Slow Growth Is Still Growth
- NPG
- April 29, 2021
- NPG Commentary
- 5 Comments
Slow Growth Is Still Growth
22 million new people in the U.S., according to 2020 Census report
The U.S. Census Bureau released its first set of numbers from the 2020 Census on April 26, 2021. As expected, the media portrayed this as a “population bust,” according to The New York Times and CNN explained it as “marking the country’s second slowest population growth rate in U.S. history.” MSNBC stated “U.S. Census finds population growth rate at lowest since Depression,” and Fox News referred to a “growth slump.”
Reading articles like those can make you think we are failing, when in fact we should be celebrating the fact that growth is slowing down! Since our founding in 1972, NPG has called for a slow and gradual reduction in population growth to allow us, over the course of several generations, to shrink to a smaller, truly sustainable size. We should welcome news of a slow-down, and hope it marks the beginning of a new trend in U.S. demographic patterns.
However, what is often missed when reading the various articles complaining of our “slow” growth is the fact that – even in this “growth slump” – our nation still added more than 22.7 million people in the ten years since the last census. Yes, we grew at a “slower” rate than before, but we still grew significantly. In fact, we added the entire population of Florida, plus an additional 1 million people to the country in just 10 years.
Let us also not forget that we have been growing, and growing, and growing with every census since the first conducted in 1790.
A snapshot of some of those figures would include:
          1900 Census                       76.2 million
          1950 Census                       151.3 million
          2000 Census                       281.4 million
          2020 Census                       331.4 million
A slow-down of population growth is exactly what we need, and with your continued support NPG will convey this message to all who will listen. And we encourage you to do the same. So please, when you hear someone speaking about the new Census figures, remind them that slow growth is still growth – and that our nation would absolutely prosper from a slow and gradual reduction in the size of our population, with the goal of reaching a smaller, truly sustainable size.
There is much more to come from the Census Bureau in the coming months. NPG will stay abreast of the new reports and help our members and supporters understand the connections between those numbers and our broader goals.
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Peter Zakrewski
It doesn’t look too good for the world in general.
Kathleene Parker
The media understand perfectly. But, under deregulation, they aren’t about FACTS or the truth, but creating the U.S. environment beneficial to those who, UNDER DEREGULATION, are allowed to OWN ALL OUR MEDIA!
Leigh Smith
I wish the population was the same it was in 1900. Too many people here. More people more problems… less people less ponlems! I think we need population control.
Philip Leininger
I agree, we need less people, not more, it is one of the biggest threats to our way of life in the greatest country in the world.
Norma Friedemann
With population growing, the world will be running out of fossil fuels in a few years. Even with electric cars, we will still need fossil fuels for times when the sun doesn’t shine. We could see food shortages, lumber shortages, and many other natural products becoming expensive or scarce. Highways will be crowded.