Outlook for U.S. population growth

Between 1990 and 2020 the number of Americans is projected to increase by approximately 31 percent or to 325.9 million. However, gains among the various racial groups will differ markedly. The Asian-American population is expected to more than double while both whites and African Americans will have gains of less than 50 percent. During this period the number of whites as a percentage of the total population is projected to decline from 84 to 78 percent. Changes in state populations may be influenced by disparities in racial growth patterns. Those in the South and the West are expected to continue to growth at the expense of states in the Northeast and Midwest. Particularly rapid gains are forecast for the states of the Pacific and Mountain divisions. By 2020 it is expected that nearly 50 million persons will live in California, Texas will have 25.6 million inhabitants, Florida 19.5 million. The largest percent changes in the U.S. resident population between 1990 and 2020 will be in those persons over age 44. The largest relative increase (126 percent) is expected to be among persons aged 85 and older.