by Calculated Risk on 4/15/2025 08:11:00 AM
Eleven years ago, I wrote: Census Bureau: Largest 5-year Population Cohort is now the “20 to 24” Age Group. Those people are now in the 30 to 34 cohort.
This month the Census Bureau released the population estimates for July 2024 by age, and I’ve updated the table from the previous posts.
The table below shows the top 10 cohorts by size for 2010, 2024 (just released), and the most recent Census Bureau projections for 2030.
In 2024, the top 6 cohorts were under 45 (the Boomers are fading away), and by 2030 the top 7 cohorts will be under 50. Note: This is using the 2023 projections main series.
There will be plenty of “gray hairs” walking around in 2030, but the key for the economy is the large cohorts in the prime working age.
As I noted in 2014, demographics were positive for apartments, and more recently positive for homeownership.
| Population: Largest 5-Year Cohorts by Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest Cohorts |
2010 | 2024 | 2030 | |
| 1 | 45 to 49 years | 30 to 34 years | 35 to 39 years | |
| 2 | 50 to 54 years | 35 to 39 years | 30 to 34 years | |
| 3 | 15 to 19 years | 25 to 29 years | 25 to 29 years | |
| 4 | 20 to 24 years | 20 to 24 years | 40 to 44 years | |
| 5 | 25 to 29 years | 15 to 19 years | 20 to 24 years | |
| 6 | 40 to 44 years | 40 to 44 years | 45 to 49 years | |
| 7 | 10 to 14 years | 60 to 64 years | 15 to 19 years | |
| 8 | 5 to 9 years | 10 to 14 years | 50 to 54 years | |
| 9 | Under 5 years | 50 to 54 years | 65 to 69 years | |
| 10 | 35 to 39 years | 55 to 59 years | 10 to 14 years | |
Click on graph for larger image.
This graph, based on the 2024 population estimate, shows the U.S. population by age in July 2024 according to the Census Bureau.
Note that the largest age group is in the early-to-mid 30s. There are still a number of younger Boomers in their early-to-mid 60s.
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