Senior population grows while minors decrease
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Illinois' older population is growing while its younger cohort is shrinking, per new census data.
Why it matters: This demographic trend, seen across the nation, presents big policy and economic challenges, including needing more care workers for an aging population.
The big picture: The U.S. population aged 65 and up grew by 13% between 2020 and 2024, the Census Bureau says, while the number of those under 18 fell by 1.7%.
- The U.S. median age hit a new record high of 39.1 in 2024, up from 38.5 in 2020.
Zoom in: In Illinois, the senior population grew by 10.9% while minors fell by 6.4%.
Stunning stat: 11 states — Maine, Vermont, Florida, Delaware, Hawai'i, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia — now have more older adults than children, up from only three in 2020.