Demographic Information
(5/12/24)- The
Social Security Administration latest date shows that 3.58 million babies were
born in the U. S. in 2023 versus 3.66 million in 2022. Liam was the most
popular name for boys and Olivia was the most popular name for girls.
As of 1995, it was estimated that
the US population was 48.8% male and 87.4% non-black, with a median age of 34.3
(33.1 for males, 35.4 for females). The median age was up from 28 in 1970. In
1995, 28.9% of the population was under twenty, and 12.7% was age 65 and over,
up from 9.8% in 1970. In 1995, about 63% of males and 59% of females 18 years
and older were married, contrasting with 74% and 70%, respectively, in 1970. In
1990, about 6.7 million Americans lived in "group quarters" including
1.8 million persons in nursing homes and 1.9 million in college dorms. In 1994
over 1 million Americans were imprisoned.
For 1994, the crude death rate
(total deaths per 1000 population) in the US was 8.8. This compares with a rate
of 9.6 for 1950, 9.5 for 1970, 8.8 for 1980, but 8.2 for 1992. Mortality is
relatively high during the first years of life; it drops by increasing age
groups to a relatively low level until the mid-40s and then begins to climb
again.
Males have a higher mortality rate
than females at all ages. Thus, as the average age of the population increases,
the female/male ratio increases as well.
In 1996, the 10 leading causes of
death by disease-specific diagnosis categories (including "symptoms and
ill-defined conditions and
"all other diseases") were heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and influenza (primarily pneumonia),
diabetes mellitus, all other infection and parasitic diseases, human
immunodeficiency virus infection and suicide.
See Article on Respiratory Infections
McGinniss and Foege (1990) went
beyond the classic list of death associated disease-specific diagnosis to the
identification of the major external (non-genetic) factors known to be causally
associated with death. They were able to attribute approximately half of all
deaths occurring in 1991 to the following 10 risk factors; tobacco use (400,000
deaths), diet and activity (300,000), alcohol use (100,000), microbial agents
(90,000), toxic agents (60,000), firearms (35,000), sexual behavior(30,000),
motor vehicle use (25,000) and use of "illicit drugs" primarily
heroin and cocaine (20,000).
In 1994, the marriage rate stood at
9.1 per 1000 population, down from 10.6 in 1970. The divorce rate, which had
been at 5.2 per 1000 population in 1980, was 4.6 in 1994, slightly over 50% of
the marriage rate. Even as the marriage rate has dropped in time, the
proportion entering in divorce has increased slightly.
In 1995, one in six Americans-41
million people- had a chronic condition needing long-term care services. Of
these more than 12 million said they needed assistance to perform activities
and were unable to attend school, work or live independently. Eighty (80)
percent of them reported that they needed assistance to live at home or in
community residential settings. The remaining 20% were residing in
institutions. Of the total 12 million who needed assistance, 57% were over 65
years of age, but 5 million (40%) were working-age adults. Children and youth
represented 3% (400,000) of those needing long-term care services. -
There are about 78 million baby
boomers and starting after June 1996, about 10,000 of these boomers will turn
50 years old everyday. Those over the age of 75 years
old are in the fastest-growing segment of the US population and by the year
2000 will constitute almost half of the elderly population.
Last year, the prevalence of
Alzheimer’s disease in the US was 2.32 million (ranges 1.09 to 4.58 million)
with approximately 68% women and 32% men (there are more women because of lower
mortality rate). At this point, 4.3% of 75-year-olds, 8.5% of all 80 year-olds, 16% of all 85 year-olds and 28% of all 90
year-olds live with Alzheimer’s disease. This places approximately 43% of all
people with Alzheimer’s disease between 75 & 85 years of age.
More than 50% of outpatients treated
at a dementia clinic exhibit problematic behaviors (aggressiveness, delusions,
agitation, anxiety, and depression) and about 20% of patients with Alzheimer’s
disease are physically aggressive.
See Articles on Alzheimer's Disease
December 1998