The United States is an urbanized nation, with 80.8% of its population of 305,186,613[1] residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-year 2005.[2] The mean population center of the United States has consistently shifted westward and southward, with California and Texas currently the most populous states. U.S. population growth is among the highest in developed countries, although its annual rate of 0.88% is below the world average annual rate of 1.16%.The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2008 is 2.1, which is roughly the replacement level for industrialized countries. However, the U.S. Census bureau states that the population is projected to reach 439 million in 2050,which is a 44% increase from 2008 compared to the UN projection of a world population increase of 37% for the same period. Children (people under age 18) made up a quarter of the U.S. population (24.6%), and people over age 65 one-eighth (12.7%) in 2006.
Population growth
The first U.S. census, in 1790, recorded four million Americans. By 2000, this number had grown to over 281 million. It is expected to reach 308 million by 2010 and 439 million by 2050.
U.S. population clock hits the 300 million mark
US population reaches 300 million
The total U.S. population crossed the 100 million mark around 1915, the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark in 2006 (estimated on Tuesday, October 17).[6][7] The U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century — a growth rate of about 1.3% a year — from about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. This is unlike most European countries, especially Germany, Russia, Italy and Greece, whose populations are slowly declining, and whose fertility rates are below replacement.
Population growth is fastest among minorities, and according to the United States Census Bureau's estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities.[8] In 2007, the nation's minority population reached 102.5 million.[9] A year before, the minority population totaled 100.7 million. Hispanic and Latino Americans accounted for almost half (1.4 million) of the national population growth of 2.9 million between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006.
Based on a population clock maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the current U.S. population, as of 2:30 GMT (EST+5) October 22, 2008 is 305,468,880.A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau report predicted an increase of one third by the year 2050.A subsequent 2008 report projects a population of 439 million, which is a 44% increase from 2008.
As of November 2008 the US comprises approximately 4.5% of the world's population.
Cities
United States metropolitan area and List of United States cities by population
The United States has dozens of major cities, including 11 of the 55 global cities of all types — with three "alpha" global cities: New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
The following table expresses the figures for the populations of the top ten cities and their metropolitan areas, as of July 1, 2006.
