Last week, the US Census Bureau released its Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, revealing significant demographic shifts. The U.S. population aged 65 and older surged by 3.1% (to 61.2 million) from 2023 to 2024, while the population under age 18 decreased by 0.2% (to 73.1 million), marking a noteworthy change in the country’s demographic landscape.
The data show the population continued to age, with the share of the population age 65 and older steadily increasing from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024, and the share of children declining from 25.0% to 21.5%.
Between 2020 and 2024, the older population increased by 13.0%, significantly outpacing the 1.4% growth of working-age adults (ages 18 to 64), while the number of children declined by 1.7%. This rapid aging of the population has profound implications for the economy and social services.
“Children still outnumber older adults in the United States, despite a decline in births this decade,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch. “However, the gap is narrowing as baby boomers continue to age into their retirement years. In fact, the number of states and counties where older adults outnumber children is on the rise, especially in sparsely populated areas.”
Both Lake County and Cook County have significantly older populations compared to state and national averages, a common demographic trend in many rural areas.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts, almost 30% of Lake County’s 10,981 residents are 65 years or older (as of July 1, 2023). In Cook County, more than 30% of its 5,500 residents are 65 or older.
These figures highlight that the Arrowhead has a significantly larger proportion of its population in the 65+ age bracket compared to the national average of 18%.
Additional details may be found at the Census Bureau website, www.census.gov.
