PopWire: U.S. Abortion Rate Drops to New Low
The 2005 U.S. abortion rate was 19.4 per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, a 9 percent decline from 2000 and the lowest rate since 1974. The finding came from a survey of all known abortion providers in the United States. (January 2008)

Child Poverty is Highest in Rural Counties in U.S.
While many people think of poverty in the United States as primarily an urban problem, data released by the Census Bureau this week indicate that most of the counties with high child poverty rates are located in rural America. (January 2008)

Shaping Education on Global Health
In the last five years, interest in global health education has surged. But what should this education look like? What does a person need to know to be literate in global health? At a recent Population Reference Bureau policy seminar sponsored in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a panel of experts gathered to discuss their ideas and vision for global health education. (January 2008)

U.S. West and South Are Set to Gain Political Clout
In the South, Texas, Florida, and Georgia are poised to gain U.S. House seats after they are redistributed based on the 2010 Census. Texas is on track to add two seats, while Florida and Georgia could add one seat each. In the West, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah could each gain one more seat. After each decennial census, population totals in each state are used to reallocate the 435 House Seats. (December 2007)

PRB Discuss Online: "Beyond 300 Million: Regional and State Population Trends in the United States"
In October 2006, the U.S. population topped 300 million people, and continues to outpace growth in other developed countries. But population change within the United States is highly uneven, with rapid growth in the South and West, and slow growth or population loss in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast. Mark Mather, deputy director of domestic programs at PRB, led a PRB Discuss Online on U.S. regional and state population trends and their implications for the future. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (December 2007)

Immigration and America's Black Population

 Although far outnumbered by nonblack Hispanic and Asian immigrants, the number of black immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean more than tripled between 1980 and 2005. This Population Bulletin looks at black immigrants to the United States—what countries they are coming from, which states and metro areas they are living in, and what factors affected their entry into the United States. (BUL62.4; December 2007)

Effects of Migration on the Elderly Population in the District of Columbia (PDF: 932KB)
By 2030, the population of the Washington, DC metropolitan area will increase by more than 2 million, and the population age 65 and older will double. But little is known about the current and future characteristics of the older population. Using custom data tabulations from the 2000 Census, this study, conducted by Marlene Lee, senior policy analyst at the Population Reference Bureau, examines the impact of migration on characteristics of the population age 50 and older in 2000. The study was funded by the John Edward Fowler Foundation. (November 2007)

Gender Disparities in Health and Mortality
Gender differences in mortality and life expectancy vary by country. But in most countries, men live shorter lives than women. In Russia, for instance, the difference between male and female life expectancy is 13 years (59 vs. 72). In other countries, such as the United States, the male disadvantage is smaller: 5 years (75 vs. 80). And in some countries, such as Afghanistan, there is little or no male disadvantage (42 vs. 42). (November 2007)

Latinos Claim Larger Share of U.S. Military Personnel
More than 35 million Americans identify as Hispanic, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority. However, Latinos have been underrepresented in the all-volunteer armed forces, especially among officers. This is beginning to change as increasing numbers of Hispanics enter the military. Moreover, despite the traditionally masculine culture of the military and of Hispanics, the Hispanic share of military women has been increasing faster than the Hispanic share of military men. The past 20 years have witnessed dramatic increases in the percentage of Latinos (of both sexes) among active duty enlisted personnel. (October 2007)

The Growing Color Divide in U.S. Infant Mortality
How one fares in the United States has been characterized by a racial division that begins at birth with disparities in health care. Inadequate health care can have a significant effect on the future social and economic path of newborns. Despite continued improvements in the health of the African American population, black babies are still nearly 2.5 times more likely than white babies to die before reaching their first birthday. To make matters worse, recent data show rising infant mortality among blacks in some states. (October 2007)