Utah’s population changes in age and race

SALT LAKE CITY- Utah’s population is facing changes related to age, racial and ethnic diversity. Nick Thiriot with the Kem C. Garnder Policy Institute shared insights about this. 

Utah’s Population continues to get older

The Beehive State’s population continues to get older with more than 12% at or above retirement age.

 Thiriot said the Institute’s new report suggests that the number will keep increasing.  

Declining fertility rates are one of the biggest factors contributing to Utah’s population Thiriot cited.

“[…] Our projections indicate that the state of retirement population will likely be more than 20% of Utah’s population by 2060,” he said. ” This is expected to continue and it will impact life experiences and public policies related to education, economics, housing and health.”

The population is getting more racially and ethnically diverse

The report shows that nearly a quarter of the state’s population now identify as a minority. 14% of which are Hispanic.

“Utah continues to diversify racially and ethnically with the minority share of the population decreasing for six consecutive decades,” Thiriot said. “Today, nearly one in four Utahns … are identified as a racial or ethnic minority.”

He said South Salt Lake and West Valley City are the top two most diverse cities in the state.

Thiriot indicates some of the struggles minorities face are:

• Having less income and wealth
• Higher poverty rates
• Lower educational achievement and entertainment
• Less homeownership, and higher housing costs.

Related stories:

• Peru Consulate coming to Salt Lake City as population from South American nation grows
• New report explores similarities and differences in rural and urban Utahns
• Times and places to avoid in Utah ahead of Memorial Day weekend traffic
• Utah Symphony aims to bring music to all listeners