U.S. Teen Demographics

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 40,717,537 youth age 10-19 in the United States, 14% of the total U.S. population [1]. In New York State, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, youth age 10-19 made up 13% of the state's total population [2].

Ethnicity, Race, National Origin

Racial/ethnic diversity is greater in the adolescent population than in the adult U.S. population, and diversity among adolescents is increasing [3].Estimates suggest that by 2023, the percentage of white, non-Hispanic (NH) children will drop below 50%. By 2050, the percentage of Hispanic children is expected to reach 39%, overtaking the percentage of white-NH (38%) children [4].

In 2006, 11% of adolescents (ages 15-24) residing in the U.S. were born outside of the United States [3]. Twenty-three percent of all children (age 0-17) are first or second generation immigrants (2010 numbers, here defined as living in the U.S. with at least one foreign-born parent) [5]. Among children age 5-17 in 2009, 21% of children did not speak English at home; however, only 5% of these children had difficulty speaking English [6].

Geographic Settings

In 2002, over half (54%) of adolescents lived in suburbs, 27% in rural areas, and 19% in central cities [7].

Family Income

The percentage of adolescents (age 12-17) living in families with low income has risen since 2000. In a span of nine years (2000-2009), the number of adolescents living in poverty increased by 29%. In 2009, 38% of adolescents lived in low-income families, including 17% of adolescents who lived below the federal poverty line [8].

In 2009, of adolescents age 12-17, 17% lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty line. Thirty-one percent of black adolescents lived in poverty, as did 29% of Hispanic, 24% of American Indian, 17% of Asian, and 10% of white adolescents [8].

Homelessness

Estimates of homelessness among adolescents vary a great deal. Estimates from 1998 and 1999 suggest that 1.6-1.7 million youth experience at least one episode of homelessness each year. Homelessness estimates for youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) vary from 6-35%. Pregnant and parenting youth are also at high risk for homelessness; one study found that nearly half of youth living on the streets and 33% of youth in shelters had been pregnant or caused a pregnancy; and roughly 10% of homeless adolescent women are pregnant at the time they are homeless [9].

Endnotes

[1]	U.S. Census Bureau. (2011, May). Age and sex composition: 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2011 from census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf (PDF: 2.0M)
[2]	U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). Age groups and sex: 2010 - Geography: New York. Retrieved November 14, 2011 from factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
[3]	National Adolescent Health Information Center. (2008). Fact sheet on demographics: Adolescents & Young Adults. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/Demographics08.pdf (PDF: 596K)
[4]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Demographic background. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/demo.asp
[5]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Children of at least one foreign-born parent. Retrieved November 14, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/famsoc4.asp
[6]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Language spoken at home and difficulty speaking English. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/famsoc5.asp
[7]	National Adolescent Health Information Center. (2003). Fact sheet on demographics: Adolescents. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from nahic.ucsf.edu/downloads/Demographics.pdf (PDF: 1.5M)
[8]	Chau, M., Thampi, K., & Wright, V.R. (2010, October). Basic facts about low-income children, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2011, from the National Center for Children in Poverty website nccp.org/publications/pub_974.html
[9]	Toro, P. A., Dworsky, A., & Fowler, P. J. (2007). Homeless youth in the United States: Recent research findings and intervention approaches. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website huduser.org/portal/publications/homeless/p6.html