Kids' population share shrinks in big metros
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Young children's share of the population dropped across major U.S. metros over the past two decades, census data shows, mirroring national trends.
Why it matters: Nationwide factors are at play, including birth and death rates as well as immigration.
By the numbers: Among the 50 biggest metros, Salt Lake City (-3.2 percentage points), San Jose (-3pp) and Los Angeles (-2.8pp) had the biggest dips in young children's share of their overall population between 2005 and 2024.
- Phoenix (-2.8pp), Denver (-2.6pp) and Atlanta (-2.5pp) also had sizable drops.
- That's compared with -1.6pp among the U.S. broadly, and includes children younger than 5.
- Boston is -1.6.
The big picture: The U.S. birth rate hit a record low in 2024, while life expectancy is approaching 80 following a pandemic-era dip.
- Those data points might suggest children will make up less of the overall population over time — fewer kids, more older folks.
Between the lines: Falling birth rates are fueling concerns about economic growth and societal change in some corners, particularly among "pro-natalist" conservatives.