Aging Boomers and Fewer Births Push U.S. Median Age to Record High of Nearly 39

The percentage of Americans 65 and older grew by over a third between 2010 to 2020 while the share of children declined.
The median age in the U.S. rose from 37.2 to 38.8 in the past decade due to more baby boomers turning 65 or older and millennials becoming adults.
Fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020 following the Great Recession, and birth rates have not recovered.
An aging population strains social programs like Social Security and Medicare and the ability of working adults to support them.
Immigration is necessary to avoid a declining population in the U.S. over the long run.