US Population Growth At Slowest Rate in 70 Years

Grew 2.26 million in the twelve months ending July 31, according to the Census Bureau

The US population grew by just 2.26 million in the twelve months leading to July 1st 2013, according to estimated figures released by the Census Bureau. That represents a 0.72 percent year-over-year increase, which the New York Times reports is the lowest rate in "over seven decades."

An aging population is to blame for the continually slowing rise — the rate been gently falling, and has been below 0.75 percent since 2011. Compared to global population growth, which is currently estimated at 1.1 percent, the US is slower, but it remains faster than much of Europe and China. The Census Bureau estimates a child will be born every 8 seconds in the US this January, while someone will die every 12 seconds.