America is a nation of profound change, where a graying population is reshaping communities, an economy is navigating turbulent waters, and our collective health is telling a complex story.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, the United States had a population of 331,449,281 people according to the decennial census
- The median age in the United States in 2023 was 38.9 years, up from 38.2 in 2020
- As of 2022, 13.7% of the U.S. population identified as Black or African American alone
- The U.S. GDP in 2023 was $27.36 trillion in nominal terms
- Unemployment rate in the U.S. averaged 3.6% in 2023
- U.S. federal debt held by the public was $26.3 trillion as of Q4 2023
- Life expectancy at birth for males in the U.S. was 73.8 years in 2021
- Obesity prevalence among U.S. adults was 41.9% in 2017-2020
- COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. totaled 1,118,992 as of May 2023
- High school graduation rate was 86% for public high school students in 2019-20
- 38% of U.S. adults aged 25+ had a bachelor's degree in 2022
- Average undergraduate tuition and fees at public four-year institutions was $9,750 in 2023-24
- U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 6,343 million metric tons CO2 eq. in 2022
- Forest cover in the U.S. was 755 million acres or 33% of land area in 2023
- Renewable energy consumption was 8.2 quads or 12.9% of total U.S. energy in 2022
The United States is an aging nation growing slowly with a diverse and largely urban population.
Demographics
1In 2020, the United States had a population of 331,449,281 people according to the decennial census
Verified2The median age in the United States in 2023 was 38.9 years, up from 38.2 in 2020
Verified3As of 2022, 13.7% of the U.S. population identified as Black or African American alone
Verified4In 2021, 19.1% of Americans were foreign-born, totaling about 44.8 million people
Directional5The U.S. fertility rate in 2022 was 1.64 births per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1
Single source6Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. in 2021 was 76.1 years, down from 78.8 in 2019 due to COVID-19
Verified7In 2022, 59.3% of the U.S. population lived in urban areas defined as urbanized areas or clusters
Verified8Households headed by married couples accounted for 47.8% of all U.S. households in 2022
Verified9The poverty rate in the United States was 11.6% in 2022, affecting 38.9 million people
Directional10In 2023, California had the largest state population at 38,940,231
Single source11As of 2022, 18.7% of Americans had a bachelor's degree or higher for those aged 25 and older
Verified12The U.S. population density in 2020 was 93 people per square mile
Verified13In 2021, 6.1% of the U.S. population was aged 75 and older
Verified14Hispanic or Latino population made up 19.1% of the U.S. total in 2022
Directional15Asian Americans comprised 6.3% of the U.S. population in 2022
Single source16In 2022, the U.S. had 128.5 million households
Verified17Veterans numbered 16.2 million in the U.S. civilian population aged 18 and over in 2022
Verified18In 2023, the U.S. population growth rate was 0.49%
Verified19People under 18 years old were 21.7% of the U.S. population in 2022
Directional20In 2022, 82.5% of Americans aged 25 and older had at least a high school diploma
Single sourceDemographics Interpretation
America is a graying, suburbanized, and increasingly diverse nation that is barely replacing itself, navigating a tightrope between education and poverty, all while trying to recover from a pandemic that reminded us just how fragile our collective lifespan really is.
Economy
1The U.S. GDP in 2023 was $27.36 trillion in nominal terms
Verified2Unemployment rate in the U.S. averaged 3.6% in 2023
Verified3U.S. federal debt held by the public was $26.3 trillion as of Q4 2023
Verified4Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate was 4.1% for 2023 annually
Directional5U.S. exports of goods and services totaled $3.05 trillion in 2023
Single source6Corporate profits in the U.S. reached $3.4 trillion before tax in 2023 Q4
Verified7Median household income in the U.S. was $74,580 in 2022
Verified8U.S. personal savings rate was 3.8% in December 2023
Verified9The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 37,689.54 on December 29, 2023
Directional10U.S. trade deficit was $773.4 billion in 2023
Single source11Housing starts in the U.S. averaged 1,410,000 units annually in 2023
Verified12Retail sales in the U.S. increased 3.8% in 2023 adjusted for inflation
Verified13Federal Reserve interest rate (federal funds rate) was 5.25-5.50% at end of 2023
Verified14U.S. manufacturing output grew 0.9% in 2023
Directional15Labor force participation rate was 62.5% in 2023 average
Single source16Average hourly earnings for private sector workers rose 4.1% in 2023
Verified17U.S. current-account deficit was $818.3 billion in 2023
Verified18Venture capital investment in U.S. startups totaled $170.6 billion in 2023
Verified19U.S. budget deficit was $1.7 trillion for fiscal year 2023
Directional20S&P 500 total return was 26.29% in 2023
Single source21U.S. oil production averaged 12.9 million barrels per day in 2023
Verified22Personal consumption expenditures increased 2.5% in 2023 real terms
Verified23U.S. GDP per capita was $81,632 in 2023 nominal
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
The U.S. economy appears to be a very well-paid, hard-working individual who is nonetheless living in a spectacularly expensive house they bought with an enormous, high-interest credit card, while nervously watching their retirement account soar.
Education
1High school graduation rate was 86% for public high school students in 2019-20
Verified238% of U.S. adults aged 25+ had a bachelor's degree in 2022
Verified3Average undergraduate tuition and fees at public four-year institutions was $9,750 in 2023-24
Verified4Student loan debt totaled $1.61 trillion owed by 42.6 million borrowers in Q4 2023
Directional5PISA 2022 math score for U.S. students was 465, ranking 28th among OECD countries
Single source694% of U.S. public schools offered instruction in English language arts in 2020-21
Verified7Federal K-12 education funding was $82.8 billion in FY 2023
Verified8Chronic absenteeism affected 26% of students in 2021-22
Verified957% of Asian students proficient in math at grade 8 NAEP 2022
Directional10Teacher shortage in special education was 90% unfilled positions in 2023
Single source1115-year-olds spent 6.3 hours/week on homework in PISA 2022
Verified12Pell Grant recipients numbered 6.4 million in 2022-23
Verified1349% of U.S. adults read below 6th grade level per PIAAC 2017
Verified14STEM bachelor's degrees awarded: 228,043 in 2021-22
Directional15Public school per-pupil expenditure averaged $15,424 in 2021
Single source1671% of 9th graders graduated high school on time in 2020-21 adjusted cohort
Verified17NAEP grade 4 reading score averaged 217 in 2022
Verified18College enrollment fell 15% from 2019 to 2023 peak to trough
Verified1962% of recent high school completers enrolled in college in 2022
DirectionalEducation Interpretation
We have created a high-stakes system that, despite commendable efforts and substantial investment, sees too many students graduate into debt, too many struggle with basic literacy, and too few teachers to meet urgent needs, leaving us with a costly apparatus that is not yet reliably producing the widely educated citizenry a modern democracy demands.
Environment
1U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 6,343 million metric tons CO2 eq. in 2022
Verified2Forest cover in the U.S. was 755 million acres or 33% of land area in 2023
Verified3Renewable energy consumption was 8.2 quads or 12.9% of total U.S. energy in 2022
Verified4Endangered species listed: 1,360 animals and 928 plants as of 2023
Directional5Annual precipitation average across contiguous U.S. was 30.23 inches in 2023
Single source6Solar power generation reached 164 billion kWh in 2023, up 36% from 2022
Verified7Protected land area: 640 million acres or 28% of U.S. land in 2023
Verified8Plastic waste generation: 42 million tons in 2018 latest data
Verified9Wind power capacity installed: 148,014 MW at end of 2023
Directional10Average U.S. temperature anomaly was +2.45°F above 20th century average in 2023
Single source11Coastal wetlands loss: net gain of 58,000 acres from 2009-2019
Verified12EV sales: 1.2 million new electric vehicles in 2023
Verified13Municipal solid waste recycled/composted: 32.1% in 2018
Verified14Drought covered 22% of contiguous U.S. on average in 2023
Directional15Mercury emissions from U.S. sources: 3.7 tons in 2020
Single sourceEnvironment Interpretation
While we're diligently measuring every hopeful uptick in renewables and conservation, the stubborn, suffocating tonnage of our emissions and waste suggests we're still trying to outrun a crisis by politely quickening our stroll.
Health
1Life expectancy at birth for males in the U.S. was 73.8 years in 2021
Verified2Obesity prevalence among U.S. adults was 41.9% in 2017-2020
Verified3COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. totaled 1,118,992 as of May 2023
Verified4Infant mortality rate was 5.44 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
Directional590.6% of U.S. children aged 0-17 had health insurance in 2022
Single source6Cancer incidence rate was 439.3 per 100,000 in 2020
Verified7Heart disease caused 695,547 deaths in 2022
Verified8Diabetes prevalence among adults was 11.6% in 2021
Verified9Opioid overdose deaths reached 81,806 in 2022
Directional1092.0% of U.S. adults had a usual source of health care in 2022
Single source11Maternal mortality rate was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021
Verified12Suicide rate was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2021
Verified1310.6% of adults reported serious psychological distress in past month in 2022
Verified14Vaccination coverage for MMR among children 19-35 months was 93.4% in 2022-23
Directional15Hospitalization rate for flu was 105.4 per 100,000 in 2022-23 season
Single source1617.3% of adults smoked cigarettes in 2022
Verified17Alzheimer's disease death rate was 35.0 per 100,000 in 2021
Verified188.4% of population had asthma in 2022
Verified19Stroke death rate was 37.4 per 100,000 in 2022
Directional2091.4% of U.S. youth aged 12-17 had health insurance in 2022
Single sourceHealth Interpretation
Despite having one of the world's most expensive healthcare systems, the American health profile resembles a luxury car stuck in traffic: impressive on paper with high coverage rates, yet critically hampered by preventable, chronic roadblocks like obesity, heart disease, and despair that are shortening our journey and making the ride unnecessarily rough.
Sources & References
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