The US population grew to 331,449,281 in the 2020 Census and by 2022 the median age had climbed to 38.9 years, a reminder that the country is getting older even as new people arrive. Meanwhile, 92.8% of US kindergarteners had MMR coverage in 2022 and life expectancy inched down to 76.4 years in 2022, creating a sharp contrast between public health progress and lingering pressure. From migration and housing to schools, energy, and inequality, these statistics reveal how daily life in the United States is shaped by change happening in multiple directions at once.
Key Takeaways
- The United States population reached 331,449,281 as recorded in the 2020 Census, marking a 7.4% increase from 2010
- In 2022, the median age of the US population was 38.9 years, up from 38.2 in 2020
- As of 2023 estimates, non-Hispanic Whites comprise 58.9% of the US population, totaling about 196 million people
- US GDP nominal was $25.46 trillion in 2022, largest globally
- GDP per capita in US reached $76,399 in 2022
- Unemployment rate averaged 3.6% in 2023
- High school graduation rate 86% class of 2022
- College enrollment fall 2023: 15.2 million undergraduates
- Bachelor's degree attainment 37.7% ages 25-64 in 2022
- Renewable energy 21% of US electricity in 2023
- CO2 emissions 4.8 billion metric tons in 2022
- Forest cover 33% of US land area 310 million hectares 2023
- Obesity prevalence among US adults is 41.9% in 2017-2020 data
- Life expectancy declined to 77.5 years in 2022 from 78.8 in 2019
- COVID-19 deaths totaled 1,115,430 in US as of 2023
The US population reached 331.4 million in 2020 and is aging, with rising diversity and slowing fertility.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics30 stats
01
The United States population reached 331,449,281 as recorded in the 2020 Census, marking a 7.4% increase from 2010
02
In 2022, the median age of the US population was 38.9 years, up from 38.2 in 2020
03
As of 2023 estimates, non-Hispanic Whites comprise 58.9% of the US population, totaling about 196 million people
04
The Hispanic or Latino population grew to 62.1 million in 2020, representing 18.7% of the total US population
05
Black or African American population stood at 41.1 million in 2022, or 12.1% of the US total
06
Asian Americans numbered 20.6 million in 2022, accounting for 6.2% of the US population
07
In 2021, there were 1.88 million immigrants arriving in the US, with India as the top source country at 289,000
08
The US fertility rate in 2022 was 1.64 births per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1
09
Life expectancy at birth in the US was 76.4 years in 2022, down from 78.8 in 2019 pre-pandemic
10
Urban population in the US constitutes 82.8% of the total as of 2023
11
The largest US city by population is New York City with 8,804,190 residents in 2020 Census
12
California has the largest state population at 39,029,342 in 2023 estimates
13
US population density is 36 people per square kilometer as of 2023
14
In 2022, 18.7% of US population was aged 65 and over, totaling 62 million seniors
15
Children under 18 make up 21.7% of the US population in 2022, about 72 million
16
Native American and Alaska Native population is 3.3 million or 1.1% in 2022
17
Multiracial population surged to 33.8 million in 2020, 10.2% of total
18
Foreign-born residents are 13.9% of US population in 2022, or 46.2 million
19
US population growth rate was 0.47% in 2023
20
Wyoming has the lowest population density at 6 people per sq km
21
In 2021, 59% of US adults were married, down from 72% in 1960
22
Households headed by single women numbered 20.5 million in 2022
23
Average US household size is 2.5 people in 2022
24
10.6% of US population lives in poverty as of 2022
25
Homeownership rate is 65.7% in 2023 Q1
26
Veterans number 16.2 million in 2022, 6.3% of adults
27
LGBTQ+ identification among adults rose to 7.1% in 2022 Gallup poll
28
Religious affiliation: 63% Christian in 2021 Pew survey
29
Language: 78% speak English at home, 13% Spanish in 2019 ACS
30
Disability affects 13.6% of population or 42 million in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
America is simultaneously graying and browning, urbanizing and diversifying, as it grows more slowly, births fewer babies, and lives shorter lives, presenting a portrait of a nation in a complex and consequential demographic transition.
02 · Category
Economy29 stats
01
US GDP nominal was $25.46 trillion in 2022, largest globally
02
GDP per capita in US reached $76,399in 2022
03
Unemployment rate averaged 3.6% in 2023
04
Inflation rate (CPI) was 4.1% in 2023 annual average
05
Federal debt held by public is $26.3 trillion as of 2023
06
Stock market: S&P 500 index closed at 4,769.83 on Dec 29, 2023, up 24% YOY
07
Corporate profits after tax reached $2.8 trillion in Q4 2023
08
Labor force participation rate was 62.5% in 2023
09
Average hourly earnings for private sector rose 4.1% to $34.55 in Dec 2023
10
US exports of goods and services totaled $3.01 trillion in 2023
11
Trade deficit was $773 billion in 2023
12
Personal income increased 6.4% to $22.8 trillion in 2023
13
Median household income was $74,580in 2022, up 2.3% from 2021
14
Consumer spending drove 2.5% GDP growth in 2023
15
Manufacturing output index at 100.8 in Dec 2023 (2017=100)
16
Housing starts totaled 1.41 million units in 2023, down 1.7%
17
Retail sales reached $7.1 trillion in 2023
18
Small businesses: 33.2 million employer and nonemployer firms in 2022
19
Venture capital investment hit $170 billion in 2023 US startups
20
Federal budget deficit was $1.7 trillion in FY2023
21
Tax revenue collected $4.4 trillion in FY2023
22
Minimum wage federal is $7.25/hour since 2009, covering 1.3% of hourly workers
23
Billionaires: 756 in US with $4.5 trillion wealth in 2023 Forbes
24
Household debt totaled $17.5 trillion in Q4 2023
25
Savings rate personal was 3.8% in Dec 2023
26
Productivity growth nonfarm business sector 2.7% in 2023 Q4
27
Energy prices: Crude oil WTI average $77.58/barrel in 2023
28
Gold reserves US: 8,133 tonnes worth $500 billion in 2023
29
Cryptocurrency market cap US firms influence $1.7 trillion total in 2023 peak
Interpretation
Economy Interpretation
America appears to be a high-performance engine currently running on premium fuel, financed by a maxed-out credit card, and driven by consumers who are spending their slightly bigger paychecks while nervously glancing at the debt collector in the rearview mirror.
03 · Category
Education25 stats
01
High school graduation rate 86% class of 2022
02
College enrollment fall 2023: 15.2 million undergraduates
03
Bachelor's degree attainment 37.7% ages 25-64 in 2022
04
Student debt total $1.7 trillion owed by 45 million borrowers 2023
05
Public K-12 enrollment 49.6 million in 2022-23
06
Teacher shortage: 55,000 vacancies fall 2023
07
NAEP reading scores 8th grade 260 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019
08
Math proficiency NAEP 4th grade 236 in 2022
09
Per-pupil spending $15,424public schools 2021
10
Charter schools enroll 3.7 million students 2022-23
11
Homeschooling families rose to 3.7 million students 2022-23
12
Pell Grant recipients 6.4 million in 2022-23
13
STEM graduates 30% of bachelor's degrees 2022
14
Dropout rate 5.2% for 16-24 year olds 2022
15
Adult literacy proficiency level 3 or above 48% in 2023 PIAAC
16
Community college enrollment 5.6 million credit students 2022
17
Women earn 58% of bachelor's degrees 2021-22
18
Average teacher salary $69,544public 2022-23
19
Student-teacher ratio 15.4 to 1 public schools 2021
20
Online learning K-12 4 million full-time 2022-23
21
PhD conferrals 55,283 in 2022
22
Library visits 1.3 billion in public libraries 2022
23
SAT average score 1028 in 2023
24
ACT composite average 19.5 class of 2023
25
Federal student aid $153 billion in 2023-24
Interpretation
Education Interpretation
The system has engineered an impressive conveyor belt of credentials, but between the looming teacher vacancies, stagnant scores, and the trillion-dollar millstone of debt, it feels like we're admiring the grandeur of the library while the foundation quietly crumbles.
More related reading
04 · Category
Environment24 stats
01
Renewable energy 21% of US electricity in 2023
02
CO2 emissions 4.8 billion metric tons in 2022
03
Forest cover 33% of US land area 310 million hectares 2023
04
Protected lands national parks etc. 14% of land 2023
05
Water use total 322 billion gallons/day 2015 latest
06
Air quality PM2.5 annual average 8.4 ug/m3 2022
07
Endangered species 1,370 listed 2023
08
Plastic waste recycled 9% in 2022
09
Solar power capacity 139 GW end 2023
10
Wind power 147 GW capacity 2023
11
EV sales 1.2 million in 2023, 7.6% of new vehicles
12
National parks 63 units 85 million acres 2023
13
Freshwater withdrawal 80% for thermoelectric power and irrigation 2015
14
Ozone layer recovery Montreal Protocol US compliant
15
Wildlife refuges 568 units 150 million acres 2023
16
Greenhouse gas emissions down 2% in 2022 to 6.3 GtCO2e equiv
17
Recycling rate municipal solid waste 32.1% in 2018 latest
18
Lead emissions down 98% since 1980 to 1,080 tons 2022
19
Coral reefs US 3.5 million acres protected
20
Wildfires burned 2.7 million acres in 2023
21
Sea level rise 3.7 mm/year US coasts 1993-2023
22
Biodiversity hotspots 5 in US lower 48
23
Methane emissions 30% of GHGs from energy sector 2022
24
Clean energy jobs 3.2 million in 2023
Interpretation
Environment Interpretation
The American environmental story is a contradictory page-turner where clean energy heroes are writing a hopeful new chapter, while plastic villains lurk in the recycling bin and wildfires rage in the margins.
05 · Category
Health27 stats
01
Obesity prevalence among US adults is 41.9% in 2017-2020 data
02
Life expectancy declined to 77.5 years in 2022 from 78.8 in 2019
03
COVID-19 deaths totaled 1,115,430 in US as of 2023
04
Cancer incidence rate 442 per 100,000 in 2020
05
Heart disease death rate 165.4 per 100,000 in 2022
06
Diabetes affects 38.4 million Americans or 11.6% in 2021
07
Opioid overdose deaths 81,806 in 2022
08
Mental illness: 22.8% of adults experienced in 2022
09
Smoking rate among adults 11.5% in 2022
10
Alcohol use disorder affects 29.5 million or 10.2% adults 2022
11
Infant mortality rate 5.44 per 1,000 births in 2022
12
Health insurance coverage: 92.0% of population in 2023
13
Uninsured rate dropped to 7.7% in 2023
14
Hospital beds: 919,649 total in 2023
15
Physicians per 1,000 people: 2.6 in 2022
16
Health expenditure per capita $12,555in 2022, 17.3% of GDP
17
Vaccine coverage: 92.8% MMR for kindergarteners 2022-23
18
Suicide rate 14.2 per 100,000 in 2022
19
Alzheimer's prevalence 6.7 million aged 65+ in 2023
20
Asthma affects 24.9 million or 7.7% population 2022
21
HIV diagnoses 37,981 in 2022
22
Maternal mortality rate 22.3 per 100,000 live births 2022
23
Average sleep 6.8 hours per night for adults 2022
24
Physical inactivity 25.2% adults 2022
25
Health care spending growth 4.1% to $4.5 trillion in 2022
26
ER visits 139 million in 2022
27
Life expectancy racial gap: Black 71.8 vs White 76.4 years 2022
Interpretation
Health Interpretation
Despite pouring more money into a vast medical industry than any other nation, America's complex public health crises—from widespread obesity and declining life expectancy to soaring mental illness and deep racial disparities—reveal a society paying more to stay alive but struggling to truly live well.
Reference
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). United States Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "United States Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "United States Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-statistics.
Sources & references
56 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level