At the forefront of issues that face humanity, many would rank climate change and overpopulation as perhaps some of the biggest existential threats. However, there are some, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who would disagree Earth cannot sustain population growth and point to population implosion as the largest threat facing humanity. Recent birth rates seem to reinforce this idea.
According to this argument, if countries with inverted population pyramids, like Japan or most of Europe, were to continue on this course over a long period of time they would vanish entirely. Population pyramids are a representation of the population by sex and age, with younger age and the bottom and older at the top, and the sexes on each side. Turning the focus to the United States, recent years suggest that there could be an inversion taking place. (Here are countries on track to shrink the most this century.)
24/7 Wall St. took a closer look at population changes throughout America’s modern history. Specifically, we reviewed the number of people born every year since 1933 using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System. We also calculated the birth rate for each year using population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data on the most popular baby names comes from the Social Security Administration.
Over the last three years, the birth rate has fallen to roughly 11 births per 1,000 people. The recent birth rates are less than half the birth rate in 1947 of nearly 26 births per 1,000 Americans — the highest rate of the years examined.
Some are suggesting that the recent COVID-19 pandemic was a contributing factor to the decline over the past few years. Even though this may be true, there has been a definitive trend lower for a long time now. The pandemic may have just further lowered the birth rate in the near term. Whether or not there will be a bounce back remains to be seen. (This is the state that will grow the most in the next 20 years.)
Here is a look at how many people were born the year you were born.
1933
> Births: 2,081,232
> Total population: 125,578,763
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1934
> Births: 2,167,636
> Total population: 126,373,773
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1935
> Births: 2,155,105
> Total population: 127,250,232
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1936
> Births: 2,144,790
> Total population: 128,053,180
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1937
> Births: 2,203,337
> Total population: 128,824,829
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1938
> Births: 2,286,962
> Total population: 129,824,939
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1939
> Births: 2,265,588
> Total population: 130,879,718
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1940
> Births: 2,360,399
> Total population: 132,122,446
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1941
> Births: 2,513,427
> Total population: 133,402,471
> Birth rate: 19 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1942
> Births: 2,808,996
> Total population: 134,859,553
> Birth rate: 21 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1943
> Births: 2,934,860
> Total population: 136,739,353
> Birth rate: 22 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1944
> Births: 2,794,800
> Total population: 138,397,345
> Birth rate: 20 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1945
> Births: 2,735,456
> Total population: 139,928,165
> Birth rate: 20 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1946
> Births: 3,288,672
> Total population: 141,388,566
> Birth rate: 23 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary
24/7 Wall St.
1947
> Births: 3,699,940
> Total population: 144,126,071
> Birth rate: 26 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
1948
> Births: 3,535,068
> Total population: 146,631,302
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
1949
> Births: 3,559,529
> Total population: 149,188,130
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
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1950
> Births: 3,554,149
> Total population: 152,271,417
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
1951
> Births: 3,750,850
> Total population: 154,877,889
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
1952
> Births: 3,846,986
> Total population: 157,552,740
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda
1953
> Births: 3,902,120
> Total population: 160,184,192
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1954
> Births: 4,017,362
> Total population: 163,025,854
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1955
> Births: 4,047,295
> Total population: 165,931,202
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1956
> Births: 4,163,090
> Total population: 168,903,031
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1957
> Births: 4,254,784
> Total population: 171,984,130
> Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1958
> Births: 4,203,812
> Total population: 174,881,904
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1959
> Births: 4,244,796
> Total population: 177,829,628
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
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1960
> Births: 4,257,850
> Total population: 180,671,158
> Birth rate: 24 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: David
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1961
> Births: 4,268,326
> Total population: 183,691,481
> Birth rate: 23 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary
1962
> Births: 4,167,362
> Total population: 186,537,737
> Birth rate: 22 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
1963
> Births: 4,098,020
> Total population: 189,241,798
> Birth rate: 22 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
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1964
> Births: 4,027,490
> Total population: 191,888,791
> Birth rate: 21 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
1965
> Births: 3,760,358
> Total population: 194,302,963
> Birth rate: 19 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
1966
> Births: 3,606,274
> Total population: 196,560,338
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
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1967
> Births: 3,520,959
> Total population: 198,712,056
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
1968
> Births: 3,501,564
> Total population: 200,706,052
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
1969
> Births: 3,600,206
> Total population: 202,676,946
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa
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1970
> Births: 3,731,386
> Total population: 205,052,174
> Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1971
> Births: 3,555,970
> Total population: 207,660,677
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1972
> Births: 3,258,411
> Total population: 209,896,021
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1973
> Births: 3,136,965
> Total population: 211,908,788
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
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1974
> Births: 3,159,958
> Total population: 213,853,928
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1975
> Births: 3,144,198
> Total population: 215,973,199
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1976
> Births: 3,167,788
> Total population: 218,035,164
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1977
> Births: 3,326,632
> Total population: 220,239,425
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1978
> Births: 3,333,279
> Total population: 222,584,545
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1979
> Births: 3,494,398
> Total population: 225,055,487
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
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1980
> Births: 3,612,258
> Total population: 227,224,681
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1981
> Births: 3,629,238
> Total population: 229,465,714
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1982
> Births: 3,680,537
> Total population: 231,664,458
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1983
> Births: 3,638,933
> Total population: 233,791,994
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
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1984
> Births: 3,669,141
> Total population: 235,824,902
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer
1985
> Births: 3,760,561
> Total population: 237,923,795
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1986
> Births: 3,756,547
> Total population: 240,132,887
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1987
> Births: 3,809,394
> Total population: 242,288,918
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1988
> Births: 3,909,510
> Total population: 244,498,982
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1989
> Births: 4,040,958
> Total population: 246,819,230
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
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1990
> Births: 4,158,212
> Total population: 249,464,396
> Birth rate: 17 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley
1991
> Births: 4,110,907
> Total population: 252,153,092
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley
1992
> Births: 4,065,014
> Total population: 255,029,699
> Birth rate: 16 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley
1993
> Births: 4,000,240
> Total population: 257,782,608
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
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1994
> Births: 3,952,767
> Total population: 260,327,021
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1995
> Births: 3,899,589
> Total population: 262,803,276
> Birth rate: 15 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica
1996
> Births: 3,891,494
> Total population: 265,228,572
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily
1997
> Births: 3,880,894
> Total population: 267,783,607
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily
1998
> Births: 3,941,553
> Total population: 270,248,003
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily
1999
> Births: 3,959,417
> Total population: 272,690,813
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
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2000
> Births: 4,058,814
> Total population: 282,162,411
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2001
> Births: 4,025,933
> Total population: 284,968,955
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2002
> Births: 4,021,726
> Total population: 287,625,193
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2003
> Births: 4,089,950
> Total population: 290,107,933
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
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2004
> Births: 4,112,052
> Total population: 292,805,298
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2005
> Births: 4,138,349
> Total population: 295,516,599
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2006
> Births: 4,265,555
> Total population: 298,379,912
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2007
> Births: 4,316,233
> Total population: 301,231,207
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily
2008
> Births: 4,247,694
> Total population: 304,093,966
> Birth rate: 14 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emma
2009
> Births: 4,130,665
> Total population: 306,771,529
> Birth rate: 13 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella
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2010
> Births: 3,999,386
> Total population: 309,346,863
> Birth rate: 13 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella
2011
> Births: 3,953,590
> Total population: 311,718,857
> Birth rate: 13 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia
2012
> Births: 3,952,841
> Total population: 314,102,623
> Birth rate: 13 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia
2013
> Births: 3,932,181
> Total population: 316,427,395
> Birth rate: 12 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Sophia
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2014
> Births: 3,988,076
> Total population: 318,907,401
> Birth rate: 13 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma
2015
> Births: 3,978,497
> Total population: 321,418,820
> Birth rate: 12 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma
2016
> Births: 3,945,875
> Total population: 323,071,342
> Birth rate: 12 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma
2017
> Births: 3,855,500
> Total population: 325,147,121
> Birth rate: 12 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Emma
2018
> Births: 3,791,712
> Total population: 327,167,439
> Birth rate: 12 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Emma
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2019
> Births: 3,747,540
> Total population: 328,239,523
> Birth rate: 11 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Olivia
2020
> Births: 3,613,647
> Total population: 331,449,281
> Birth rate: 11 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Olivia
2021
> Births: 3,664,292
> Total population: 331,893,745
> Birth rate: 11 births per 1,000 people
> Most popular boy name: Liam
> Most popular girl name: Olivia
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