WASHINGTON - Reflecting a continued shift of U.S. population to the
South and West, Florida, California and Texas will make up nearly half
of total U.S. population growth between 2000 and 2030, the Census Bureau
said Thursday.
In new state population projections, the bureau said Florida, now the
4th most populous state, should edge past New York into 3rd place by
2011, while California and Texas will continue to rank 1st and 2nd,
respectively, in 2030.
Ariz., N.C. growing quickly
These three states would each gain more than 12 million people between
2000 and 2030, accounting for 46 percent of total U.S. population growth
during the period. Arizona, meanwhile, is projected to add 5.6 million
people, and North Carolina, with 4.2 million, would round out the top
five numerical gainers.
As a result, Arizona and North Carolina would move into the top 10 in
total population by 2030 with Arizona rising to 10th place from 20th
place in 2000 and North Carolina would rise to 7th place from 11th
place. Michigan and New Jersey are projected to drop out of the top 10.
The bureau said the projections were produced by its Population Division
based on data from the 50 states and the District of Columbia from the
2000 census. They represent the result of a mathematical projection
model that assumes the continuation of current state-specific trends in
fertility, mortality and domestic and international migration.
The projections indicate that the five fastest-growing states between
2000 and 2030 would be Nevada, at 114 percent over the period, Arizona
at 109 percent, Florida at 80 percent, Texas at 60 percent and Utah at
56 percent.
The Census Bureau said 88 percent of the nation’s population growth
between 2000 and 2030 should occur in the South and West, which also
will contain the 10 fastest-growing states over the period.
The share of the population living in the South and West will increase
to 65 percent in 2030 from 58 percent in 2000, according to the Census
Bureau projections. The share of population in the Northeast and Midwest
would decline to 35 percent in 2030 from 42 percent in 2000.An aging country
In 2000, each of the nation’s 50 states had more people under 18 than 65
and older. In 2030, 10 states are projected to have more people 65 and
older than under 18: Florida, Delaware, Maine, Montana, New Mexico,
North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
As the oldest baby boomers become senior citizens in 2011, the
population 65 and older is projected to grow faster than the total
population in every state, the bureau said. In fact, 26 states are
projected to double their 65-and-older populations between 2000 and
2030. |