Big Drop in Children’s Percentage of U.S. Population

decreased by over a million between 2010 and 2020,” said O’Hare. “And it’s dropped even more steeply over the last couple of years since 2020.” how we can provide the supportive infrastructure for those families.”

The report predicts the implications for the future are huge - raising the specter of significant shortages in the labor market, which means fewer workers to generate funding for programs that help support retirees, like Medicare and Social Security.

O’Hare said other countries with an aging demographic try to encourage more prominent families by offering high-quality, free, or low-cost healthcare, childcare, and preschool.

The data also show that the number of nonHispanic white children has decreased since 2010 - while the populations of children of color have increased in 46 states, plus Washington D.C.

Mayra E. Alvarez, president of the Children’s Partnership - based in Los Angeles, said children of color make up roughly 75% of those under 18 in the Golden State.

Demographer and report co-author Bill O’Hare said American society is aging faster and faster, and younger people have fewer kids.

“The number of children

“The U.S. doesn’t do nearly as much as many other countries in supporting families with young children,” said O’Hare. “If our country is interested in having more children born, it would be good to think about

“These children today are going to be our future entrepreneurs, leaders,” said Alvarez, “our future electeds. So investing in these children is an investment in us and our future.”

Disclosure: Annie E Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children’s Issues, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Welfare Reform.