For Immediate Release: Oct. 5, 2006
Contact: Ellen Carnevale, 202-939-5407
(Washington, DC) The United States is set to reach a milestone in October. It will become the third country—after China and India—to be home to at least 300 million people.
Each 100 million has been added more quickly than the last. It took the United States more than 100 years to reach its first 100 million in 1915. After another 52 years, it reached 200 million in 1967. Less than 40 years later, it is set to hit the 300-million mark. Within another 37 years, we are projected to pass 400 million.
Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) drives most population growth (nearly 60 percent annually) in the United States. This relatively high natural increase sets the United States apart from other developed countries such as Sweden and the United Kingdom, where the excess of births over deaths accounts for less growth, respectively. Other developed countries such as Germany and Italy are seeing a natural decrease, or slightly more deaths than births. International migration accounts for about 40 percent of U.S. population growth.
To read more, and to watch a webcast of a symposium on 300 million, click here.