How Many People Were Born the Year You Were Born

By John Harrington Updated Jan 11, 9:20AM EST · Published Apr 10, 10:16PM EDT

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How Many People Were Born the Year You Were Born — © FatCamera / Getty Images

The United States has the world’s third-largest population, behind China and India, with about 328.7 million people as of April 9, 2019.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the country, a person is born every 8 seconds, one death occurs every 11 seconds, and an immigrant arrives every 33 seconds — and later most likely moves to one of these states. It adds up to a net gain of one person in the United States every 17 seconds.

Yet even in a time of economic growth and little military conflict overseas, America’s population growth is nearly stagnant. Census estimates from a report in December say America’s population grew by just 0.6% for the period between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018. The U.S. fertility rate slid to its lowest level ever in 2017 — the most current year for which data are available — with 60.2 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Even so, America’s population continues to rise because of immigration and longer life expectancy. People are spreading west and south, making these states the fastest-growing in the country. The southern part of the nation is now the most populous region of the United States.

After sluggish birth rates during the Great Depression, the United States topped more than 3 million births in one year for the first time in 1946, which demographers consider to be the start of the Baby Boom that lasted until 1964. From 1954 to 1964, America exceeded more than 4 million births annually during a period of extended prosperity and peace. The United States would not top 4 million births per year again until 1989, as the Cold War was ending.

Click here to see how many people were born the year you were born.

To determine how many people were born the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of births and the birth rate per 1,000 people from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Statistics of the United States report series. Population figures were from the U.S. Census Bureau. The most popular names for each year came from the Social Security Administration.

> Births: 2,081,232
> Population: 125,578,763
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 2,167,636
> Population: 126,373,773
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,155,105
> Population: 127,250,232
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.9
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 2,144,790
> Population: 128,053,180
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,203,337
> Population: 128,824,829
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.1
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 2,286,962
> Population: 129,824,939
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,265,588
> Population: 130,879,718
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.3
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,360,399
> Population: 132,122,446
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 2,513,427
> Population: 133,402,471
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,808,996
> Population: 134,859,553
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,934,860
> Population: 136,739,353
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 2,794,800
> Population: 138,397,345
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 2,735,456
> Population: 139,928,165
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 3,288,672
> Population: 141,388,566
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 3,699,940
> Population: 144,126,071
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

> Births: 3,535,068
> Population: 146,631,302
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

> Births: 3,559,529
> Population: 149,188,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

> Births: 3,554,149
> Population: 152,271,417
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.6
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

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> Births: 3,750,850
> Population: 154,877,889
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

> Births: 3,846,986
> Population: 157,552,740
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

> Births: 3,902,120
> Population: 160,184,192
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 4,017,362
> Population: 163,025,854
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,047,295
> Population: 165,931,202
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,163,090
> Population: 168,903,031
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 4,254,784
> Population: 171,984,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,203,812
> Population: 174,881,904
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,244,796
> Population: 177,829,628
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,257,850
> Population: 180,671,158
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.7
> Most popular boy name: David
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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> Births: 4,268,326
> Population: 183,691,481
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

> Births: 4,167,362
> Population: 186,537,737
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 22.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 4,098,020
> Population: 189,241,798
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

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> Births: 4,027,490
> Population: 191,888,791
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.1
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 3,760,358
> Population: 194,302,963
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 3,606,274
> Population: 196,560,338
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

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> Births: 3,520,959
> Population: 198,712,056
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 3,501,564
> Population: 200,706,052
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 3,600,206
> Population: 202,676,946
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

> Births: 3,731,386
> Population: 205,052,174
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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> Births: 3,555,970
> Population: 207,660,677
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,258,411
> Population: 209,896,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,136,965
> Population: 211,908,788
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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> Births: 3,159,958
> Population: 213,853,928
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,144,198
> Population: 215,973,199
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,167,788
> Population: 218,035,164
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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> Births: 3,326,632
> Population: 220,239,425
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,333,279
> Population: 222,584,545
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,494,398
> Population: 225,055,487
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,612,258
> Population: 227,224,681
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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> Births: 3,629,238
> Population: 229,465,714
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,680,537
> Population: 231,664,458
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,638,933
> Population: 233,791,994
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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> Births: 3,669,141
> Population: 235,824,902
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

> Births: 3,760,561
> Population: 237,923,795
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 3,756,547
> Population: 240,132,887
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

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> Births: 3,809,394
> Population: 242,288,918
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 3,909,510
> Population: 244,498,982
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 4,040,958
> Population: 246,819,230
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 4,158,212
> Population: 249,464,396
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

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> Births: 4,110,907
> Population: 252,153,092
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

> Births: 4,065,014
> Population: 255,029,699
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

> Births: 4,000,240
> Population: 257,782,608
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

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> Births: 3,952,767
> Population: 260,327,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 3,899,589
> Population: 262,803,276
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

> Births: 3,891,494
> Population: 265,228,572
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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> Births: 3,880,894
> Population: 267,783,607
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 3,941,553
> Population: 270,248,003
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 3,959,417
> Population: 272,690,813
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,058,814
> Population: 282,162,411
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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> Births: 4,025,933
> Population: 284,968,955
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,021,726
> Population: 287,625,193
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,089,950
> Population: 290,107,933
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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> Births: 4,112,052
> Population: 292,805,298
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,138,349
> Population: 295,516,599
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,265,555
> Population: 298,379,912
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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> Births: 4,316,233
> Population: 301,231,207
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

> Births: 4,247,694
> Population: 304,093,966
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emma

> Births: 4,130,665
> Population: 306,771,529
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.5
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

> Births: 3,999,386
> Population: 309,346,863
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

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> Births: 3,953,590
> Population: 311,718,857
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.7
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

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> Births: 3,952,841
> Population: 314,102,623
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.6
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

> Births: 3,932,181
> Population: 316,427,395
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

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> Births: 3,988,076
> Population: 318,907,401
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.5
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

> Births: 3,978,497
> Population: 321,418,820
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

2016
> Births: 3,945,875
> Population: 323,071,342
> Birth rate (per 1,000) 12.2
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

2017
> Births: 3,855,500
> Population: 325,147,121
> Birth rate (per 1,000) 11.7
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Emma

About the Author John Harrington →

I'm a journalist who started my career as a sportswriter, covering professional, college, and high school sports. I pivoted into business news, working for the biggest newspapers in New Jersey, including The Record, Star-Ledger and Asbury Park Press. I was an editor at the weekly publication Crain’s New York Business and served on several editorial teams at Bloomberg News. I’ve been a part of 24/7 Wall St. since 2017, writing about politics, history, sports, health, the environment, finance, culture, breaking news, and current events. I'm a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.