Baby Boom Generation Continues to Lead Missouri Population Growth 2000-2004
Although Missouri's population increased by 2.8 percent from 2000 to 2004 - from 5.597 million in 2000 to 5.755 million in 2004 - Table 1 shows that the increase of 157,935 was not evenly divided among eight age cohorts. The table shows the baby boom generation (population between the ages of 40 and 65 in 2004) accounted for nearly one-third (32.6 percent) of Missouri's total 2004 population. Further, the population increase in that age cohort alone (179,792) was 21,857 greater than the 157,935 increase for the entire state.
| Table 1 click table for larger version 
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Had it not been for the large increase in the population of the baby boom cohort from 2000-2004, there would have been a net decline in Missouri population from 2000-2004. Table 1 shows the population in the 5-19 age cohort declined by 42,403 in those four years, the population in the 30-39 age cohort declined by 51,260, and the population in the 65-74 age group declined by 1,460. Those three cohorts combined had a net decline in population of 95,123 from 2000-2004. On the other hand, aside from the baby boom cohort, there were four other age cohorts that had an increase: under age 5 had an increase of 1,570, the cohort age 20-29 had an increase of 59,926, the cohort age 75-84 increased by 9,960 and the cohort age 85 and older had an increase of 1,810. Together, those four cohorts had a population increase of 73,266. The difference between the amount of population decline of 95,123 in three cohorts and the gain of 73,266 in four cohorts is the 21,857 difference between the 2000-2004 increase in the baby boom generation and the 157,935 gain for all age cohorts taken together.
Implications of the Size of Age Cohorts in 2004
Graph 1 provides a visual perspective regarding differences in the size of age cohorts presented in Table 1. The tallest bar in Graph 1 (10.6 percent) reflects the recent increase in the population of the baby boom generation. Correspondingly, the graph shows the 2nd largest percentage increase in population from 2000-2004 was in the 20-29 age cohort. This is a large cohort because they are generally offspring of the baby boom cohort.
| Graph 1 click graph for larger version 
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Another linkage on the graph of current importance is the recent decline in the 30-39 age cohort. Many in that age cohort would be likely to have school age children. Correspondingly there has been a recent decline of more than 42,000 in the population of school age children. The population in the 5-19 cohort declined by more than 42,000 from 2000 to 2004.
It is of recent significance that the population age 65-74 has declined slightly. Many persons in this age range were born during the great depression of the 1930s and the early years of World War II - a period when there was a low birth rate. However, it is expected that the population of this age cohort will soon be increasing significantly with the aging of the baby boom generation.
The population age 75 and older has been increasing in recent years largely because of longevity. The percent of persons age 85 and older has been one of the most rapidly growing cohorts over the past decade largely because of improved health and medical care.
This file last modified Thursday May 07, 2009, 14:37:00
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