America's missing middle: The shrinking 45-64 population
Summary
The number of U.S. adults aged 45 to 64 has dropped by about 2.7 million between 2020 and 2025. This shrinking middle-aged group includes many Generation X and younger baby boomers and may affect leadership, caregiving, and institutional knowledge in communities.Key Facts
- The 45-64 age group fell 3.2% nationwide, from 84 million to 81.3 million people.
- The Northeast saw the biggest drop in this group by 7.1%, followed by the Midwest at 6.2%.
- The South was the only region where the 45-64 population grew slightly, by 0.1%.
- Overall, the U.S. population is aging, with the median age rising to 39.4 in 2025.
- People aged 65 and older grew by 16.2% nationally from 2020 to 2025.
- The under-18 population decreased by 2.4% in the same period.
- The decrease in the 45-64 group is partly due to aging older baby boomers moving into retirement and fewer Gen Xers following them.
- Housing costs and migration are pushing many in this age group to move south from the Northeast and West.
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