Over the last 10 years, the United States population grew at the second slowest rate since the government started recording data in 1790.
The primary cause? A massive deceleration in immigration and a declining birth rate.
The Census Bureau also reported changes to the nation’s political map: the longtime trend of the South and West gaining population - and the congressional representation that comes with it - continued, with Texas gaining two seats and Florida gaining one, as reported by the New York Times.
This new data will be used to redistrict congressional seats and thus, the Electoral College.
At a news conference Monday, secretary of commerce Gina Raimondo declared the latest census count to be “complete and accurate,” however questions and challenges will likely surface when detailed demographic files are released publicly.
Indeed, one thing is for certain: the South and West are the focal point for population and power, making up 62 percent of the entire country. States like Texas, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina have drawn Americans away from expensive and cold communities and states
In total, six states gained two congressional seats each: Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas. Meanwhile, seven lost a seat: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The declining U.S. population trend has been a frequent topic addressed by Human Events Senior Contributor and national thought leader Charlie Kirk. On his podcast, back in August of 2020, Charlie did an extended segment on the matter.
“The United States fertility rate in 2006 was around 2.1 children per woman, what demographers call the replacement rate, versus what 1.5 is for the European Union,” he said. “Now, the United States rate is below 1.7, and that's no longer even assured. It's going to drop further. We need to take a pause and we need to ask ourselves, why are people not having children? And this is something that I think the Republicans get so wrong.”
Kirk noted that economics plays a huge role in the steady population decline.
“Republicans get this so unbelievably wrong because they say, well, it's because of nothing but culture. I think it plays a big role, probably the biggest role. But it's not the only role. It's not the only input in the equation. It's not the only ingredient in the recipe. Economics plays a huge role in this. People don't think they can afford children anymore. And they're right. Look how expensive it is to have children, what we are up to right now is population collapse,” he said.
“That's right, if these trends continue and the entire world becomes some variation of Aspen, Colorado, where some homes are going for 2000 dollars a square foot cash, where they're paying 28, 30, 40 million dollars a home, and the underclass in Aspen, Colorado, don't own anything. And they can't have children. They can't take someone out. They can't take someone out to a date, let alone accumulate wealth. What does that mean for our country?,” he asked.
“Well that means we are going to see widespread population calamity,” he said. “This is not even a question anymore of the replacement rate of natural born Americans.”
