Virginia's older population is growing as its younger cohort shrinks
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Virginia's older population is growing while its younger cohort is shrinking, per new census data.
The big picture: The demographic trend could present policy and economic challenges.
- Older Virginians need more medical care at a time when those services are facing nationwide workforce shortages.
- Meanwhile, slower growth in Virginia's younger population can affect the state's future workforce.
By the numbers: In Virginia, the population of those aged 65 and older grew by 13.7% between 2020 and 2024 while the number of those under 18 fell by 1.5%, according to the Census.
- Yes, but: There are still over 336,000 more kids in Virginia than people 65 and up.
Stunning stat: Only 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.
The bottom line: America's not getting any younger.
Sabrina's thought bubble: Selfishly, I wonder if this is also why we barely see new dancing bars or clubs crop up and instead get breweries with cornhole.