There’s a term in demographic studies, “natural decrease” – it’s when a county has fewer births than it has deaths, and it’s happening in parts of New Hampshire.
The latest analysis of US census data shows a record number of US counties in natural decrease – 36 percent. And two states – Maine and West Virginia – are in natural decrease. Analysts believe the economic downturn accelerated the process, but they say in most cases it takes place over decades and generations.
Ken Johnson is senior demographer at the Carsey Institute, and he joins All Things Considered host Brady Carlson to explain.