States With Largest Drop in Children Population

The U.S. population is getting older as the number of people who are under 15 years of age has shrunk in the past decade, and in some areas very dramatically.

Experts are blaming it on the down economy. 

William Frey, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a demography expert, says that many states have an alarmingly high number of older residents. “This is because many states in the middle of the country have experienced a long-term economic slide — losing young adult migrants, and not attracting many immigrants,” Frey says.

According to Frey, “in the longer term, the country may be ‘splitting apart’ between a more youthful, racially diverse set of Sunbelt states, and a more stagnant, aging set of northern and Midwest states — a division which will impact the politics and economies of each.”

The following is a list of the states with the largest drop in the percentage of their population who were under 15 between 2001 and 2009. 

1. Alaska 
Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -15.36%
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 25.7%
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 21.75%
Median Age 2001: 32.6 
Median Age 2009: 33.3




2. Maryland 
Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.91%
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 22.42% 
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 19.52%
Median Age 2001: 36.2 
Median Age 2009: 39.2

3. California 
Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.68%
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 24.25% 
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 21.18% 
Median Age 2001: 33 
Median Age 2009: 36.1

4. Rhode Island 
Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.68% 
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 20.11% 
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 17.56% 
Median Age 2001: 37.5 
Median Age 2009: 41

5. Hawaii 
Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.32%
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 21.36% 
Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 18.72% 
Median Age 2001: 36.7 
Median Age 2009: 39.8










Info via Realtor Mag 07/14/2011
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011071404?OpenDocument