In 2021, children between the ages of zero and 17 years old made up 22.2 percent of the total population in the United States. This is down from a peak in 1960, where children made up 36 percent of the total population in the country.
Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021
Characteristic
Percentage of total population
2021
22.2%
2020
22.4%
2019
22.3%
2018
22.5%
2017
22.6%
2016
22.8%
2015
23%
2014
23.1%
2013
23.3%
2012
23.5%
2011
23.7%
2010
24%
2009
24.2%
2008
24.4%
2007
24.6%
2006
24.7%
2005
24.9%
2004
25%
2003
25.2%
2002
25.4%
2001
25.5%
2000
25.7%
1999
25.8%
1998
25.9%
1997
26%
1996
26.1%
1995
26.1%
1994
26.1%
1993
26%
1992
25.9%
1991
25.8%
1990
25.7%
1989
25.7%
1988
25.9%
1987
26%
1986
26.2%
1985
26.3%
1984
26.5%
1983
26.8%
1982
27.1%
1981
27.5%
1980
28%
1979
29%
1978
29%
1977
30%
1976
30%
1975
31%
1974
32%
1973
33%
1972
33%
1971
34%
1970
34%
1969
35%
1968
35%
1967
35%
1966
36%
1965
36%
1964
36%
1963
36%
1962
36%
1961
36%
1960
36%
1959
35%
1958
35%
1957
35%
1956
34%
1955
34%
1954
33%
1953
33%
1952
32%
1951
32%
1950
31%
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ChildStats.gov. (September 28, 2022). Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 30, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/
ChildStats.gov. "Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021." Chart. September 28, 2022. Statista. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/
ChildStats.gov. (2022). Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/
ChildStats.gov. "Share of Child Population in The Total U.S. Population from 1950 to 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Sep 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/
ChildStats.gov, Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/ (last visited December 30, 2024)
Share of child population in the total U.S. population from 1950 to 2021 [Graph], ChildStats.gov, September 28, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/457796/share-of-child-population-in-the-total-us-population/
