Youth Demographics

On this page:

• Young People in the Numbers
• Changes in Race and Ethnicity
• Education
• Resources

Young People in the Numbers

• There are approximately 46 million 18-to-29 year-olds currently eligible to vote in 2012

• In 2011, 18-29 year old citizens were approximately 24% of the current voting eligible population

(Source: Census Current Population Survey (CPS) March 2011 Supplement.)

• In 2010, according to the General Social Survey, young Americans (ages 18-29) said they attended religious services as follows:

Never: 27.7%
Less than once a year: 6.6%
Once a year: 14.4%
Several times a year: 9.1%
Once a month: 9.7%
Two-three times a month: 8.3%
Nearly every week: 5.8%
Every week: 14%
More than once a week: 4.4%

• There were over 32 million young residents in the United States in 2006, the majority of which were male.

• Nationally, 18-25 year-olds make up 14% of the population of eligible voters in the United States; 18-29 year-olds make up 21% of the voting eligible population. (CPS 2006)

• In 2006 there were 70 million 0-17 year-old residents, almost as many as the Baby Boomers (77 million).

• The majority of young Latinos and Asian-Americans were male in 2006. The majority of young African-Americans were female.

• Young Americans were 28 percentage points less likely to be married than they were in 1972.

• Nearly 20 percent of all young Americans were either immigrants or the children of immigrants in 2006.

Sources: 2006 Youth Demographic and Immigrant Youth Demographics

Changes in Race and Ethnicity

• Comparing the recent midterm elections, more African-American college students voted in 2010 than White college students.

• Between 1976 and 2006, the percentage of young residents who are white has steadily fallen from approximately 79% in 1976 to approximately 62% in 2006.

• The percentage of young residents who are Latinos grew 10 percentage points from 8% in 1976 to 18% in 2006.

Source: 2006 Youth Demographics

Education

High School

• 21% of 18-25 year olds do not have a high school diploma (the same as in 1972).

• Nearly 40% of young Latinos residents do not have a high school diploma.

• Approximately 22% of young African-Americans do not have a high school diploma.

College

• 50% of all 18-25 year-olds have had no college experience.

• 70% of young Latinos residents have had no college experience.

Source: 2006 Youth Demographics

* Unless otherwise noted young people are defined as 18-25 year olds.

Resources:

For more information on youth demographics:

Fact sheets:

• 2006 Youth Demographics
• Immigrant Youth Demographics

Working Papers:

2010

• Young Americans: Their Faith, Attitudes, and Values
• Joining Young, Voting Young: The Effects of Youth Voluntary Associations on Early Adult Voting
• The Classroom-Kitchen Table Connection
• Youth Attitudes toward Civility in Politics

2009

• Spiral of Rebellion: Conflict Seeking of Democratic Adolescents in Republican Counties

Research Report:

The 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Report