US Census: Those Over 65 Are Hawaii’s Fastest Growing Group

Other data findings show the state is growing more diverse and in 2015-16, the growth in housing exceeded population growth.聽

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The U.S. Census Bureau released data last week detailing state and county population estimates as of July 1, 2016.

Here are a few highlights from 聽of the data by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism:

  • Hawaii’s total population grew by 5 percent from 2010 to 2016.
  • The population over age 65 grew 25 percent during the same period.
  • Despite this increase, the median age in the state held steady at 38.6 years.
  • 77.9 percent of the state’s total population is comprised of minorities, defined as “the population identifying their race and ethnicity as something other than non-Hispanic White race alone.”

Silver Tsunami Approaches

Although the median age in Hawaii held steady, the elderly population grew significantly, both overall and as a share of the total population. Nearly three-quarters of the state’s total net population growth from 2010 to 2016 was attributable to residents 65 and older. 聽

Furthermore, this group grew from 14.3 percent of the population in 2010 to 17.1 percent in 2016.

 

Housing Remains an Issue

While Hawaii has added an estimated 17,600 housing units since 2010, population growth has still outpaced housing growth. The population grew聽by 5 percent while the number of housing units grew聽by 3.4 percent during this time period.

Housing units typically hold more than one person, so slower housing growth might still accommodate slightly faster population growth. However, the number of residents per housing unit in the state has increased slightly, from 2.62 residents per housing unit in 2010 to 2.66 in 2016.

Some brighter notes: The yearly population growth has slowed somewhat. And from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016, housing growth surpassed population growth for the first time in at least six years.

 

Slightly More Diverse Population

Already the most diverse state in the country, Hawaii’s minority population grew slightly, from 77.2 percent to 77.9 percent from 2010 to 2016.

The number of people identifying as only black or African American grew 38 percent in this time frame, more than any other single racial group. This group remains small, however, comprising only 2.2 percent of the total state population.

You can explore this data and more on the DBEDT census .

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