Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2% of the total population size.[citation needed] People born during such a period are often called baby boomers; however, some experts distinguish between those born during such demographic baby booms and those who identify with the overlapping cultural generations. Conventional wisdom states that baby booms signify good times and periods of general economic growth and stability.[citation needed]
The term "baby boom" most often refers to the dramatic post-World War II baby boom (notice the rate of change on the chart below). There are an estimated 77.3 million Americans who were born during this demographic boom in births.[1] The term is a general demographic one and is also applicable to other similar population expansions.
Recent baby boom periods include:
- Post-World War II baby boom - Years of duration vary, depending on the source (e.g., 1943-1960,[2] 1946-1964[3]). Many analysts argue that two cultural generations were born during this demographic baby boom: Baby Boom Generation and Generation Jones.
- Echo baby boom (Millennial Generation) - (1980 to 1999), the children of the post-WWII baby boomers.
- 2007 - A statistical third surge when approximately 4.3 million babies were born in the U.S. The trend during this period was due to the slight increase in childbearing women of all ages, and a record share of births to unmarried women. An increase in teenage pregnancy also played into the high statistics.[4]
Notes
- ^ "Baby Boom Population: U.S. Census Bureau, USA and by State". Boomers Life. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ Strauss, William, & Howe, Neil (1992). Generations: The history of America's future, 1584 to 2069. Harper Perennial. p. 324. ISBN 0688119123.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ U.S. Census Bureau (2006-01-03). "Oldest Baby Boomers Turn 60!". Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ Eckholm, Erik (2009-03-18). "'07 U.S. Births Break Baby Boom Record". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
See also
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