How Many People Were Born the Year You Were Born

By Chris Lange Published Sep 4, 4:00PM EDT

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Katrina-new-orleans-flooding by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Katrina-new-orleans-flooding (Public Domain) by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

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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

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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

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.