The Next Hundred Million

What Will America Be Like with 400 Million People?

By 2050, America will be home to 400 million people or more. This crucial demographic defines America’s future. President Barack Obama’s election provides a potent symbol of the America to come: a diverse nation that blends technological innovation with “traditional values and social tolerance.” While other nations’ populations age, birthrates decrease and powers fade, the United States will remain young and vital. Many countries are crowded, but America still has “the world’s largest, most productive expanse of arable land” to feed and house its new citizens.

The United States will continue to face challenges, but notions of the nation entering a period of decline are falsely pessimistic. Yes, China and India will rise economically, but the flexibility of America’s business culture and society will allow the United States to maintain its economic lead. Notable change will affect a handful of areas: the nature of US cities and suburbs, the personality of the Midwestern “Heartland,” the diversity of the “postethnic” population and the nature of US communities.

The Cities of 2050

As the American population...