Immigrants and young vital for US economy, US populatrion at 301 m

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Washington, Jan 2 (UNI) A steady stream of immigrants to the United States and moderate growth keep the nation's population younger than any other developed countries, according to the US Census Bureau, which projects population in the United States on New Year's Day to be 301 million people.

A US government publication quoted William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution here, having said that ''younger population growth keeps the economy and society vital.

''With people coming into our country from around the world, as a population overall, we have become more open to new ideas,'' Mr Frey said.

The US population has been growing about one per cent yearly since 1950, and nearly 40 per cent of that growth is due to 'foreign-born' individuals coming into the country.

The US Census Bureau uses the term foreign-born to refer to anyone who is not a US citizen at birth. This includes naturalised US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or immigrants, refugees, students and illegal immigrants.

Many industrialised countries do not come close to having as many immigrants and young children of immigrants as the United States, according to the demographer. As a result, with a fertility rate of just 1.1 per female in many industrialised countries, including in Japan and Europe, their populations are aging.

The larger elderly segments of these societies place demands on health and social resources.

Just 12 per cent of the US population is over the age of 65, yet, Mr Frey said, like all industrialised countries, the US faces a rapidly aging population. That figure is expected to jump to 20 per cent by the year 2025. Nearly 20 per cent of Japan's population is already over the age of 65.

He said that an aging population, especially when it includes large numbers of people over age 85, can strain a country's economy.

''One trend that might slow economic problems caused by an aging population is an increasing tendency by older Americans, particularly women who are well-educated, to continue working after retirement age, either part-time or in small businesses,'' the demographer said.

According to the Census Bureau, in January this year, the US is expected to register one birth every eight seconds and one death every 11 seconds. Immigration to the United States is expected to add one person every 27 seconds. The result is an increase in the total population in the United States of one person every 15 seconds.

UNI

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