1970-1979: ERA OF CRISES
Comparing the numbers
1970 280,455
1980 294,335
Today 312,091*
Life expectancy at birth (U.S.)
1970 70.9
1980 73.7
Today 76.1**
Annual murder rate per 100,000 (U.S.)
1970 8.3
1980 10.2***
Today 7.4**
Percent of high school graduates among adults (U.S.)
1970 55.2%****
1980 68.6%****
Today 82.8%****
National population (U.S.)
1970 205,052,174
1980 227,224,681
Today 267,636,061*****
*1997 estimate by the U.S. Bureau of the Census;
**1996;
***1999 World Almanac;
****Percent of people 25 years old and over who have completed four years of high school or more;
****1997.
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