1960-1969: ERA OF COLD WAR & HOT REVOLUTION
Comparing the decades
1960 (232,196)
1970 (280,455)
Today (312,091)1
Life expectancy at birth (U.S.)
1960 (69.7)
1970 (70.9)
Today (76.1)5
Annual murder rate per 100,000 (U.S.)
1960 (4.7)
1970 (8.3)
Today (7.4)5
Percent of high school graduates (U.S. adults)
1960 63.4% (2)
1970 75.6% (2)
Today 82.8% (3)
National population
1960 180,671,158
1970 205,052,174
Today 267,636,061 (4)
1 -- 1997 estimate by the U.S. Bureau of the Census;
2 -- percent of persons 17 years old who have completed high school;
3 -- percent of people 25 years old and over who have completed four years of high school or more;
4 -- as of July 1, 1997;
5 -- 1996
*Today figures are the most recent numbers available
Sources: 1998 Statistical Abstract', Historical Statistics of the U.S', and U.S. Bureau of the Census'; Research by James Grant of The News-Sentinel