North Carolina is getting older
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North Carolina was one of only 10 states in the country where the number of people under the age of 18 grew between 2020 and 2024, according to new Census data.
- At the same time, it was also one of the states with the fastest-growing population of people 65 years or older.
Why it matters: America's older population is growing while its younger cohort is shrinking, a trend that presents big policy and economic challenges, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes.
- Having more older Americans means we'll need more care workers, for instance.
Driving the news: 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.
- In North Carolina, the median age increased from 38.9 to 39.2 between 2020 and 2024, The News & Observer noted.
State of play: In North Carolina, the population aged 65 and up grew by 15.1% between 2020 and 2024, while the number of those under 18 grew by 1.7%.
- The state's budget office projects North Carolina's older adult population will double by 2040.
Yes, but: The share of young North Carolinians is also expected to continue to rise.
- By 2030, North Carolina will have 607,000 pre-school age children, an increase of 3.8%, according to state data, due to a larger cohort of women in their prime childbearing years.
- By 2060, the state will have 746,000 pre-school age children — a 23% increase from today.
Between the lines: The birth rate has fallen significantly in North Carolina over the past two decades.
- At the same time, the state has become an attractive place for retirees, and Brunswick, Dare and Orange counties had the largest growth in their older population, according to Carolina Demography.
Stunning stat: Still, North Carolina's demographics are younger than many states. There are now 11 states with more older adults than children, up from only three in 2020.
- They include Maine, Vermont, Florida, Delaware, Hawai'i, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
What they're saying: The gap between children and older adults "is narrowing as baby boomers continue to age into their retirement years," Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Branch, said in a statement accompanying the new data.
- "In fact, the number of states and counties where older adults outnumber children is on the rise, especially in sparsely populated areas."