Population of 18-Year-Olds Is Projected to Crater

The Census previously forecast, before the pandemic, that the number of 18-year-olds would rebound after 2035.

The darker-shaded lines (⸻) are derived from data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. The lighter-shaded lines (⸻), which depict estimates of freshman enrollment, are from U.S. Department of Education data. The — — — line represents Census estimates of America's future 18-year-old population, as modeled in 2023. The • • • and • • • lines are derived from projections preceding that 2023 modeling.