U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce News 
                                
      EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 A.M. EDT, JUNE 4, 1999, (FRIDAY) 
                                
Public Information Office                        	  CB99-101        
301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax)
301-457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: pio@census.gov

Robert Perkins
301-457-2428

      Population Growth Rate Remains Stable, Census Bureau Reports

  The United States resident population increased by 2.6 million people,
although it's rate of growth was less than 1 percent, between July 1, 1997
and July 1, 1998, according to national estimates released today on the
Internet by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The population
rose from 267.7 million to 270.3 million. The growth rate is consistent
with annual growth rates since 1972, which have stayed between 0.9 percent
and 1.1 percent.

  "Over the course of a decade, this growth can really add up," said
Census Bureau analyst Robert Perkins. "To put things in perspective, the
21.5 million people added to the nation's resident population between
April 1, 1990 and July 1, 1998 equals the July 1998 resident populations
of Texas and Nevada combined." (The nation's resident population increased
from 248.8 million to 270.3 million people over the time period.)

  Other highlights of the July 1998 estimates include:

  -  From April 1, 1990 to July 1, 1998, the White resident population
     grew from 208.7 million to 223.0 million people. The African American
     resident population increased from 30.5 million to 34.4 million, the
     Asian and Pacific Islander resident population increased from 7.5
     million to 10.5 million and the American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut 
     population increased from 2.1 million to 2.4 million. The national 
     resident population of Hispanics, who may be of any race, grew from 
     22.4 million to 30.3 million people.

  -  People 85 years of age and older constitute a rapidly growing age
     group, with their population increasing by 34.1 percent, or more than
     one million residents, from April 1, 1990 to July 1, 1998. Reflecting
     the aging of the "Baby Boomer" generation, the 45 to 64 age group
     also grew rapidly, increasing by 24.0 percent, or 11.1 million
     residents. Other age groups grew more slowly, including the 0 to 17
     age group (5.9 million residents, or 9.3 percent), 65 to 84 age group
     (2.3 million residents, or 8.2 percent) and 18 to 44 age group (1.2
     million residents, or 1.1 percent).

  -  The median age for United States residents increased from 32.8 years
     on April 1, 1990 to 35.2 years on July 1, 1998. The median age for
     men increased from 31.6 years to 34.1 years in that time period, 
     while the median age for women increased from 34.0 years to 36.3
     years.

                              -X-

The U.S. Census Bureau, pre-eminent collector and disseminator of timely,
relevant and quality data about the people and the economy of the United
States, conducts a population and housing census every 10 years, an
economic census every five years and more than 100 demographic and
economic surveys every year, all of them evolving from the first census in
1790.