The Census Bureau reveals that immigration is driving most of the population growth in the U.S. The Bureau projects three outcomes for the total U.S. population in 2060 based on high, low, and medium estimates of immigration. The high estimate is 397 million; medium is 364 million; and low is 343 million.
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) notes that the high level is the trajectory of immigration we’re on now. Immigration advocates often claim that high immigration will lower our average age and significantly increase the percentage of working-age Americans. For a number of reasons, however, this will not happen.
CIS points out that under the low projection for immigration, working-age people (18 to 64) would be 57.6 percent of the population in 2060. Under the high projection, they would only be 58.5 percent.
The low projection eventually would lead to a slight population decline toward the end of this century. With respect to that prospect, CIS observes that “A smaller population would certainly create challenges. However, a roughly stable population or a modest decline would also help reduce congestion, traffic, sprawl, and pollution, including greenhouse gases. And it would make housing more affordable.”
Read more at cis.org