The demographics of the United States are on the verge of undergoing a massive change. It’s one that will have big consequences that the country needs to be prepared for.
By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65. One of every five Americans will be retirement age, and old people will outnumber children. Former Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt tells KTRH that brings its own set of challenges.
“It has a huge consequence for things like Social Security payments. You have a much smaller percentage of the population paying into Social Security than you do withdrawing from Social Security,” Prewitt explained.
But he also says these are only projections.
“A projection is nothing but a trend line, which if not moved around by changing conditions will result in an outcome in 25 years or 200 years or what have you,” Prewitt said.
Another projection says the non-Hispanic White population will shrink to 179 million. Texas State demographer Lloyd Potter says we will see that here in Texas.
“Probably sometime between 2030 and 2040 we will start seeing a decline in the non-Hispanic white population,” Potter stated.
And along with that decline, an increase in the state's minority population.