all people, no matter their race, gender, ethnicity or age.What races have the lowest healthcare coverage?As of 2021, 8.6% of Americans are uninsured, down from 15.1% a decade prior. But when you look at uninsured rates by race and ethnicity, there is a wide range in coverage. Overall, the uninsured rate was lowest for non-Hispanic white people at 5.7% in 2021, while it was highest at 18.8% of non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native individuals. Hispanic or Latino people also had one of the highest uninsured rates in the country at 17.7%.
Apr 12, 2023How do American households save for retirement?
Half of American households have no retirement savings. The Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances offers insights into household savings, income, and balance sheets. Data from the survey reveals that retirement savings vary depending on age, employment, race, and educational attainment. Retirement savings for self-employed AmericansWhile households working for an employer had a median of $5,800 in retirement accounts (including IRA, Keogh, or pensions), self-employed households had $4,700 less with a median of $1,100.However, self-employed households had more money in other accounts, where they also may be storing savings for retirement. They had more than twice as much in their checking and savings accounts ($13,461 versus $5,010) and financial assets ($61,000 versus $24,455), and over four times the net worth ($379,743 versus $90,200) compared to households working for an employer.
Jul 10, 2023What are the leading causes of death by age?
Heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19 were responsible for nearly half of the deaths nationwide in 2021. Still, the age-adjusted death rates of both cancer and heart disease have declined over the last 20 years.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 3.46 million people died in the US in 2021. Overall, 10 causes accounted for 74.5% of deaths that year.For comparison, the top 10 causes in 1999 accounted for approximately 80% of all deaths.
Oct 6, 2023What low response rates mean for 2020 ACS data — and a potential bright side
The yearly American Communities Survey (ACS) is a vital tool for understanding the US population. State and local governments use it. Businesses use it, and federal entities and mandates like the Department of Housing and Human Services (HUD) and Veterans' Affairs use it to ascertain how Americans live and work — and how to best support them. The data informs Title I funding for students from low-income families, the list goes on and on.However, low response rates mean the one-year estimates for the 2020 ACS, scheduled for this fall, won't be released. That means it'll be challenging to understand how Americans live — and could affect how US governments distribute billions of dollars.The ACS is one of the nation's most robust data portraitsThe ACS is the premier source of information on the US population, housing, and the workforce. It reveals where people are living, if they rent or own their home, the value of their home, and the kind of conditions in which they live. What's their marital/education/citizenship status? Do they have health insurance? What people spend on gas, if they carpool and how long they commute, their working hours, how many people they live with, the ACS measures all of this and more.The 3-million-person sample size makes the ACS the most comprehensive data product produced by the US government outside of the decennial census. And it's mandatory, with nonresponses potentially leading to fines up to $5,000.Low responses and an inability to follow up skewed the 2020 ACSNormally, ACS data is collected through mailed surveys (though there are also options to fill it out online). Nonrespondents are followed up with in person, including visits to dormitories, prisons, and nursing homes. The pandemic limited opportunities to follow up between March and September 2020.The Census Bureau found high nonresponse rates last year, particularly among people with lower income, lower educational attainment, and people less likely to own their home. This skewed the reported data so much that it couldn’t be corrected by the Bureau's traditional methods of accounting for population differences in these underlying populations.After the significant changes brought on in 2020, it would be helpful to have a clearer picture of how those changes impacted people nationwide. How many people lost their employer-based health insurance? Or with eviction moratoriums expiring in some places and municipalities issuing extensions in others, one might want to know the percentage of housing units that are renter-occupied versus owned, the median rent, and how much of people's income goes to rent. The ACS could have provided neighborhood-level insight into this.Withholding this data reinforces the trustworthiness of the ACSWhile the absence of the one-year estimates is a loss, it's heartening to know that the Census Bureau would rather withhold these results rather than release heavily biased, skewed data. The Bureau's choice displays a high bar for quality. They made the hard choice, but this is good data governance.It's unclear what comes nextThe Census Bureau has yet to announce its plan for five-year estimates. Five-year estimates include data on census tracts and even block groups. But if the Bureau doesn't release this five-year estimate, good local data might not be available until 2025.It's also unclear how this will alter the way governments distribute funds. If tax dollars given to programs are allocated based on old data, will the money serve the right people? If the needs of the population those funds are supposed to help have changed, that won't be apparent when working from old data.Other surveys, like the Current Population Survey, put out jointly by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only have data for states or large municipalities. Governments need more granular data (it can get down to the neighborhood level in the ACS) to serve diverse populations of different locales, races/ethnicities, and employment levels.Plus, other surveys rely on ACS data to design sampling and weight responses. The BLS uses it to update the Consumer Price Index, including improvements to continuously update its housing survey sample.It's also used to measure the criminal victimization of people with developmental disabilities in conjunction with the National Crime Victimization Survey done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.It's not just the low response rates the Bureau has to contend with, but the pattern of who isn’t responding to the survey. These dropping response rates could signal a more significant concern than losing one year of ACS data, with potential ramifications for other data from the Department of Housing and Human Services, the Education Department, the Labor Department, and more. Nonresponse is a growing trend. The government owes its people surveys to be administered in a method so that all required participants can answer, and participants owe timely, accurate responses as a matter of civic duty.Learn more from USAFacts and get the data directly in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Aug 16, 2021The CDC says teen mental health is in crisis. Who is most at risk?
Mental health among high school teens is worsening, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of high school teens experiencing persistent feelings of hopelessness and sadness increased from 37% to 42%, continuing a decade-long trend of declining mental health among young people.But 2021 data shows a stark disparity in mental health for teenage girls and LGBQ+ students. Fifty-seven percent of female students and 69% of LGBQ+ students experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness. About 13% of female students and more than 20% of LGBQ+ students in 2021 had attempted suicide in the past year.Unstable housing and other social and economic factors can significantly impact teens' health and wellbeing. Three percent of students experienced unstable housing in 2021, but a higher percentage of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native and Black students had unstable housing, compared to Asian, Hispanic, and white students. LGBQ+ students were also more likely to have unstable housing than their peers.What do teen mental health trends show?Compared to years prior, high school students reported higher rates of nearly all indicators of poor mental health during the second year of the pandemic. Of all racial and ethnic groups, multiracial students most commonly reported having poor mental health.
Mar 29, 2023How much does it cost to raise a child?
The average cost of raising a child in the US from birth through age 17 increased by 16% since 1960. In 1960 (when this data was first collected), middle-income, married couples spent an average total of $259,711 on a child through age 17, adjusted for inflation to 2023 dollars. By 2015 — the latest data available on child-rearing costs — these estimated expenditures had increased to $300,322.How much does having a child cost?The cost of childbirth has steadily increased over the last two decades. In 2020 — the most recent data available — hospitals charged patients an average of $27,938 for pregnancy and childbirth procedures, adjusted for inflation. That is nearly two and a half times the average charges in 2000 ($11,218), according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.While this is what a hospital charges for the stay, how much families pay depends on their insurance, among other factors.
May 10, 2024How many people have received a US green card?
Green cards, officially known as Permanent Resident Cards, indicate a foreign-born person’s lawful permanent residency status in the US.In 2022, the US accepted 1.02 million green card applications, a 37.6% increase from 2021. As of January 2023, there were 12.7 million lawful permanent residents living in the US.
Dec 8, 2023What’s the breast cancer rate for women under 40?
In 2020, 11,368 women between ages 20 and 39 were diagnosed with breast cancer in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s a rate of 27 per 100,000 people in the age group.Overall, there were 239,612 new cases of female breast cancer in 2020, down from 270,395 in 2019. However, the CDC cautions that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cancer screenings, which may, in part, explain the drop in cases in 2020.
Oct 24, 2023Queer teens are experiencing worsening mental health according to CDC data.
The mental health of high school students, particularly teenage girls and LGBQ+ youth, worsened from 2011 to 2021. This comes from a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, which found that nearly 70% of LGBQ+ high school students in 2021 had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. More than 50% reported poor mental health during the past 30 days. These numbers are far worse compared to their heterosexual peers (22% of whom reported experiencing poor mental health during the same period).The report also says creating a safe, inclusive learning environment is essential to improving the well-being of LGBQ+ youth. Let's dig into the numbers to learn more about mental health trends.How does teen mental health differ based on sexual identity?The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found a higher rate of poor mental health indicators such as bullying, drug use, and suicide attempts among LGBQ+ teens.That year, high school students who identified as anything besides heterosexual experienced higher rates of bullying on school grounds.
Mar 29, 2023How does America care for the elderly?
Caring for older adults is a growing concern in the US, where the population is aging and healthcare costs for seniors are rising.There are several choices available to those seeking long-term care for older adults, according to the Administration on Aging:At-home care with an eldercare professionalAt-home care from family and friendsNursing homesAssisted livingBoard and care homesContinuing care retirement communitiesIn-home care (with a nurse, aide, or other provider)Community services (adult day care centers, transportation services, etc.)How many senior citizens will there be in 2030?According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans ages 65 or older is projected to increase from 58 million (17% of the population) in 2022 to 73 million (21% of the population) by 2030. As the population ages, more people enroll in Social Security and Medicare programs. The federal government also projects increases in the number of Americans with certain diseases or impairments, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Nov 10, 2023Local parks can improve community health, but most Americans lack access
Local governments use parks to advance community environmental and economic goals, and promote equity. And of course, they bring improved physical and mental health benefits for residents. However, access to publicly-run local parks is patchy across the country.How do local parks benefit health?Parks access encourages the surrounding community to be more active. Having a park within walking distance in addition to supporting infrastructure such as sidewalks or crosswalks can help people reach the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended amount of physical activity. This can also improve mental health, reduce the risk of disease, and strengthen bones and muscles.How many people have access to parks?39% of Americans live within a half mile of a park.
Mar 27, 2023US suicide rate trends and states with the highest suicide rates
In 2021, 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10–14 and 20–34 in 2021.The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines “suicidal ideation” as “thinking about, considering or planning suicide.”The suicide rate in the United States has steadily increased over the past 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021 — this represents a 36% increase in the national suicide rate since 2000. According to preliminary data, the national suicide rate increased an additional 2% between 2021 and 2022.Which ages have suicide as a top cause of death?Suicide was among the top nine leading causes of death for people ages 10–64 in 2021.
Nov 29, 2023How many US passports are in circulation?
There are 160.7 million valid US passports in circulation as of September 2023, according to data from the State Department. That represents a 5.8% increase from 2022 and a 36.8% increase from 2013.There are almost half as many passports in circulation as there are Americans, with 0.48 passports per person. However, because applicants can own both passport books and passport cards, the actual number of individuals with valid passports is lower than the total number of passports issued.What is a passport card?The State Department has issued passports to Americans traveling abroad since the 1700s. In 2008, it introduced passport cards, a smaller and more affordable alternative that allows American citizens to travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries by land or sea. A passport card can’t be used for air travel over international borders.
Mar 4, 2024What are the best and worst airports for on-time performance?
As of late May 2022, an average of 2.2 million people were clearing security in American airports every day. That figure is eight times higher than the number of passengers during the same time in 2020. Airport traffic isn’t quite at the pre-pandemic level of 2.5 million flyers in 2019.After two years of fewer flights, 1.6 million commercial flights were scheduled in the first quarter of 2022, about 9% lower than the same period in 2019. And as the number of flights increased, airlines were on schedule less often. Through the first three months of 2022, nearly a quarter of flights did not arrive on time. That’s the tardiest first quarter for commercial air travel since 2014. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines a flight as on time if it arrives within 15 minutes of the originally scheduled time.
Jun 2, 2022How did the midterm election affect abortion access?
The 2022 midterm elections determined the fate of abortion access in several states. Since the Supreme Court overruled federal protections to abortion access more than four months prior, it has been up to states to decide if the procedure is legal. In 2022, 18 states restrict access to abortion while 16 states protect access to the procedure in some capacity.
Mar 24, 2023Who is Gen Z? Key insights in 4 charts
Gen Z is the generation born in the 15-year span from 1997 to 2012. In 2024, they will turn between 12 and 27 years old. This is the newest generation to gain influence in the world, from joining the workforce to being old enough to vote. The oldest Gen Zers may have already voted in 2020 and possibly the 2016 elections. What does the data tell us about Gen Z?How does the racial makeup of Gen Z compare to previous generations?Gen Z is the most racially diverse generation in the US, aside from younger Gen Alpha. They are the last generation in which the majority identifies as non-Hispanic white (51%).A quarter of Gen Z (25%) identify as Hispanic, which is four percentage points more than millennials, and 3.9% identify as non-Hispanic multiracial, which is 1.7 percentage points more than millennials.Between 0.7–0.8% of baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha identify as American Indian and Alaska Native alone. The percentage of Gen Z who identify as non-Hispanic Black or African American is the same as Gen Alpha and millennials at 14%. The percentage of Gen Z who identify as Asian (6%) is the same as Gen Alpha and lower than millennials and Gen X (7%).
Apr 10, 2024What the data shows about police use of force by race
From 2018 to 2020, the share of Black Americans who experienced threats and nonfatal use of physical force during police contact increased, according to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The same is true for people in the multiracial, Native, or Pacific Islander American category.Rates increased from 3.8% to 4.3% for Black Americans and from 2.5% to 2.7% for multiracial, Native, or Pacific Islander Americans.
May 8, 2023Which states need to improve their drinking water systems?
What is the infrastructure of the United States? There are highly visible components, like bridges, roads, ports, railroads, or even electrical grids. But Americans interact with one essential component on a daily basis, and it’s in critical condition: the ability to access, consume, and use clean water.According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the cost of installing new drinking water infrastructure and rehabilitating, expanding, or replacing existing infrastructure over the next 20 years will total $625 billion — an increase of 32% from four years ago.How the federal government assesses drinking water infrastructureEvery four years, the EPA conducts the Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA). This report is used to update the infrastructure needs that are “necessary over the next 20 years for water systems to continue to provide safe drinking water to the public.”What does the latest assessment say?The financial need for drinking water infrastructure is on the rise. More than two-thirds of the $625 billion in estimated improvements is needed to distribute and transmit drinking water to homes.
Sep 14, 2023How many people in the United States suffer from allergies?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 50 million people in America experience allergies every year, making it the sixth-most common cause of chronic illness in the country. According to the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey, over one-quarter of US adults (25.7%) and nearly one in five US children (18.9%) suffer from seasonal allergies, while 6.2% of adults and 5.8% of children suffer from food allergies.
Oct 9, 2023Which states have the highest and lowest adult literacy rates?
Adult literacy in the United States has remained stagnant based on the most recent surveys, fielded in 2012, 2014, and 2017. Overall average scores for adults were “not measurably different in literacy,” between these years according to adult competency survey results.This recurring survey, called the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), measures the competency of working-age adults ages 16–65 in three areas: literacy, numeracy, and digital problem-solving.How many people in the US have low levels of literacy?Twenty-one percent, or 43 million US adults, find it difficult to compare and contrast information, paraphrase, or make low-level inferences, and, according to the PIAAC survey, have low literacy skills.The survey defines literacy as “understanding, evaluating, using and engaging with written text to participate in the society, to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential.” All US PIAAC literacy results are for English literacy.The scores are based on the amount of points a respondent gets from completing tasks of increasing difficulty. The more tasks respondents can complete at a higher difficulty level, the higher literacy score they receive.There are six levels of literacy in the PIAAC scoring system, ranging from below level one to level five.
Sep 5, 2023How does the US provide mental health treatment?
More than one in five adults in the US — about 58 million people — lives with a mental illness. In 2021, 47.2% of them received some form of mental health service.Women were more likely to get care: 51.7% of women with a mental illness received care, compared to 40% of men, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And while younger people had higher rates of mental illness, they were less likely to receive care than older adults.Among different races and ethnicities, Asian adults were the least likely to receive mental health services. In 2021, 25.4% received care, less than half the rate of white (52.4%) and multi-race adults (52.2%).
Nov 17, 2023Heart disease causes one in five American deaths
In 2021, the heart disease mortality rate in the US was 209.6 deaths per 100,000 people, meaning heart disease caused about one in every five deaths. Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the US since 1950.“Heart disease” is a broad label for various heart conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type. CAD killed 375,476 Americans in 2021.How many people in the US have heart disease?In 2019, 5.5% of American adults reported having a heart disease diagnosis, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Jan 4, 2024Which states have the best — and worst — road quality?
Tennessee had the highest-quality roads in the US in 2020, with 94.6% of roads classified as “good” — only 5.4% of the state's roads are in poor condition.
Jan 9, 2024What is the most common vehicle fuel type in each state?
There are nearly 100 registered gasoline-powered vehicles for every electric vehicle (EV) in the US. But the growth rate for some alternative-powered vehicles is higher than that of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Oct 23, 2023The 2022 Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida Senate campaigns raised over $500 million. Where did that money come from?
The 2022 midterm elections were the most expensive midterms in history. As of December 2022, Senate candidates alone reported raising $1.69 billion collectively. For comparison, Senate candidates raised $1.3 billion for the 2018 midterms and $870 million for the 2014 midterms, adjusted to 2022 dollars.Four races were the most expensive this election cycle: Senate seats in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Arizona. Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock, the two Georgia Senate Candidates, reported raising $234 million collectively as of mid-November 2022. In Pennsylvania, John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz raised $129 million, the second-highest combined figure among Senate races. Together, the eight candidates raised $589 million, 35% of all Senate fundraising. While some additional fundraising from the Georgia runoff election is yet to be reported, this figure accounts for all the fundraising through the November election.Data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows that in these four races, the Democratic candidate consistently raised more money than the Republican candidate, with the widest gap in the Arizona race. Additionally, most of the money raised in all four races came from outside the state, meaning the primary donors to candidate committees would not be personally represented by the senators they donated to.What are candidate committees?To run for office, candidates set up candidate committees that can raise and spend money on behalf of their campaigns. These committees raise money directly from individuals, party committees such as the Democratic National Committee, or political action committees (PACs). However, the FEC enforces donation limits. Individuals can’t contribute more than $2,900 to a candidate committee per election, while party committees and PACs can’t contribute more than $5,000.Candidate committees do not account for all the money used to influence elections. Super PACs are not affiliated with specific candidates but are allowed to buy advertisements or fund efforts to elect candidates they support. Additionally, Super PACs do not face contribution limits, so individual donors can contribute hundreds of millions to them. In 2022, PACs raised nearly triple the $3.2 billion candidate committees raised.Nonetheless, the candidate committees are the most direct funding campaigns can draw upon. Candidates spend money on advertising, fundraising campaigns, salaries and administrative tools, and other expenses.How much did these four Senate races cost?Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock raised more money than any other candidate in the 2022 midterms, raising $176 million by December 2022. Mark Kelly, the incumbent Arizona Senator, and Val Demings, the Florida Senate challenger, raised the next most.Democratic Senate candidates raised more money than Republican Senate candidates in 2022. The top five Senate fundraisers were all Democrats. Herschel Walker, challenging Warnock for the Georgia Senate seat, raised the sixth most out of all Senate candidates at $58.6 million.
Mar 28, 2023What will America’s population look like by 2100?
By 2100, the United States will be home to 366 million people, according to Census Bureau projections. That’s 32 million more people than in 2022, but it also indicates a slight decline from a projected peak down the road.The Census Bureau projects America’s population to grow older and more diverse by the end of the 21st century, with immigration and fertility rates driving most changes through 2100.The Census also projects immigration will be the largest driver of population growth through the rest of the century. Without any new immigration, the Bureau estimates the nation’s population would begin declining in 2024, resulting in approximately 107 million fewer people in 2100 than in 2022. Conversely, it also projects a high-immigration scenario in which the US could have an estimated 102 million additional people by then.How much is the US population predicted to grow by 2100?The Census projects the population will grow by 9.7%, or 33 million people, between 2022 and 2100. That’s roughly equivalent to the current population of Texas. According to these projections, the US population will peak at 369 million people in 2080 before declining through the rest of the century.What are the predicted birth and death rates for the US?US birth rates are predicted to decline throughout the remainder of the 21st century, from 10.8 births per 1,000 people in 2023 to 8.5 per 1,000 in 2100. Meanwhile, the death rate will increase from 8.5 per 1,000 people in 2023 to 11.9 per 1,000 in 2100.Fertility rates have generally declined in the US since the late 1950s, and the share of the population over 65 has increased. The Census expects these trends to continue, resulting in a death rate that exceeds the birth rate by 2038. By 2100, the Census Bureau estimates there will be 1.2 million more deaths in the US than births.
Jan 26, 2024The US child population shrank by 1 million between 2010 and 2020
Between the last two censuses, the adult population in the US grew 10%, from 234.6 million to 258.3 million. During that same period, the under 18 population dropped 1% from 74.2 million to 73.1 million. The decrease occurred as US birth rates hit a record low. At the same time, diversity among the youngest Americans increased in the last decade.While there are fewer children overall, additional census data shows how America’s children have changed both demographically and geographically since 2010.While the number of children fell 1% during the decade, the change was not uniform across demographic groups.The number of non-Hispanic white children dropped 13%, from 39.7 million in 2010 to 34.6 million in 2020. The demographic remains the largest in the age group, though the 2020 census marked the first time non-Hispanic white children were less than 50% of the 18 and under population.
Sep 30, 2021How COVID-19 is changing primary voting—and the November election
The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the 2020 election calendar, prompting states to shift their presidential primaries and other votes.These changes also include shifts away from the traditional visiting of polling places. Primary elections do not have the same rate of turnout as general elections, but this primary season may still provide insight into how Americans will vote in November’s election.Tuesday, April 28 should have hosted six primaries: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Instead, the only state that voted was Ohio. After cancelling its March 17 in-person primary, Ohio conducted its election almost entirely by mail. Gov. Mike DeWine initially proposed June 2 as a substitute, but the Ohio legislature moved the official primary date to April 28. Ballots postmarked by April 27 will be counted.New York state cancelled its presidential primary entirely. Over a dozen other states are weighing how to proceed with their primaries.How states shifted their primaries after the onset of COVID-19As of April 27, 15 states and territories have either delayed their primaries or switched to a vote-by-mail system with extended deadlines.
Apr 30, 2020What is walkability? What does the government spend on it?
Walkability is often an intuitive concept. If cities, small towns, or neighborhoods are built with activity-friendly routes that connect people to everyday destinations, that’s a “walkable” community. This is typically a local government issue, but the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $6.1 billion for walkable communities.What is walkability and why does it matter?The National Highway Transportation Safety Board encourages people to assess the walkability of their neighborhoods through a self-assessment checklist. Questions include:Did you have room to walk?Was it easy to cross streets?Did drivers behave well?Was your walk pleasant?The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index provides an additional framework. It scores places from most to least walkable based on the density of intersecting streets, a mix of occupied housing and businesses, and proximity to transit stops. By these metrics, cities tend to be more walkable than rural or suburban places.
Jun 18, 2024How many Black male teachers are there in the US?
While the racial and ethnic diversity of America’s teachers increased in recent decades, Black men remain among the most underrepresented demographics in teaching compared to their percentage of the general population — and the student population.How many Black male teachers are there?In the 2020–2021 school year, Black, non-Hispanic men accounted for 1.3% of the nation’s 3.8 million public school teachers, according to the National Center for Education Statistics’s National Teacher and Principal Survey. Overall, Black, non-Hispanic men are 6.1% of the general US population.Black women, meanwhile, made up 4.8% of all public school teachers and 6.5% of the general population. Together, Black men and women comprise 6.1% of all public school teachers and 12.6% of the US population.How has the number of Black male teachers changed in recent years?The proportion of public school teachers who are Black men has been declining, from 6.5% in the 2017-2018 school year to 1.3% in 2020-2021. Overall, the percentage of Black, non-Hispanic teachers declined from 7% to 6% from 2011 to 2021.What are the race and gender demographics of the teaching profession?The majority of US public school teachers are white women. In the 2020–2021 school year, women accounted for 76.8% of all public school teachers.Ignoring sex, an even larger share of teachers are white. In 2020–2021, 79.9% of public school teachers were white, 9.4% were Hispanic, 6.1% were Black, 2.4% were Asian, and 1.6% were multiracial. Less than one-half of 1% were American Indian/Alaska Natives or Pacific Islanders.Where do Black male teachers work?Cities and southern states have the biggest proportion of Black male teachers. About two-thirds of all Black teachers (including Hispanic) in the US teach in the South, according to NCES.In the 2017–2018 school year, about 5% of Louisiana's teachers were non-Hispanic Black men — the largest share among all states with data reported in that year’s survey. Next was Virginia and Georgia, where 4% of teachers were Black men.
Nov 6, 2023How many students are harassed or bullied?
Over 29,000 public school students reported harassment or bullying based on their sex, race, or disability during the 2020–2021 school year, according to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).Data shows that this kind of bullying and harassment was down 84% from the 2011–2012 school year to 2020–2021. In that decade, the number of full-time school counselors nationwide increased by 83%, from 69,358.91 in 2011–2012 to 127,201.09 in 2020–2021.Which students are more susceptible to harassment or bullying?In 2020–2021, female students made 63% of reports of harassment or bullying based on sex; 78% of the students disciplined for this harassment/bullying were male.
Feb 14, 2024Is teen drug and alcohol use declining?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distributes a biennial set of surveys to high school students to track behaviors that may lead to poor health. The most recent survey found teenagers are trying alcohol, certain drugs, and other substances less than they did a decade ago.How has teen substance abuse changed?The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YBRSS) showed that teen drug use has declined over the last few decades. The survey covers how substance use trends among teenagers changed from 1990 to 2021.
Oct 5, 2023Which states have the highest child poverty rates?
Americans make more than 20% of the world’s income, despite accounting for less than 5% of the world’s population. Yet, poverty — not having enough money to meet basic needs — remains a chronic issue in the United States.Poverty also impacts millions of children in America. The national child poverty rate was 16.9% in 2021, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). In contrast, the national poverty rate that year was 12.8%.
Jun 20, 2023What is infrastructure and what does the government have to do with it?
The federal government has a long history of investing in infrastructure, dating at least as far back as 1806 when Congress authorized the construction of the National Road, the first highway built entirely with federal money.In the centuries since, federal, state, and local governments have spent trillions of dollars on the networks and facilities necessary to help the country function. There is no agreed-upon definition of infrastructure, but broadly it refers to facilities, structures, and utilities intended for long-term use.Democratic and Republican presidents have called for further investment in transportation infrastructure, including bridges, highways, and railways. Energy — including power plants and electric grids — is also considered infrastructure.Other categories of investment that may fall under infrastructure include drinking water systems, wastewater systems, broadband access, and buildings like schools.
May 12, 2021How has COVID-19 impacted air travel?
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the air travel industry hard. The number of monthly passengers on US-based airlines dropped 96% from 67.8 million in February to 3 million in April according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Though that number has rebounded somewhat, September passenger levels were still down by 65% compared to September 2019, according to preliminary BTS data. As the nation grapples with a record number of coronavirus infections heading into the holiday season, the industry faces another period of uncertainty.Government data shows the industry has partially recovered from the early days of the pandemic but remains behind previous years.
Nov 19, 2020How common is it for released prisoners to re-offend?
Seventy percent of prisoners released in 2012 were arrested again within five years, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The recidivism rate is over 80% for prisoners with juvenile records.BJS defines recidivism as a re-offense by those previously in the criminal justice system. The bureau breaks down offenses into three categories: arrest, guilty conviction, and return to prison. BJS started collecting data on recidivism in 2005, tracking prisoner records over a five-year time period. The most recent data available is from 2017. The data includes prisoner records released by 34 states, representing 80% of the state prison population nationwide. The data excludes federal prisons. It also excludes state or county jails, where people are awaiting trial or sentencing, or serving less than one year of incarceration.Former prisoners face many challenges after being released, including finding employment, housing, or receiving healthcare. A BJS study found that one-third of federal prisoners released in 2010 did not find employment within four years. Additionally, a Census Bureau study found former prisoners who were employed earned $10,000 less per year than their peers with similar educational backgrounds.How do recidivism rates differ between demographic groups?Recidivism rates are the highest for those first arrested before turning 18. The rates are lowest for those who were first arrested at 40 years or older, staying below 30%. Recidivism rates also decrease as individuals get older, regardless of the age of first arrest.
May 14, 2023Who spends more of their income on housing in the US?
Fifty-two percent of renters and 23% of homeowners were housing-burdened in 2022, according to the Census Bureau. Both figures are lower than they were in 2010 but higher than they were in 2019 and 2021.How much of one’s income should go toward housing?The Department of Housing and Urban Development considers those who pay more than 30% of their income on housing to be “housing-burdened.” The department recommends having at least 70% of income available for expenses beyond housing.
Nov 23, 2023State of the Union: The words, the facts, the data
Here’s the data behind President Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address.We analyzed the words in his latest address to Congress, alongside every such speech since 1980. From immigration to war, here’s an analysis of each president’s words.
Dec 4, 2019Traffic stop data reveals racial discrepancies in police enforcement
Traffic stops are a routine occurrence in the United States, but what happens during those stops can vary significantly depending on the driver’s race.According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 6% of Black and Hispanic Americans pulled over for traffic stops were searched or arrested, the most of any other groups. Americans in “all other” racial categories were searched or arrested 4% of the time.
May 5, 2023Black Americans make up 13% of the US population. They make up 23% of COVID-19 deaths.
Just as the data shows that people’s experiences with COVID-19 vary from one part of the country to another, the pandemic has also affected demographic groups differently.Months of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) underscore these disparities. For example, a CDC report from April examined data on a sample of 580 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and found that only 45% of the individuals for whom demographic data was available were white, though white people made up 59% of the surrounding community. At the same time, 33% of hospitalized patients in the sample were Black, compared to 18% in the community, and 8% were Hispanic, compared to 14% in the community. The report suggested that Blacks are overrepresented among hospitalized patients.
Sep 22, 2020How do voting laws differ by state?
For many of us, “voting” conjures an image of people going to a ballot box on Election Day, but the way voters submit ballots varies from state to state. Some have in-person voting, others have mail-in ballots. Some states allow early voting, and others have day-of voting only.The Constitution sets some election rules, including the date of the general election, restrictions on voting rights, and the prohibition of poll taxes. Congress can also pass laws to protect the right to vote, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prevents discriminatory practices like race-based voting restrictions, or the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which allows overseas military personnel and other American citizens living abroad to vote. (These are two of six congressional voting laws.)But since because elections are typically administered by counties, relevant laws are also made at the state and local level, or passed by ballot initiatives and referendums.What are the voter registration methods and timelines in each state?Most states provide at least two of three registration options: online registration, mail-in registration, and in-person registration. The requirements and timelines for each vary by state. One state, North Dakota, doesn’t require voter registration at all.Nineteen states and Washington, DC, allow same-day in-person registration. Two of the nineteen — Hawaii and Vermont — allow same-day online registration as well. Vermont is also the only state that accepts mail-in registrations received by or on Election Day. The other 31 states require would-be voters to register anywhere from one to 30+ days in advance.
Apr 1, 2024How many kids are in foster care?
Foster care is intended to provide a temporary stable home for children who cannot safely remain in their current situations due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The federal foster care program, known as title IV-E, funds services that are managed locally — in 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and tribes with approved title IV-E plans.The most recent report from 2021 shows that an estimated 606,031 children passed through the US foster care system over the course of one year. This number, from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), represents both the children who were already in the system at the beginning of the federal fiscal year (October 1, 2020) and the children who entered into the system over the next 12 months. On the last day of the fiscal year, September 30, 2021, approximately 391,098 kids were in foster care.The Department of Health and Human Services set up AFCARS to collect foster care and adoption data from each of the title IV-E jurisdictions. The program tracks the number of children who enter and exit foster care, who are adopted, and who are waiting to be adopted.The program also reports the number of children waiting to be adopted after their parents’ parental rights were terminated as of the last day of the fiscal year. In 2021, that number was 64,985.How has the number of children in foster care changed?Over the last two decades, the number of children in foster care has declined each year, with the exception of a five-year span between 2013–2018.
Aug 23, 2023How much electricity would it take to power all cars if they were electric?
In 2022, California became the first state to require all new cars and light trucks sold to be zero emission vehicles by 2035. Because several states have laws or rules on the books agreeing to follow California’s vehicle emission standards, about 34% of states in the US are expected to follow suit. While electric vehicles (EVs) currently represent a modest proportion of the automotive market, sales of all types of EVs are expected to continue growing in the near-future.This raises questions over how much more electricity would be needed to power these cars, and how much more cost-effective EVs are per mile.Based on 2019 data, the US would need to produce 20-50% more electricity in a year if all cars were EVs.According to data from the Department of Energy (DOE), the cost of powering EVs is approximately 35-75% cheaper than the cost for gas-powered vehicles per mile.Since generating electricity often relies on the use of fossil fuels, switching to EVs won’t eliminate vehicle-related emissions of greenhouse gases. The emission rates for EVs would vary by state based on how electricity is generated.
May 15, 2023What does living at the poverty line look like?
In 1963, a statistician for the Social Security Administration named Mollie Orshansky developed what we commonly refer to as the poverty line — a federal marker that indicates who is poor in America.Before then, the government lacked a method to measure how many families struggled to afford basic necessities. Orshansky drew from her experience as a former Department of Agriculture (USDA) economist. She based her calculations on one of the most critical expenses for a family: its food bill. By tallying the cost to feed a family of four, based on a no-frills food plan developed by the USDA, she calculated the corresponding income needed to cover these meals plus living expenses.Orshansky applied this model to create 124 poverty thresholds, accounting for age, gender, family size, and other designations.What does the poverty line look like today?To this day, the Census Bureau issues its poverty thresholds based on Orshansky’s work. These figures take into account household size and income, as well as other factors, such as age. These poverty thresholds are used for statistical purposes to calculate the number of Americans living in poverty. They are also the starting points from which federal “poverty guidelines” are calculated.According to the most recent report issued in January 2023, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $29,960. For an individual, the poverty threshold is $14,891.The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues its poverty guidelines based on the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. They’re used to determine the financial eligibility for certain government programs, including Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as SNAP or sometimes referred to as food stamps), the National School Lunch Program, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Sep 18, 2023More than half a million US households live with plumbing poverty
Most Americans consider their access to running water a given.But according to American Community Survey (ACS) data from the Census Bureau, 522,752 US households lacked complete plumbing access in 2021. Of these households, 347,943 didn’t have a bath or a shower, 419,971 lacked hot or cold running water, and 246,884 had neither.This lack of access is sometimes known as plumbing poverty. The term is specifically defined to refer to a household that does not have hot and cold running water and/or lacks an indoor bathtub or shower.How has lack of plumbing changed over time?Plumbing poverty levels have fluctuated over the past two decades. Between 2019 and 2021, an additional 50,661 American households lacked a bath or shower. Plus, 53,705 more households didn’t have hot or cold running water, and 48,351 additional households lacked both.The last time plumbing poverty exceeded current levels was in 2011, when 499,903 households were without a bath or a shower, 536,397 households lacked hot or cold running water, and 398,435 households had neither.
Oct 19, 2023How many people are in the US military? A demographic overview
As of September 2023, the US military consisted of 2.86 million people worldwide. The CIA reports that the US has the world’s third-largest active military by size, surpassed only by China and India in 2023.These forces are spread across six main service branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and, as of 2019, the Space Force – all tasked to protect and service the US.The makeup of the US military has changed over time due to external circumstances, like war and geopolitical tension, and internal change, such as the end of racial segregation and the inclusion of women into the armed forces.How many people are in the military?The military includes 2,079,142 military personnel and 778,539 civilians as of September 2023. The US military's strength of 2.86 million troops is slightly greater than the population of Chicago, Illinois, the country's third-largest city.Of those military members, the Department of Defense (DoD) listed nearly 1.29 million people as active-duty troops, and 767,238 as national guard/reserves.Military forces not in the total include retired or standby reserves, along with the 38,825 members of the Coast Guard, which are operated by the Department of Homeland Security and not the DoD.
Feb 21, 2024Which jobs have the highest representation of Asian Americans?
Asian Americans’ contributions to the US workforce are as varied and diverse as the demographic group itself.Asian Americans make up a disproportionate share of high-paying occupations in computer science, math, engineering, health, and business. But they are also highly represented in lower-paying personal care and service work.The Asian Americans demographic is a complex group with people from a range of distinct nationalities and backgrounds. As a result, the occupations of Burmese or Vietnamese Americans, for example, tend to differ drastically from those of Chinese or Indian Americans.Asian Americans are highly represented in several high-paying occupations — but also lower-paying personal care services roles.Asians make up 6.6% of the US workforce. In computer and math occupations, though, they make up 23.3%, or a 16.7 percentage point overrepresentation, the highest of any field. This field includes software developers and computer systems analysts.Asian Americans are also more represented in relatively high-paying architecture, engineering, and life and social science occupations. They’re 36.4% of computer hardware engineers and 43.1% of medical scientists, where median weekly earnings are $2,277 and $1,544. respectively.At the same time, Asian Americans are a disproportionate share of personal care and services workers, including hairdressers, childcare workers, and nail stylists. Asian Americans make up 10.1% of employees in those roles and are 73.1% of manicurists and pedicurists specifically. The median weekly earnings for manicurists and pedicurists in 2022 was $677, 36% below the national average of $1,059.The demographic is least represented in the construction and extraction field, comprising 1.7% of the workforce. This is an underrepresentation of 4.9 percentage points.
May 1, 2023Who funds the FAA? You, whenever you fly
The majority of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) budget comes from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF), established by the Treasury Department in 1970 to support American aviation infrastructure. It collects revenue by taxing domestic flight tickets, international arrivals and departures, air cargo, plane fuel, and travelers’ purchases in loyalty and frequent flier programs.Passenger taxes are applied at the time of ticket purchase. Domestic passenger tickets were taxed at 7.5% in 2023. Flights between the continental US and Hawaii or Alaska added another $10.60 per passenger. These taxes contribute to the FAA’s budget.
Feb 14, 2024Which states have the highest and lowest childcare costs?
The National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) reports that the median annual cost of care for a single child — depending on provider type, child age, and county — can require up to 19.3% of a family’s income. The Department of Health and Human Services sets the affordability benchmark for childcare at no more than 7% of a family’s annual income, meaning the average cost of childcare is unaffordable for many families.Recent NDCP analysis reveals which states have the highest costs for childcare for children of various ages and in different locations.Center-based care refers to childcare that is outside of the child's home, typically in a commercial building or attached to a place of worship.
Jan 10, 2024What are the demographics of Hispanic voters?
Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority group in the US, and greater attention has been placed on the Hispanic vote over the past few election cycles. In 2020, around 13% of citizens over 18 were Hispanic, and Hispanic voters cast around 11% of ballots, according to Census data.Hispanic voters are younger on average, turn out at lower rates, and are most concentrated among states near the American Southwest.Where are most Hispanic voters located?Hispanic Americans hold the highest shares of the voting-age citizen population in states along the US-Mexico border. New Mexico had the highest, with 36% of this demographic identifying as Hispanic, followed by California, Texas, and Arizona. In 2020, these four states, in addition to Nevada and Florida, had at least 20% of eligible voters identify as Hispanic.These states also had the greatest Hispanic vote share in 2020. In four states (New Mexico, California, Texas, and Arizona), more than 20% of votes cast in 2020 were by Hispanic citizens. Maine had the least, with less than 1% of votes cast by Hispanic voters.
Oct 19, 2022How the Census collected race and ethnicity data from 1790 to 2020
The Constitution requires a census every 10 years. How the government counts people by race has changed substantially over the decades. Racial categories emerged, disappeared, and came back again. Ethnicity became a category distinct from race in the 1980 census because Hispanic people can be of any race. Today, the Census Bureau notes that all race data is based on self-identification. It also states the racial and ethnic categories in census questionnaires “generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and [are] not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically.”Reviewing how the Census handled questions of race and ethnicity over the decades sheds light on how the government viewed its people. Changes in how the government collects and counts race and ethnicity data since the first census have affected everything from congressional representation to the enforcement of civil rights laws to the funding of federal programs.Please note: Several historical government terms for specific races or ethnicities could be considered offensive to modern readers.A timeline from 1790 to 2020 shows how census race and ethnicity questions have evolved.In the first census in 1790, the federal government collected race data in three categories: free white people, “all other free persons,” and slaves. Three-fifths of the slave count went towards a state’s population figures used to determine apportionment of congressional seats.The “all other free persons” included free Black and a subset of Native Americans who lived under US jurisdiction. Other Native Americans were considered “Indians not taxed,” a term used in the Constitution to refer to the Native population who lived outside of US jurisdiction. Native Americans would not be fully included in a count until 1900.
May 26, 2021Is hurricane season getting worse?
In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revised its 2023 hurricane outlook and predicted an above-normal hurricane season, with a 70% of chance of 14-21 named storms, of which 6-11 could become hurricanes, and 2-5 could become major hurricanes.Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean runs from June to the end of November, with the most activity occurring in mid-August through mid-October. NOAA issues its predictions for the season in May each year. Predictions include the number of hurricanes, major hurricanes, and named storms that will occur.This year marks the fourth year in a row that NOAA predicted an above-normal hurricane season. A "normal season" is defined as seven hurricanes, with three of those hurricanes being Category 3 or higher.
Oct 5, 2023What’s behind all these cases of unruly aircraft passengers?
On January 2, 2021, a man aboard a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Kansas City, Missouri, from Orlando, Florida, was detained by law enforcement for allegedly assaulting fellow passengers. According to the report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he became violent “because someone in his row would not change seats to accommodate his travel partner.” The FAA fined him $32,500.The next day, on a Frontier Airlines flight that had just landed in New York City, a passenger allegedly attempted to gain entry to the flight deck while deplaning, assaulting two flight attendants and threatening to kill one of them. The captain called for law enforcement to meet the man upon exiting the plane. He was fined $30,000.Reports of air-rage and disruptive behavior such as these on US airlines hit an all-time high in 2021, according to the FAA. On January 13, 2021, the FAA implemented its “zero tolerance” policy.That year, the FAA received 5,973 reports of unruly passengers from airlines. That was up 492% from the 1,009 reports in 2020. But that spike didn’t just reflect a rebound from an unusually slow 2020 due to COVID-19. In 2019, there were 1,161 incidents. There were 899 in 2018 and 544 in 2017.
Aug 15, 2023What are ballot propositions and how many are on the ballot in 2022?
On Election Day, 133 ballot propositions will be voted on across 37 states and Washington, DC. Most of these propositions were put on the ballot by state legislators but some were a result of citizen-initiated petitions.Several states will vote on ballot propositions on similar topics. Five states will vote on statutes and amendments related to abortion access. Six states will vote on measures related to elections with four states voting to change the ballot proposition process itself.
Nov 3, 2022How many pedestrians and cyclists are killed by cars in America?
A record number of pedestrians and cyclists were killed in car crashes in 2020, according to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.This historical high occurred along with increases in fatal car crashes overall, despite a decrease in vehicle miles traveled for the year.Making streets more accessible to walking and biking can improve community health, increase interactions between residents, and improve local economies. However, without infrastructure to support pedestrians and cyclists alongside drivers, walking and biking can be dangerous.In the most recent National Household Transportation Survey, 10.5% of trips in the US were walked, and 1% were biked. However, pedestrian deaths made up around 16% of traffic crash victims, and cyclists made up 2.4% of traffic crash victims.How do pedestrian and cyclist deaths compare over time?In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians died in traffic crashes, and 938 cyclists died. Those figures were about a 4% increase in pedestrian and cyclist deaths from the previous year. This increase occurred despite a 12% decrease in vehicle miles traveled in 2020.
Apr 4, 2023How does the government support people with Section 8 housing?
Thirty-eight million people in America were living in poverty in 2022. To reduce the risk of homelessness for millions, the federal government provides financial support for people whose incomes are below a certain threshold. Just over nine million people receive housing subsidies through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 8 program.
Nov 3, 2023Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans face more substance abuse challenges than straight Americans.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans aged 18 or older were more likely than straight men and women to have a substance use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health showed that nearly one-third of bisexual men, bisexual women, and gay men and one-quarter of lesbians, had a substance use disorder in the past year.What is a substance use disorder?SAMHSA defines substance use disorders as impairments caused by the recurrent use of alcohol, drugs, or both. “Impairments” can include health problems, disabilities, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Nov 15, 2023How many Americans have Alzheimer's disease and dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease and type of dementia characterized by memory loss, poor judgment and decision-making, and a decreasing ability to complete familiar tasks. There are four stages of the disease, each with progressing levels of cognitive decline.Even as long as a decade before symptoms appear, a person can have preclinical Alzheimer’s, in which plaques begin accumulating in the brain, but cognitive changes aren’t apparent.A person with Alzheimer’s in the second and third stages may repeat questions, get lost, or have difficulty reading, writing, or thinking logically. Severe or late-stage Alzheimer’s involves an inability to communicate, a loss of awareness of surroundings, and a loss of control over bodily functions.When do most people get Alzheimer’s disease?For more than 90% of those who have Alzheimer’s in the United States, disease onset occurs in their mid-60s. This is referred to as late-onset Alzheimer’s.Early-onset Alzheimer’s can begin in a person’s 30s. It is rare and accounts for less than 10% of Alzheimer’s cases, according to the National Institute on Aging. About 200,000 people in the US have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.Older age increases the risk of Alzheimer’s. After age 65, the number of people with Alzheimer's doubles every five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For those 85 and older, the National Institute on Aging estimates that about one-third could have Alzheimer’s disease.Are certain races more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease?In addition to the disease disproportionately impacting women, Hispanic and African American populations have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.As of 2023, 6.7 million Americans over age 65 have Alzheimer’s. The CDC expects those diagnoses to hit 14 million by 2060. However, Hispanic people will be diagnosed at a rate seven times the total population estimates, and cases among African American people will increase at a rate four times the total population estimates.How does dementia vary by state?The CDC tracks how many adults experience cognitive decline over time. It is monitored as a subjective measure of whether cognitive decline or memory loss is happening more often or is getting worse over a 12-month period. This data includes those with Alzheimer’s but also includes those experiencing kinds of dementia.Dementia is not a disease but rather an umbrella term for cognitive decline that can interfere with a person’s ability to remember information and make decisions. Alzheimer’s is just one kind of dementia. Other kinds of dementia include conditions like vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia, which have similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s but different causes.Several southern states and Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Maryland, and Washington, DC, have the highest percentages of populations (14.1–16.5%) 65 and older reporting worsening cognitive function over the previous 12 months.
Aug 31, 2023Dates to know for the 2024 presidential election
Every four years, Americans elect a president on the first Tuesday in November. Beginning in January of the election year, voters participate in primaries and caucuses, influencing which presidential candidates are on the November ballot.When is the 2024 presidential election?The 2024 presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.When are the presidential primaries and caucuses?In 2024, presidential primaries and caucuses began in January and will run through June. Two states — Iowa and New Hampshire — hold a caucus and primary in January. Three states — South Carolina, Nevada, and Michigan — hold primaries and caucuses in February.Twenty-eight states and Washington, DC, hold primaries and caucuses in March, seven states begin in April, and five states begin in May. The final four states — Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota, hold primaries in June.Political parties and state law determine caucus and primary dates. Because of variations in laws and bylaws, caucuses and primaries happen over several months, and not all on a single day.Often, primaries and caucuses for different political parties happen on the same day, but sometimes, they are separated by days, or even months. The Idaho Republican caucus, for example, is scheduled for March 2, 2024, and the Idaho Democratic caucus is scheduled for May 23, 2024. Alternatively, the Utah Democratic primary and Republican caucus are both scheduled for March 5.
Mar 1, 2024Here’s how the number of Black Americans in Congress has tripled over 30 years
The current meeting of Congress is one of the most racially diverse in history. About 11% of congressional members identify as Black. A quarter of members from the 118th Congress identify as something other than non-Hispanic white, according to the most recent data from the Congressional Research Service.Congress is a ways away from 1870, when Rep. Hiram Rhodes Revel of Mississippi was elected to serve as the first Black person in Congress. Revels filled an empty Senate seat and only served a year. It was decades until Black representation really started to grow.Here’s the current state of Black Americans in Congress and what it took to get there.
Mar 22, 2023Is the American labor force getting older?
In 2022, 8.2% of people 75 and older were part of the labor force. Their colleagues included 18.4% of the Americans between ages 70 and 74, and 33.3% of those from 65 to 69.How many Americans over 65 work?In 2022, 19.2% of Americans over 65 participated in the labor force, according to the Current Population Survey from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By October 2023, that ticked up to 19.3%.How has labor force participation for older Americans changed?The labor force participation rate for Americans 65 and older decreased by 7.8 percentage points from 27% to 19.2% between 1948 and 2022. While the participation rate was lower in 2022, there were more people in the labor force in this age cohort in 2022 (10.9 million people) compared to 1948 (2.9 million people) due in part to population growth.During that period, labor force participation increased by 13.8 percentage points for Americans aged 65 to 69, 8.2 percentage points for people from 70 to 74, and 4 percentage points for folks 75 and older.
Feb 8, 2024What can McKinney-Vento Act data reveal about youth homelessness?
In the 2020–2021 school year, around 1.1 million public school students, or 2.2% of all enrolled students, were identified as experiencing homelessness. This count comes from the Department of Education, which tracks children and youth homelessness through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.The McKinney-Vento Act is the primary federal law providing educational access for homeless youth, allocating $92 million to public school districts in 2019. It is used to fund everything from personal school supplies, transportation to school, and fees for class projects. In the process, it collects data on student homelessness. The data reveals challenges in identifying students experiencing homelessness, especially after the school shutdowns following COVID-19, as well as getting resources to these students and preventing adverse outcomes.How does the McKinney-Vento Act define homelessness?The act defines homeless children and youths as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This includes situations such as:Staying with friends or relatives due to economic hardshipLiving in hotels, motels, trailer parks, or camping grounds without a choiceStaying in emergency or transitional sheltersLiving in public spaces such as parks or abandoned buildingsMigratory studentsThis definition is broader than other governmental definitions of homelessness. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development only counts youth living with relatives as homeless if there is documentation that they will lose housing within 14 days. The act’s more expansive definition allows more students to access services, such as transportation to and from school or basic school supplies.How many students experience homelessness?In the 2020–2021 school year, 1.1 million public school students were identified as experiencing homelessness. Of these students, 76.8% lived temporarily with others due to loss of their own housing, (known as “doubled-up"); 10.9% lived in shelters and 7.8% lived in hotels or motels.
May 15, 2023Has COVID-19 disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic Americans?
In 2020, COVID-19 death rates for Black and Hispanic people were higher than rates for non-Hispanic white and Asian people across age groups. More than 0.5% of Black and 0.7% of Hispanic people aged 65 to 74 died from COVID-19 — higher than the 0.2% of non-Hispanic white people in this age group who died from coronavirus.
Mar 1, 202110 facts for Black History Month
The Black population in the US outnumbers the total population of any single state. It’s impossible to distill the experience of any population — or any individual — into data points, but government data offers some insight into how the broader Black American experience has changed in recent years.Here are 10 data points that speak to the experience of some Black Americans.
Feb 15, 2024How do runoff elections work?
Some states hold runoff elections when no candidate in an election wins more than 50% of the votes. In those cases, the two candidates who received the most votes advance to another round of voting. Voters return to the polls to choose between the two, ensuring that the winner will have earned the majority of the votes.What states hold runoff elections?Runoff elections are commonly triggered by primaries in which partisan voters are choosing between more than two candidates to decide who will represent their parties in the general elections. As of 2024, nine states schedule runoffs for their congressional primaries: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. Most states have pre-set dates for runoffs, usually two to eight weeks after the initial election.Most of these runoffs take place automatically on the scheduled dates if no candidate clears 50% in the primary election, but some states add specific wrinkles: In North Carolina a runoff only happens when the runner-up candidate in the original primary requests it and in South Dakota, runoffs are only required if no candidate receives 35% of the vote.
Feb 28, 2024How has the role of women changed over the last 50 years?
Societal structures change from generation to generation, leading to changes in the roles women play in politics and the workforce, and childrearing. But how has women's participation in different sectors of American society changed over the last 50 years?Are more women serving in Congress?In the past four decades, women’s representation in Congress has increased substantially. Women now make up a quarter of members of Congress, which is more than double the number who served in the 106th Congress of 1999 to 2001.Women held 150 seats in the 117th Congress, which spanned January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, making up about 25% of Congress. Even though women’s participation in Congress is up 56% from a decade prior, to reach representation proportional with the population, that number would need to double.Read more about women’s participation in Congress.Has women’s participation in the workforce increased?Women’s labor force participation rate grew from 34% in 1950 to 60% in 2000, and is expected to 0.7% per year through 2050. This figure, however, varies among different demographic groups.Despite Congress passing the Equal Pay Act in 1963, a wage gap remains. In 2020, women earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even with educational advancements and entry into higher-paying fields, women tend to be more represented in lower-paying sectors.For instance, 77% of public elementary and secondary school teachers were women in the 2020–2021 school year.Even though 95% of elementary, middle and high school teachers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, their pay was lower than that of their similarly educated peers. Average earnings were $53,800 for elementary and middle school teachers, and $57,840 for high school teachers. To compare, biological scientists earn $69,880, urban and regional planners earn $79,790, and statisticians earn $96,320.Read about women’s income and teacher salary.How do women balance work and childcare?Data indicates that mothers are four times more likely than fathers to miss work due to childcare, a trend that has continued even as women’s increasing participation in the workforce. Issues such as paid parental leave complicate this picture. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act mandates a 12-week parental leave for many employees, it does not require that this leave be paid. Recent data shows that 89% of workers had access only to unpaid family and medical leave.Read more about how men and women use time differently.Women’s roles in the United States— in political arenas, the workforce, and at home—have experienced significant shifts over the decades. As women’s representation in Congress has grown, so has their participation in the labor force. But, while some disparities shrink, others persist. Understanding the data behind these trends can add context to gender roles and inform debate and policy on future equity initiatives.There’s a lot more where this came from: learn more in this interview between USAFacts’ Sasha Anderson and News Not Noise’s Jessica Yellin. Then see the differences in how men and women spend their time differently, and get the latest data by signing up for our newsletter.
Aug 17, 2023Is air travel getting more expensive?
The cost of air travel in the US is up in 2022 compared with last year. After adjusting for inflation though, the price of an average plane ticket is still decreasing over the past decade.Air traffic declined sharply at the beginning of the pandemic, but the number of flights is now near pre-pandemic levels. However, air travel’s recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic has been turbulent. Despite fewer passengers, airlines are on time less often. And prices are on the rise thanks to higher gas prices and widespread inflation, even before the upcoming holiday travel season.How have air fares changed?Recent increases in inflation mean prices have increased for most common goods and services, and air fares are no exception. The overall inflation rate from September 2021 to 2022 was 8.2% for all items in the Consumer Price Index. By comparison, airline fares saw one of the greatest 12-month increases in price for items in the index, rising 42.9% over the same time period.
Nov 18, 2022Why are US homes getting bigger while households shrink?
The population of the United States is constantly evolving, both cumulatively and year over year. But one measure of the American population is consistently shrinking: the average household size.According to the Census Bureau’s annual Current Population Survey, the average American household had 2.5 people in 2022. In 1940, the average household size was 3.7.
Sep 8, 2023How many foster kids end up in permanent homes?
The US foster care system is set up to help states provide a stable environment for children who can't safely remain in their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In 2021, an estimated 606,031 children passed through the US foster care system, with 391,098 living with foster families on a single day.Foster care includes placing children in a family foster home where the foster parent is a relative or nonrelative, group home, emergency shelter, residential facility, or child care institution.To receive federal funding, states must give preference to placing children in the home of relatives, if that relative meets the state’s child protection standards. This maintains important family and cultural bonds and can minimize trauma to the child.When does the state intervene and place children in foster care?Each state uses its own definition of child abuse and neglect based on standards set by federal law, which defines child abuse and neglect as, at a minimum, “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”As spelled out in its annual Child Maltreatment report, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says a child can be removed from their home and placed in state care if an investigation finds the child to be a victim of abuse or neglect or if they are at risk of becoming a victim.Additionally, children categorized as “nonvictims” of maltreatment may also be removed from their homes. For example, if one child is deemed to be a victim, the state may remove all of the children in that household to ensure their safety. Those children would be considered nonvictims. Another reason nonvictims may still be removed is because a parent voluntarily agrees to place them in foster care.The report details all categories of child maltreatment, including abuse that wouldn’t warrant a child being removed from their home. The latest edition, from 2021, estimated that there were 600,000 victims of maltreatment.This includes abuse perpetrated by parents or guardians and abuse perpetrated by others such as neighbors, daycare providers, or relatives. Based on data from 48 states, 113,324 victims (20.2%) and 43,252 nonvictims (1.6%) were removed from their homes and placed in foster care.How often are kids abused in foster care?According to the 2021 Child Maltreatment report, less than 1% (0.3%) of abused and neglected children were harmed by their foster parents.Comparatively, 90.6% of children were abused or neglected by parents, 5.6% by relatives, and 3.3% by an unmarried partner of a parent.
Sep 8, 2023W.E.B. Du Bois' hand-drawn charts from 1900 show the story of Black Americans through data
W.E.B. Du Bois was a pioneer in several ways, including being the first Black person to earn a doctorate from Harvard and founding what continues to be a prominent civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or NAACP.He was also a pioneer in the field of data visualization.For the 1900 Paris Exposition (sometimes also called a world’s fair), Du Bois was the lead organizer of The Exhibit of American Negroes, which examined the status of Black Americans less than four decades after the end of slavery. In addition to displaying photographs related to Black lives, the exhibit also featured two series of data visualizations researched and designed by Du Bois and his students at Atlanta University, which is now Clark Atlanta University. Government sources, including the US Census and the then-Bureau of Labor, figured prominently in the dozens of hand-drawn charts that are now housed at the Library of Congress.The first series, “The Georgia Negro,” focused on the state with the highest population of Black people at the time. “This case is devoted to a series of charts, maps and other devices designed to illustrate the development of the American Negro in a single typical state in the United States,” Du Bois wrote in an accompaniment to the opening visualization of the exhibit: a map illustrating the African slave trade.
Mar 3, 2021How does poverty affect people’s mental and physical health?
Poorer households spend a larger portion of their incomes on housing, food, and healthcare. But the challenges of poverty go beyond paying for necessities. People living in poverty are more prone to mental and physical health issues — 19.4% report regular anxiety, and a range of studies indicate an increased risk for chronic disease.What is the federal poverty level?As of January 2023, the federal poverty line is $29,960 for a family of four, or $14,891 for an individual. Households earning at or below these incomes are eligible for certain government programs, including Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, sometimes referred to as food stamps), and other welfare benefits or temporary assistance.
Nov 1, 2023Where do international adoptees come from?
American families adopted 1,517 children from abroad in fiscal year 2022, the lowest annual total in the 21st century. Nearly 40% of them were born in one of three countries: Colombia (235), India (223), and South Korea (141).How many children are adopted each year in the United States?Government data on adoptions is limited because many domestic adoptions happen privately (including stepparents adopting their stepchildren). These private adoptions don’t follow the same bureaucratic process, so government agencies are unable to track them.For adoptions that are trackable, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports 54,240 public domestic adoptions through the child welfare system in fiscal year 2021. Internationally, the State Department reported 2,971 adoptions from overseas in 2019 and 1,622 in 2020.
Feb 28, 2024How common are multigenerational households?
In 2022, there were an estimated 4.8 million multigenerational households in the US — homes with three or more generations living under one roof — equal to 3.7% of all households in the country. Those households contain 26 million people, or 8.1% of the US population.Are multigenerational households becoming more common?Multigenerational households have consistently hovered at around 3.8% of all households in the US. 2022’s rate of 3.7% was the lowest since 2010.
Dec 5, 2023