West Virginia’s population less diverse, older

The state’s median age in 2008 was 42 and 16 percent of its population was more than 65 years old. Only Florida has more seniors living within its boarders at 17 percent. 

Also, the state has fewer childbearing aged women than the national average. The combination of an older population and fewer women of childbearing age means low population growth.

“This is a recipe for low natural increase,” said Unk Christiadi with WVU’s College of Business and Economics. “Indeed, the rate of natural increase in the state has been around zero percent, the lowest in the nation since at least 2000.”

Following the national trend, West Virginia’s minority population increased; however the increase was slight in West Virginia.

The state’s minority population makes up just six and a half percent of the state’s total population. This is significantly lower than the national average of 34 percent.