Beneath the iconic skyline of a nation built by immigrants lies a population of over 331 million people, a number that tells only the first chapter in the unfolding story of America's dynamic demographics, economy, and societal health.
Key Takeaways
- United States population is 331,449,281 as per 2020 Census.
- Median age in United States is 38.5 years (2020).
- United States birth rate is 11.9 births/1,000 population (2021 est.).
- US GDP nominal $21.43 trillion (2020 est.).
- US GDP per capita $65,120 (2020 est.).
- US GDP growth rate -3.4% (2020 est.).
- Total land area of US 9,147,593 sq km.
- Total water area 685,924 sq km (US).
- Coastline length 19,924 km (US).
- US life expectancy total population 77.3 years (2019).
- Life expectancy males 74.8 years (2019 US).
- Life expectancy females 80.2 years (2019).
- US high school graduation rate 86% (2019).
- Bachelor's degree or higher 38% adults 25+ (2020).
- Public school enrollment 49.5 million (fall 2019).
The United States has a large, diverse, and aging population with a strong service-based economy.
Demographics
1United States population is 331,449,281 as per 2020 Census.
Verified2Median age in United States is 38.5 years (2020).
Verified3United States birth rate is 11.9 births/1,000 population (2021 est.).
Verified4United States death rate is 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.).
Directional5Net migration rate to United States is 2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.).
Single source6United States urban population is 82.5% of total population (2021).
Verified7Sex ratio at birth in United States is 1.05 male(s)/female.
Verified850.8% of US population is female (2020 census).
Verified9Largest racial group in US is White alone 75.8% (includes Hispanic).
Directional10Hispanic or Latino population in US is 18.7% (2020).
Single source11Black or African American alone 13.4% of US population (2020).
Verified12Asian alone 5.9% of US population (2020 census).
Verified13American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1.3% (2020).
Verified14Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 0.2% (2020).
Directional15Two or more races 2.8% of US population (2020).
Single source16Foreign-born persons in US 13.7% (2019).
Verified17US population density 36 people per sq km (2021).
Verified18Life expectancy at birth total 80.3 years (2021 est.).
Verified19Infant mortality rate 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2021).
Directional20Total fertility rate 1.84 children born/woman (2021 est.).
Single source21US population under 60% urbanized historically but now 83%.
Verified22White non-Hispanic 57.8% (2020 census).
Verified23Sex ratio 65+ years 0.73 male/female.
Verified24Dependency ratios youth 27.2 (2020).
DirectionalDemographics Interpretation
America, a maturing and still diversifying nation of over 331 million, is essentially in a demographic holding pattern—aging, urbanizing, and just barely replacing itself, while immigration gently nudges its growth forward.
Economy
1US GDP nominal $21.43 trillion (2020 est.).
Verified2US GDP per capita $65,120 (2020 est.).
Verified3US GDP growth rate -3.4% (2020 est.).
Verified4Inflation rate in US 1.2% (2020 est.).
Directional5Unemployment rate in US 8.1% (2020 est.).
Single source6US public debt 133.4% of GDP (2020).
Verified7Exports of goods and services $2.53 trillion (2019 est.).
Verified8Imports of goods and services $3.41 trillion (2019 est.).
Verified9Current account balance -$480.2 billion (2019 est.).
Directional10US stock market capitalization $50.8 trillion (2020).
Single source11Labor force in US 164.5 million (2020 est.).
Verified12US corporate tax rate 21% (federal, 2021).
Verified13Average hourly earnings $29.96 (private nonfarm payrolls, May 2021).
Verified14US federal budget deficit $3.1 trillion (FY 2020).
Directional15Household debt $14.96 trillion (Q4 2020).
Single source16US manufacturing output $2.33 trillion (2019).
Verified17Services sector 77% of US GDP (2019).
Verified18Agriculture sector 1.6% of US GDP (2019).
Verified19Industry sector 18.9% of US GDP (2019).
Directional20Top export machinery including computers $207 billion (2019).
Single source21US oil production 18.49 million bbl/day (2018).
Verified22US median household income $68,700 (2019).
Verified23Gini index 41.5 (2016 est. US inequality).
Verified24US reserves $538.3 billion (31 Dec 2020 est.).
Directional25Commercial bank prime lending rate 3.25% (31 Dec 2020).
Single source26US national debt $28.2 trillion (Oct 2021).
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
America is a fabulously wealthy, service-driven, and deeply indebted economic powerhouse where the stock market soars while the median household merely treads water, all fueled by the world's enduring appetite for our debt and our iPhones.
Education
1US high school graduation rate 86% (2019).
Verified2Bachelor's degree or higher 38% adults 25+ (2020).
Verified3Public school enrollment 49.5 million (fall 2019).
Verified4Student-teacher ratio elementary 15.3:1 (2019).
Directional5College enrollment 19.6 million (fall 2019).
Single source6Education expenditure 5.0% of GDP (2017).
Verified7Literacy rate 99% (age 15+ 2019 est.).
Verified8Unemployment youth 15-24 years 8.6% (2020).
Verified9PISA math score US 478 (2018).
Directional10PISA reading score US 505 (2018).
Single source11PISA science score US 502 (2018).
Verified12US school dropout rate 5.2% (16-24 no diploma, 2019).
Verified13Female literacy 99% (2019 est.).
Verified14Male literacy 99% (2019 est.).
Directional15Median school life expectancy 16 years.
Single sourceEducation Interpretation
Despite near-universal literacy, a respectable high school graduation rate, and significant investment, the United States education system grapples with a sobering chasm between widespread basic competency and the advanced skills needed to compete globally, as reflected in middling PISA scores and a bachelor's degree attainment that lags far behind its own high school completion.
Geography
1Total land area of US 9,147,593 sq km.
Verified2Total water area 685,924 sq km (US).
Verified3Coastline length 19,924 km (US).
Verified4Maritime claims territorial sea 12 nm (US).
Directional5Elevation extremes lowest point Death Valley -86 m.
Single source6Elevation extremes highest point Denali 6,190 m.
Verified7Natural resources coal, copper, lead, etc. (US).
Verified8Land use arable land 16.8% (US 2018 est.).
Verified9Irrigated land 234,000 sq km (US 2017).
Directional10Renewable water resources 1.806 trillion cu m (2017).
Single source11Natural hazards tsunamis, volcanoes, tornadoes (US).
Verified12Environment current issues air pollution, etc. (US).
Verified13Total renewable energy consumption 8% of total (2018).
Verified14US largest city New York 18.8 million metro (2020).
Directional15Second largest Los Angeles 12.2 million (2020).
Single source16Number of islands over 100,000 (US territories).
Verified17Major rivers Mississippi-Missouri 3,960 km.
Verified18Climate mostly temperate, but varies greatly.
Verified19Area comparative slightly larger than China and EU combined.
Directional20Volcanism most recent eruption 2021 Great Sitkin.
Single source21Major urban areas NYC, LA, Chicago (2021).
VerifiedGeography Interpretation
The United States is a geographic powerhouse with a climate for every mood, a landscape from awe-inspiring to agriculturally abundant, and enough urban sprawl and natural tantrums to remind everyone that bigger isn't always simpler.
Health
1US life expectancy total population 77.3 years (2019).
Verified2Life expectancy males 74.8 years (2019 US).
Verified3Life expectancy females 80.2 years (2019).
Verified4Infant mortality rate 5.6 per 1,000 live births (2019).
Directional5Obesity adult prevalence rate 42.4% (2016).
Single source6Diabetes prevalence 10.5% adults (2018).
Verified7HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate 0.4% (2020 est.).
Verified8Physicians density 2.6 per 1,000 people (2018).
Verified9Hospital beds density 2.9 beds/1,000 people (2017).
Directional10Drinking water source improved 97% (2017 est.).
Single source11Sanitation facility improved 100% (2017 est.).
Verified12Maternal mortality rate 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017).
Verified13Cancer incidence men 392 per 100,000 (2018).
Verified14Heart disease death rate 165.3 per 100,000 (2019).
Directional15Opioid overdose deaths 21.6 per 100,000 (2020 provisional).
Single source16COVID-19 cases 34 million confirmed (as of Oct 2021).
Verified17COVID-19 deaths 600,000+ (as of Oct 2021).
Verified18Tobacco use 14% adults (2019).
Verified19Alcohol consumption 8.3 liters pure alcohol per capita (2019).
Directional20Suicide rate 16.1 deaths/100,000 (2019).
Single sourceHealth Interpretation
It appears the U.S. has meticulously engineered a society of advanced sanitation and medical access, only to have its life expectancy held hostage by an internal syndicate of cheeseburgers, opioids, and despair.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 2CIAcia.govVisit source
- Reference 3WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 4IMFimf.orgVisit source
- Reference 5BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 6TAXFOUNDATIONtaxfoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CBOcbo.govVisit source
- Reference 8NEWYORKFEDnewyorkfed.orgVisit source
- Reference 9BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 10EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 11CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 12COVIDcovid.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 13WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 14NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 15DATAdata.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 16OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 17FISCALDATAfiscaldata.treasury.govVisit source