Friday Factday: Older Population Set to Outnumber Children in 2035 in the U.S.

The U.S. Census Bureau forecasts that by 2035, for the first time in the country’s history, the 65 and over population will outnumber those under 18 years old.  This benchmark national demographic shift results from both an increase in longevity and a decline in birth rates (which is characteristic of developed economies).  In the Atlanta Metro region, the forecast is a bit different, as the under-18 population continues to outnumber the 65- and-over population through 2040, at the 5-, 10-, and 20-county levels.

To explore the demographic comparison at the county level, we created the interactive dashboard below.  Explore the dashboard to highlight data by county and age groups.  Notice that the share of under-18 population is forecast to remain higher than the 65-plus share in all counties except Fayette and Cobb.

For a desktop version of the dashboard, click here.