1990 US Population | Demographics Statistics & Facts

US Population in 1990

The year 1990 marked a significant demographic milestone in American history, as the nation conducted its 21st decennial census on April 1st. This comprehensive enumeration revealed that the United States had reached 248,709,873 residents, representing a substantial 9.8 percent increase over the 226,545,805 people counted in the 1980 census. The 1990 census was conducted by the Bureau of the Census under the U.S. Department of Commerce, covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and outlying areas under U.S. jurisdiction. This census became particularly noteworthy for its technological innovations, including the debut of the TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) system, which revolutionized geographic data collection and mapping capabilities, enabling more precise identification of neighborhoods, streets, and boundaries than ever before in census history.

The 1990 US population data collection involved distributing questionnaires to approximately 106 million housing units across the nation, with roughly 16 percent of households receiving the extended long-form questionnaire containing detailed questions about social, economic, and housing characteristics. This census marked a pivotal transition period in American demographics, capturing the nation as baby boomers entered middle age, immigration patterns shifted dramatically following the 1965 Immigration Act, and the American economy transformed from manufacturing dominance toward service and technology sectors. The enumeration process achieved remarkable coverage, though like all censuses, faced challenges including an estimated undercount that particularly affected minority communities and those in poverty. The data gathered during this census would serve as the constitutional foundation for congressional reapportionment, electoral redistricting, and the allocation of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding throughout the entire decade of the 1990s.

Interesting Stats & Facts about the 1990 US Population

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population and Housing; U.S. Census Bureau Population Projections 2025

The 1990 census represents a watershed moment in demographic documentation, with the official count of 248,709,873 people establishing a new benchmark for understanding population dynamics as the nation approached the 21st century. The 9.8 percent growth rate from 1980 to 1990, translating to 22.164 million additional Americans, reflected robust population expansion driven by immigration liberalization, relatively healthy birth rates among baby boom children entering prime reproductive years, and improved life expectancy that allowed more Americans to reach advanced ages. This growth rate, while substantial, represented a deceleration from earlier decades when baby boom births and the Great Migration created explosive population increases in certain regions.

California’s achievement of reaching nearly 30 million residents in 1990 cemented its status not just as America’s most populous state but as a global demographic powerhouse, with a population exceeding that of most countries and economic output rivaling entire nations. The technological innovation of the TIGER system revolutionized census geography by creating the first digital map database of the entire United States, enabling precise geographic coding of every address and facilitating the production of detailed maps showing population distribution, demographic characteristics, and neighborhood boundaries with unprecedented accuracy. The foreign-born population of 19.8 million or 7.9 percent marked a significant increase from earlier decades, though still well below the historic peaks of the early 20th century when immigrants comprised over 14 percent of the population. Comparing the 1990 population of 248.7 million to today’s projected 341.1 million as of January 2025, we observe a remarkable 37.1 percent increase over 35 years, equivalent to adding 92.4 million Americans—more than the combined populations of California and Texas in 1990. The median age increase from 30.0 years in 1980 to 32.9 years in 1990 signaled the aging of the baby boom generation and foreshadowed the demographic challenges of supporting an increasingly elderly population that would intensify in subsequent decades.

Male and Female Population Distribution in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics

The gender distribution in the United States in 1990 revealed a continued female majority, with 127,470,455 women comprising 51.3 percent of the total population compared to 121,239,418 men representing 48.7 percent. This sex ratio of approximately 95.1 males per 100 females reflected persistent demographic patterns rooted in biological and social factors, including differential mortality rates throughout the lifespan and the long-term demographic shadows cast by major 20th-century wars. The female population exceeded the male population by approximately 6.23 million people, a gap that remained significant though slightly smaller in proportional terms than the 1980 differential, as medical advances and workplace safety improvements gradually reduced male excess mortality while women’s longer life expectancy continued.

This gender imbalance in 1990 varied considerably across different life stages, with males slightly outnumbering females among children and young adults due to the biological tendency for slightly more male births, while females increasingly predominated in older age cohorts. Among Americans aged 65 and older, women substantially outnumbered men, creating a demographic reality where elderly widowhood remained overwhelmingly a female experience, with profound implications for Social Security, Medicare, nursing home care, and family support systems. The gender dynamics of the 1990 US population also reflected the ongoing transformation of women’s social and economic roles, as female labor force participation had risen dramatically since midcentury, divorce rates had increased substantially, and single-parent households headed by women had become increasingly common. Understanding these gender distribution patterns in 1990 proved essential for policymakers addressing healthcare needs, designing retirement systems, planning for long-term care facilities, and developing programs addressing the economic vulnerabilities that particularly affected elderly women living alone on limited incomes, often dependent primarily on Social Security benefits that had been reduced by years spent outside the paid workforce caring for children and elderly relatives.

Age Distribution of the US Population in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Age and Sex Characteristics

The age structure of the United States in 1990 painted a portrait of a maturing nation, with a median age of 32.9 years reflecting the continued aging of the massive baby boom generation born between 1946 and 1964. The largest age cohort consisted of individuals aged 25 to 44 years, totaling 80,755,000 people or 32.5 percent of the population—an extraordinary concentration representing baby boomers in their prime earning, spending, and family-raising years. This demographic bulge created enormous economic activity, drove housing demand into suburban expansion, shaped consumer markets toward family-oriented products and services, and generated tax revenues that supported government programs while also creating intense competition for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities among this oversized generation.

The school-age population of 5 to 17 years numbered 45,250,000 or 18.2 percent, representing the children of baby boomers—the generation that would later be termed “Millennials”—who were filling elementary and secondary schools and driving educational policy debates throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The elderly population aged 65 and over had grown to 31,079,000 individuals, representing 12.5 percent of the total 1990 US population—a proportion higher than in 1980 and foreshadowing the demographic aging that would accelerate dramatically as baby boomers began reaching retirement age in subsequent decades. Young adults aged 18 to 24, numbering 26,780,000 or 10.8 percent, represented the tail end of the baby boom and Generation X, navigating a labor market transformed by deindustrialization, globalization, and the early stages of the technology revolution. The youngest cohort of children under 5 years totaled 18,354,000 or 7.4 percent, reflecting birth rates that had stabilized at levels well below baby boom peaks but remained sufficient for continued population growth. The 45 to 64 age group, comprising 46,150,000 people or 18.6 percent, consisted of the Silent Generation and older baby boomers approaching their peak earning years. This age distribution in 1990 created a still-favorable dependency ratio, though less advantageous than in 1980, with a large working-age population supporting smaller youth and elderly populations—a demographic dividend that would gradually erode as baby boomers aged and birth rates remained modest, creating fiscal challenges for Social Security, Medicare, and other age-related programs in the 21st century.

Racial and Ethnic Composition in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Race and Hispanic Origin Data

The racial and ethnic composition of the United States in 1990 reflected a nation in the midst of profound demographic transformation, with the White population totaling 199,686,070 individuals, comprising 80.3 percent of the total population—a decline from 83.1 percent in 1980 that signaled the beginning of the increasing diversification that would accelerate throughout subsequent decades. The Black or African American population numbered 29,986,060 people or 12.1 percent, showing modest growth from the 11.7 percent recorded in 1980 and continuing to represent the largest racial minority group, concentrated primarily in southern states where their ancestors had been enslaved and in northern and midwestern cities where the Great Migration had relocated millions during the 20th century.

The Hispanic or Latino population reached 22,354,059 or 9.0 percent of the total population in 1990, representing a dramatic 53 percent increase from the 14.6 million counted in 1980 and marking this rapidly growing population as a major demographic force reshaping American society. This growth stemmed from both continued immigration from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, and from higher birth rates among Hispanic families compared to other groups. The Asian and Pacific Islander population totaled 7,273,662 or 2.9 percent, nearly doubling from the 3.5 million counted in 1980 and reflecting the dramatic impact of the 1965 Immigration Act that had removed discriminatory quotas and enabled substantial immigration from China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, and other Asian nations. American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut populations numbered 1,959,234 or 0.8 percent, showing growth from 1980 that partly reflected improved census coverage and increasing willingness among Native Americans to identify with their indigenous heritage after decades of assimilation pressures. The category of Other Race, comprising 9,804,847 people or 3.9 percent, included individuals who did not identify with standard racial categories and often overlapped with Hispanic respondents who viewed Hispanic identity as distinct from traditional racial classifications. This racial and ethnic snapshot of 1990 captured America at a demographic inflection point, as declining White birth rates, continued immigration from Asia and Latin America, and growing multiracial identification began reshaping the nation’s demographic profile in ways that would intensify over subsequent decades, creating a more diverse society that challenged traditional notions of racial categories, stimulated debates over multiculturalism and assimilation, and transformed politics, education, popular culture, and social institutions in profound ways that continue reverberating into the present.

State Population Rankings in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, State Population Totals

The state population rankings in 1990 confirmed that California had solidified its dominant position as the nation’s most populous state, with 29,760,021 residents comprising 12.0 percent of the entire US population—representing the first time any state exceeded 29 million people and continuing the westward population shift that had characterized American demographics throughout the 20th century. California’s extraordinary growth from 23.7 million in 1980 to nearly 30 million in 1990 reflected the state’s powerful attraction as an economic and cultural magnet, drawing Americans from across the country and immigrants from around the world to its technology industries, entertainment sectors, agricultural operations, and diverse urban centers offering opportunities and lifestyles unmatched elsewhere.

New York maintained second place with 17,990,455 people or 7.2 percent, though its growth had been minimal compared to Sunbelt states, and it would lose its second-place ranking to Texas within the next decade as population continued migrating from the Northeast and Midwest to warmer climates and growing economies. Texas ranked third with 16,986,510 residents representing 6.8 percent, positioned for explosive growth driven by energy industries, technology development, favorable business climate, and continued immigration from Mexico and Central America. Florida had surged to fourth place with 12,937,926 people or 5.2 percent, leapfrogging Pennsylvania and reflecting the state’s extraordinary appeal as a retirement destination, tourism center, and gateway to Latin America. Pennsylvania fell to fifth with 11,881,643 residents or 4.8 percent, experiencing stagnant population as industrial decline drove younger workers to seek opportunities elsewhere. Illinois ranked sixth with 11,430,602 or 4.6 percent, anchored by Chicago but facing similar Rust Belt challenges of manufacturing job losses and population outmigration. Ohio held seventh position with 10,847,115 people or 4.4 percent, another industrial state struggling with economic transition. Michigan occupied eighth place with 9,295,297 residents or 3.7 percent, heavily dependent on a struggling automobile industry facing intense foreign competition. New Jersey and North Carolina rounded out the top ten with 7,730,188 and 6,628,637 people respectively, representing 3.1 percent and 2.7 percent of the national population. This state population distribution in 1990 captured American demographics at a pivotal moment, with traditional industrial powerhouses experiencing stagnation or decline while Sunbelt states accelerated growth, reshaping political power, economic geography, and cultural influence in ways that would fundamentally alter American society over subsequent decades as population followed jobs, climate, and opportunities to states that barely registered on the national consciousness a century earlier.

Urban and Rural Population Distribution in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Urban and Rural Classification

The urban-rural divide in the United States in 1990 revealed an increasingly urbanized nation, with 187,053,487 people or 75.2 percent residing in urban areas, while 61,656,386 individuals or 24.8 percent lived in rural communities. This urban proportion represented a notable increase from 73.7 percent in 1980, continuing the centuries-long trend of urbanization driven by economic opportunities concentrated in cities and suburbs, technological changes in agriculture that reduced rural employment, and lifestyle preferences favoring urban amenities, cultural diversity, and access to services. The metropolitan area population reached 192,725,741 or 77.5 percent, slightly higher than the urban figure because metropolitan statistical areas included some rural territory within their boundaries, capturing the sprawling development patterns of suburbs and exurbs that had transformed American settlement since World War II.

The rural population of 61.7 million in 1990 represented a declining share of American society, as young people continued leaving small towns and farming communities for educational opportunities, employment prospects, and lifestyle options available only in metropolitan areas. These rural communities, while shrinking in relative importance, remained vital for agricultural production, natural resource extraction, recreation, and preserving cultural traditions and social patterns distinct from urban life. The housing unit distribution reflected population patterns, with approximately 79,870,000 units or 75.3 percent located in urban areas versus 26,130,000 units or 24.7 percent in rural territories. The non-metropolitan population of 55,984,132 or 22.5 percent encompassed small towns, farming regions, and remote areas that often struggled with economic challenges including limited job opportunities, declining populations among younger residents, aging demographics, and inadequate access to healthcare, education, and other services readily available in metropolitan regions. This urban-rural split in 1990 established patterns that would intensify over subsequent decades, with metropolitan areas continuing robust growth through immigration, natural increase, and domestic migration from rural areas, while many rural counties experienced population stagnation or outright decline. The demographic divergence between urban and rural America in 1990 foreshadowed the increasing geographic polarization that would characterize American society in subsequent decades, as the two populations diverged not only in numbers but also in economic opportunities, educational attainment, cultural values, political preferences, and life experiences—creating two increasingly separate Americas with different challenges, priorities, and perspectives on the nation’s future direction.

Educational Attainment in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Educational Characteristics

The educational attainment levels recorded in the 1990 US census demonstrated significant progress in expanding access to education compared to previous decades, yet also revealed substantial portions of the adult population with limited formal schooling. Among Americans aged 25 and older, totaling approximately 167,500,000 individuals, the modal category was high school graduates with 58,980,000 people or 35.2 percent having completed exactly 12 years of education but not pursued additional postsecondary schooling. This represented continued progress toward making high school graduation a near-universal achievement, driven by compulsory education laws, social expectations, and economic requirements that increasingly viewed high school completion as the minimum credential for employment offering decent wages and advancement opportunities.

Those who had completed some college but earned no degree numbered 29,780,000 or 17.8 percent, while those with associate degrees totaled 9,792,000 or 5.8 percent, reflecting increased college enrollment following the GI Bill, expansion of community colleges, and growing recognition that postsecondary education yielded substantial economic returns. Bachelor’s degree holders numbered 20,833,000 or 12.4 percent, while those with graduate or professional degrees totaled 9,300,000 or 5.5 percent, representing the most educated segments of the 1990 population and enjoying significant labor market advantages in an economy increasingly rewarding credentials and specialized knowledge. At the lower end of educational attainment, 21,960,000 people or 13.1 percent had completed 9 to 12 years of schooling without graduating high school, while 17,510,000 or 10.4 percent possessed less than 9 years of formal education, often representing older Americans who came of age when educational access was more limited or immigrant populations with limited English proficiency and interrupted schooling. The overall high school completion rate of 77.6 percent for adults aged 25 and older represented dramatic improvement from 68.6 percent in 1980, yet indicated that nearly one-quarter of adults still lacked this increasingly essential credential. The college completion rate (bachelor’s degree or higher) stood at 21.3 percent, nearly double the proportion from two decades earlier but still indicating that fewer than one-quarter of adults had obtained four-year degrees. This educational snapshot of 1990 captured America at a crucial transition, as the economy increasingly demanded higher skills and credentials, making educational disparities increasingly consequential for employment prospects, income potential, and economic security in ways that would intensify dramatically over subsequent decades as globalization, technology, and industrial restructuring eliminated millions of jobs available to workers with limited education while creating expanding opportunities for those with college degrees and advanced credentials.

Housing Characteristics in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Housing, Housing Characteristics

The housing landscape in the United States in 1990 encompassed 102,263,678 total housing units, with 91,947,410 or 89.9 percent occupied and 10,316,268 or 10.1 percent vacant. The slightly elevated vacancy rate compared to 1980 reflected normal inventory turnover between occupants, seasonal vacation properties, units held for sale or rent, and housing in economically declining areas where abandonment had increased. Among occupied units, the homeownership rate stood at 64.2 percent with 59,024,811 owner-occupied homes, while 32,922,599 units or 35.8 percent were renter-occupied. This homeownership level represented a slight decline from 1980, as housing affordability challenges emerged in many markets where home prices had increased faster than incomes, particularly in coastal metropolitan areas experiencing strong population and economic growth.

The continued predominance of single-unit detached structures—the traditional single-family home—remained evident with 60,875,000 such units or 59.5 percent of all housing, reflecting persistent American preferences for spacious, private homes with yards despite increasing density in many metropolitan areas. The median home value of $79,100 in 1990 had increased substantially from $47,200 in 1980, representing 67.6 percent nominal growth in one decade that exceeded general inflation and signaled emerging affordability challenges in many markets, particularly for first-time buyers and lower-income families. The median gross rent of $447 per month had similarly increased dramatically from $243 in 1980, nearly doubling in nominal terms and consuming increasing shares of renter incomes, particularly for lower-wage workers in expensive metropolitan areas. These housing statistics from 1990 captured the American housing market at an important juncture—after the inflation and interest rate volatility of the late 1970s and early 1980s but before the housing boom and bust cycles that would characterize the late 1990s through 2000s. The housing stock of 1990 served a population of 248.7 million across diverse regions and economic circumstances, though issues of housing affordability, quality, homelessness, and spatial inequality persisted and would intensify in subsequent decades as housing costs in many metropolitan areas outpaced income growth, creating widening disparities in housing security and wealth accumulation between homeowners in appreciating markets and renters facing increasing cost burdens, while rural areas often experienced housing abandonment and deterioration as populations declined and economic opportunities disappeared.

Labor Force and Employment in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1990 Employment Data

The American labor force in 1990 totaled 125,840,000 workers, with 118,793,000 or 94.4 percent employed and 7,047,000 or 5.6 percent unemployed—reflecting an economy that had recovered from the recession of the early 1980s but faced ongoing structural challenges from deindustrialization, globalization, and technological change. The unemployment rate of 5.6 percent represented a moderate level by historical standards, indicating reasonable labor market conditions though millions of Americans still actively sought work without finding employment matching their skills or wage requirements. Beyond the labor force, 63,290,000 Americans remained outside the workforce—including retirees, students, homemakers, disabled individuals, and discouraged workers who had given up actively seeking employment—representing a substantial population neither working nor job hunting according to official definitions.

The gender composition of the labor force demonstrated the continuing transformation of American work life, with male labor force participation at 76.4 percent showing modest decline from 1980 levels while female participation reached 57.5 percent, reflecting women’s accelerating entry into paid employment that fundamentally reshaped families, workplaces, and society. Among employed workers in 1990, the largest category consisted of white collar workers totaling 61,410,000 or 51.7 percent, encompassing professional, managerial, technical, sales, and clerical occupations—confirming America’s transformation into a post-industrial economy dominated by service, information, and knowledge work. Blue collar workers numbered 33,720,000 or 28.4 percent, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, and production jobs that continued declining in relative and often absolute terms as automation, foreign competition, and corporate restructuring eliminated millions of industrial positions throughout the 1980s. Service workers totaled 19,640,000 or 16.5 percent, employed in expanding sectors including healthcare, food service, personal care, and protective services that would become increasingly important in subsequent decades. Farm workers numbered only 2,840,000 or 2.4 percent, representing the culmination of agricultural mechanization that had transformed farming from labor-intensive manual work to capital-intensive industrial operations requiring minimal human labor. This employment structure in 1990 captured American work life during profound transition, as manufacturing continued its long decline, service sectors expanded rapidly, women’s labor force participation approached parity with men’s rates, and education increasingly determined economic opportunity in ways that would intensify over subsequent decades as globalization, technology, and the information economy further transformed the nature of work, rewards, and economic security.

Income and Poverty Statistics in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census and Current Population Survey

The economic conditions facing Americans in 1990 were characterized by moderate income growth and persistent poverty, with the median household income of $29,943 representing a baseline for understanding middle-class living standards during this era of economic transition. The median family income of $35,225 ran significantly higher, reflecting that families typically had multiple earners and more stable economic circumstances than non-family households. The per capita income of $14,420 represented total national income divided by population, indicating average economic resources available per person when accounting for all ages and household arrangements. These income figures, while substantially higher in nominal terms than 1980 levels, represented more modest gains in real purchasing power after accounting for inflation, as wage stagnation had begun affecting many American workers despite overall economic growth.

The poverty statistics from 1990 revealed that 33,585,000 Americans or 13.5 percent of the population lived below the official poverty line, defined as $13,359 annual income for a family of four. This poverty rate remained stubbornly high despite economic recovery from early-1980s recession, representing millions of families struggling to afford basic necessities including food, housing, healthcare, and transportation on inadequate incomes. Among families, 7,098,000 or 10.7 percent fell below poverty thresholds, indicating that family structure and multiple earners provided some protection against destitution, though millions of working families still couldn’t escape poverty despite employment. Most troubling, 13,431,000 children under 18 or 20.6 percent of all American children lived in poverty in 1990, substantially higher than the overall poverty rate and representing a moral and economic failure to protect the most vulnerable citizens from material deprivation that undermined their health, education, and future opportunities. The elderly poverty rate of 12.2 percent encompassing 3,658,000 seniors had declined substantially from 15.7 percent in 1980, reflecting the success of Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income in protecting older Americans from destitution, though millions still struggled on limited incomes. These income and poverty statistics from 1990 captured an economy experiencing fundamental restructuring, with middle-class incomes stagnating despite productivity gains, income inequality beginning its sharp upward trajectory that would characterize subsequent decades, and millions of Americans—particularly children and working families—experiencing economic hardship despite living in the world’s wealthiest nation, foreshadowing the growing economic insecurity and polarization that would intensify as globalization and technology transformed labor markets in ways that benefited those with education and capital while leaving many working families behind.

Regional Population Distribution in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Regional Classifications

The regional distribution of the US population in 1990 revealed that the South had strengthened its position as the most populous region with 85,445,930 residents comprising 34.4 percent of the national population, continuing decades of Sunbelt migration that drew Americans from colder climates to states offering warmer weather, growing economies, lower taxes, business-friendly policies, and expanding employment opportunities. This southern dominance had increased from 33.3 percent in 1980, reflecting accelerating migration patterns that would fundamentally reshape American political power, economic geography, and cultural influence throughout the final decades of the 20th century and into the 21st.

The Midwest region ranked second with 59,668,632 people or 24.0 percent, showing minimal growth from 1980 and confirming the region’s transformation into the Rust Belt as manufacturing declined, jobs disappeared, and younger residents migrated to other regions seeking better opportunities. The West had surged to 52,786,082 residents or 21.2 percent, overtaking the Northeast and reflecting the explosive growth of California, rapid expansion in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Washington, and the region’s emergence as the center of technology innovation, entertainment production, and Pacific Rim trade. The Northeast had fallen to fourth place with 50,809,229 or 20.4 percent, experiencing slower growth than any other region as residents and businesses continued relocating to Sunbelt states, shrinking the region’s political representation and economic influence. This regional population distribution in 1990 established patterns that would intensify over subsequent decades, with the South and West continuing to gain population, congressional seats, electoral votes, and economic power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest—a shift that reshaped American politics as conservative southern and western states gained influence while liberal northeastern states lost power, altered electoral college calculations making presidential elections increasingly dependent on Sunbelt swing states, and transformed federal spending priorities as population-based formulas directed increasing resources toward growing regions while declining regions struggled with aging infrastructure, population loss, and economic challenges stemming from industrial restructuring and global competition.

Marital Status and Family Structure in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Marital Status and Family Composition

The marital status distribution among Americans aged 15 and older in 1990 revealed that 110,630,000 people or 59.2 percent were married, representing a decline from 60.0 percent in 1980 and continuing the long-term trend toward delayed marriage, increased cohabitation, and growing proportions living outside traditional marriage. The never-married population totaled 49,920,000 or 26.7 percent, substantially higher than the 23.0 percent in 1980 and reflecting delayed marriage as young adults pursued extended education, established careers, and postponed family formation compared to earlier generations. The divorced population numbered 13,010,000 or 7.0 percent, showing continued growth from 1980 as no-fault divorce laws became universal and social stigma surrounding divorce further diminished, fundamentally altering family structures and creating millions of single-parent households navigating complex challenges of co-parenting, economic insecurity, and household management.

The widowed population of 13,500,000 or 7.2 percent consisted predominantly of elderly women who outlived their husbands, reflecting persistent gender differences in life expectancy that left many senior women living alone on limited incomes for years or decades following their husbands’ deaths. The average household size of 2.63 persons in 1990 had declined from 2.76 in 1980 as birth rates remained below replacement level, divorce created smaller households, young adults increasingly lived alone or with roommates rather than marrying early, and elderly individuals maintained independent households longer before moving in with relatives or entering assisted living. The average family size of 3.17 persons ran larger than household size because families by definition included related individuals and typically contained children, though this figure had also declined from 3.29 in 1980. Most significantly, 10,890,000 female-headed families without husbands present comprised 16.5 percent of all families, up from 14.6 percent in 1980 and representing single mothers raising children alone following divorce, separation, widowhood, or births outside marriage—a family structure strongly associated with elevated poverty risk, economic hardship, and challenges balancing employment with childcare responsibilities. This marital and family structure data from 1990 captured American households in accelerating transition, as traditional nuclear families of married parents with children faced increasing competition from diverse arrangements including single-parent households, cohabiting couples, blended families from remarriage, adults living alone, and non-traditional family formations—trends driven by women’s economic independence, changing cultural attitudes toward marriage and divorce, weakening religious influence on family decisions, and economic factors making marriage less economically necessary while also creating obstacles for working-class families struggling with stagnant wages and job insecurity that undermined traditional breadwinner family models.

Migration and Geographic Mobility in the US in 1990

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population, Geographic Mobility

The geographic mobility patterns recorded in the 1990 census revealed that 123,050,000 Americans or 49.5 percent had remained in the same house between 1985 and 1990, indicating that slightly less than half the population maintained residential stability over this five-year period. This stability rate was slightly lower than in 1980, reflecting continued high mobility that characterized American society compared to most developed nations. The other half demonstrated remarkable geographic flexibility, with 70,990,000 people or 28.5 percent moving to a different house within the same county—typically representing local moves for better housing, family changes such as marriage or divorce, or job transitions that didn’t require long-distance relocation. Those who moved to different counties within the same state numbered 23,190,000 or 9.3 percent, often reflecting moves from rural areas to urban centers, relocations between metropolitan regions within large states, or movements following job opportunities within state boundaries.

The interstate migrants totaling 21,640,000 or 8.7 percent represented Americans who crossed state lines during this five-year period, pursuing employment opportunities in growing Sunbelt states, fleeing economically declining Rust Belt regions, following family members, seeking better climates, or retiring to warmer states—movements that continued reshaping regional population balances and political power. The foreign-born population in 1990 totaled 19,767,316 or 7.9 percent, substantially higher than the 6.2 percent in 1980 and representing accelerating immigration following the 1965 Immigration Act that had eliminated discriminatory national-origin quotas. Among those enumerated in 1990, 9,840,000 people or 4.0 percent had been living abroad in 1985, including returning American citizens, military personnel and their families, and immigrants who arrived during this five-year window, reflecting the increasingly global nature of American society. This migration and mobility data from 1990 captured a nation characterized by exceptional geographic flexibility and increasing diversity, with Americans changing residences at rates unmatched in most developed countries, pursuing opportunities across regions and states, while immigration from Asia, Latin America, and other regions added cultural diversity and demographic vitality that would fundamentally transform American society over subsequent decades, creating dynamic, fluid communities where newcomers constantly mixed with established residents but also generating social tensions around immigration policy, cultural change, language diversity, and national identity that would become increasingly prominent in political debates.

The 1990 US population of 248,709,873 has grown to a projected 341,145,670 as of January 2025, representing a 37.1 percent increase or 92.4 million additional residents over 35 years. This growth trajectory reflects continuing immigration that has fundamentally reshaped American demographics, with the foreign-born population expanding from 7.9 percent in 1990 to over 14 percent today, alongside domestic birth rates that have fallen below replacement level but continued immigration has compensated for declining fertility. The demographic transformation extends far beyond simple numbers, as the racial and ethnic composition has shifted dramatically from the 80.3 percent White population of 1990 toward today’s significantly more diverse society where Hispanic, Asian, African American, and multiracial populations have grown substantially while the White percentage has declined to near or below majority status in many regions and age groups. These demographic shifts carry profound implications for politics, reshaping electoral coalitions and political power; for economics, as aging baby boomers strain retirement systems while younger, more diverse generations enter a transformed labor market; and for culture, as American identity becomes increasingly pluralistic, contested, and complex.

Looking ahead, the United States faces demographic challenges including accelerating population aging as baby boomers move fully into retirement and advanced age, placing unprecedented demands on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare systems while reducing the worker-to-retiree ratio that supports these programs. Fertility rates among native-born Americans have fallen well below replacement level, meaning that without continued robust immigration, the American population would begin declining as deaths exceed births—a scenario that would create severe economic challenges including labor shortages, declining tax revenues, and difficulties supporting growing elderly populations. Regional disparities continue intensifying, with dynamic metropolitan areas and Sunbelt states attracting people, capital, and economic activity while rural areas and older industrial cities face population loss, aging demographics, infrastructure deterioration, and economic stagnation creating two increasingly divergent Americas. The population statistics from 1990 provide essential context for understanding contemporary trends, revealing how demographic forces including immigration, aging, fertility decline, and geographic redistribution have transformed American society over just 35 years while also highlighting continuities including exceptional mobility, urban concentration, and demographic diversity that have long characterized the American experience. As the nation approaches 350 million residents within the next decade, policymakers must address managing sustainable growth, successfully integrating increasingly diverse populations, adequately supporting rapidly aging demographics, ensuring economic opportunities reach all Americans regardless of geography or background, and maintaining social cohesion amid growing diversity and inequality—challenges that will define American success in the 21st century as immigration policy debates intensify, retirement system solvency concerns mount, regional economic divergence accelerates, and questions of national identity, cultural pluralism, and social solidarity become increasingly urgent in a nation where demographic transformation has created unprecedented diversity alongside persistent inequalities and geographic polarization.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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