WASHINGTON — Numbers are one way to measure where you've been and where you're going. In the first decade of the 21st century, numbers show that the U.S. has grown in population but that its per household earnings, adjusted for inflation, have declined. The trade deficit has increased with China, but declined with Europe. The number of Republican public officials has dropped and so has the average approval rating of the presidents. Exxon Mobil has replaced Microsoft as the most valuable U.S. company. The number of college students has dropped, and cell phone use has skyrocketed.
Here are other statistics that trace the changes that took place in the last 10 years. Constant dollar calculations were made with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, found at http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl.
THE UNITED STATES
Population279,295,000 (1999); 308,150,087 (2009)
Hispanic percentage11.7 (1999); 15.1 (2007)
Black percentage13 (1999); 12.3 percent (2008)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. POLITICS
Registered voters183 million (1998); 189 million (2008)
Republican governors31 (1999); 22 (2009)
Democratic governors17 (1999); 28 (2009)
Republican state legislators3,442 (1999); 3,234 (2009)
Democratic state legislators3,882 (1999); 4,073 (2009)
Female members of U.S. House of Representatives60 (1999); 78 (2009)
Female members of the U.S. Senate9 (1999); 17 (2009)
Openly gay U.S. members of Congress3 (1999); 3 (2009)
Millionaires in the Senate30 (1999); 67 (2009)
Millionaires in the House66 (1999); 170 (2009)
Lobbyists registered with Congress13,233 (1999); 13,426 (2009)
Members of Congress with Twitter accounts0 (1999; Twitter was created in 2006); 210 (2009)
Average presidential approval rating (percentage)57 (1999); 49.8 (Dec. 10, 2009)
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Roll Call, Committee for Responsive Government, Center for Responsive Politics.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Number of federal executive branch employees1.778 million (1999); 1.977 million (2009, estimate)
Total federal debt$5.606 trillion (1999); $12.9 trillion (2009, estimate)
Total federal budget$1.733 trillion (1999); $2.932 trillion (2009)
Gross tax collection by Internal Revenue Service$1.769 trillion (1999); $2.745 trillion (2008)
Top individual tax rate:39.6 percent (1999); 35 percent (2008)
Income subject to top tax rate$283,150 (1999); $372,950 (2008)In 1999 constant dollars$283,150 (1999); $288,586 (2008)
Number of taxpayers paying top marginal tax rate864,129 (1999); 1,060,714 (2007)
Sources: Office of Management and Budget, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator
ECONOMY
Dow Jones industrial average11,497.12 (Dec. 31, 1999); 10,547.83 (Dec. 28)
U.S. work force139 million (1999); 155 million (2009)
People over 65 still working4 million (1999); 6 million (2008)
Households receiving Social Security27.1 million (1999); 30.6 million (2008)
Number of two-income households37.5 million (1999); 39.3 million (2008)
Unemployment rate4.2 percent (1999); 10 percent (November 2009)
Jobless workers5.7 million (1999); 15.4 million (November 2009)
Unemployed workers not included in jobless number because they haven't looked for work in the past month1.1 million (1999); 2.3 million (November 2009)
Median household income$44,900 (1999); $50,303 (2008)In 1999 constant dollars$44,900 (1999); $38,924 (2008)
Median sales price for existing homes$138,000 (1999); $172,700 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$138,000 (1999); $133,000 (2009)
Median sales price for new homes$161,000 (1999); $212,000 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$161,000 (1999); $163,265 (2009)
Number of foreclosure proceedings450,000 (1999); 2 million (2009, estimate)
Banks seized by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.8 (1999); 133 (through Dec. 11, 2009)
People living below the poverty line32.8 million in 1999; 39.8 million in 2008
Poverty line for a family of four$17,029 (1999); $22,025 (2008)In constant 1999 dollars$17,029 (1999); $17,043 (2008)
Federal minimum wage (hourly)$5.15 (1999); $7.25 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$5.15 (1999); $5.58 (1999)
Value of a dollar$1 (1999); 77 cents (2009, in constant 1999 dollars)
Top CEO salary$569.8 million (1999, Michael Eisner, Disney Corp.); $556.9 million (2009, Lawrence Ellison, Oracle Corp.; $428.9 million in constant 1999 dollars)
Average CEO compensation for Fortune 500 companies$8.4 million (1999, then the Fortune 800); $11.4 million (2009; $8.78 million in constant 1999 dollars)
Market capitalization of Exxon Mobil$281.6 billion (2000); $353.5 billion (Oct. 23, 2009)In constant 2000 dollars$281.6 billion (2000); $281.4 billion (Oct. 23, 2009)
Market capitalization of Microsoft$281.9 billion (2000); $250.2 billion (Oct. 23, 2009)In constant 2000 dollars$281.9 billion (2000); $199.2 billion (Oct. 23, 2009)
Estimated worth of Bill Gates, the richest American$85 billion (1999); $50 billion (2009, $38.5 billion in constant 1999 dollars)
Value of U.S. exports$965.88 billion (1999); $1.83 trillion (2008)In constant 1999 dollars$965.88 billion (1999); $1.41 trillion (2008)
Value of U.S. imports$1.23 trillion (1999); $2.52 trillion (2008)In constant 1999 dollars$1.23 trillion (1999); $1.95 trillion (2008)
U.S. trade deficit$265.09 billion (1999); $695.94 billion (2008)In constant 1999 dollars$265.09 billion (1999); $538.51 billion (2008)
Total trade with China (imports and exports)$94.9 billion (1999); $296.24 billion (through October 2009)In constant 1999 dollars$94.9 billion (1999); $228.14 billion (through October 2009)
Trade deficit with China$68.7 billion (1999); $188.5 billion (through October 2009)In constant 1999 dollars$68.7 billion (1999); $145.17 billion (through October 2009)
Total trade with European Union (exports and imports)$354.8 billion (1999); $453.9 billion (through October 2009)In constant 1999 dollars$354.8 billion (1999); $349.56 billion (through October 2009)
Trade deficit with EU$45.2 billion (1999); $47.7 billion (through October 2009)In constant 1999 dollars$45.2 billion (1999); $36.73 billion (through October 2009)
U.S. car and light truck sales16.89 million (1999); 9.376 million (through November 2009)
U.S. automakers' market share69 percent (1999); 44.6 percent (through November 2009)
Number of workers making cars169,800 (1999); 88,900 (October 2009)
Auto manufacturing jobs by stateMichigan: 94,200 (1999); 31,100 (October 2009)Ohio: 39,700 (1999); 14,600 (October 2009)Kentucky: 19,800 (1999); 8,600 (October 2009)Indiana: 9,000 (1999); 10,900 (October 2009)Texas: 5,800 (1999); 9,300 (October 2009)Alabama: 2,400 (1999); 11,000 (October 2009)
Sources: Interactive Data Real-Time Services, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association, Forbes magazine, National Automobile Dealers Association, J.D. Power and Associates, TheOnlineInvestor.com; Stern School of Business, New York University, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator.
TECHNOLOGY
Percentage of households with land-line telephones96 (1998); 91 (2005)
Percentage of households with cell phones36 (1998); 71 (2005)
Factory sales of cell phones30,667 (1999); 90,698 (2009)
Average annual household cell-service expense$210 (2001); $606 (2007)In constant 2001 dollars$210 (2001); $518
Number of text messages sent in December2.1 billion (2003); 110.4 billion (2008)
Total Internet retail sales$5 billion (fourth quarter 1999); $32 billion (third quarter 2009)
In constant 1999 dollars$5 billion (fourth quarter 1999); $25 billion (third quarter 2009)
Number of homes with cable TV69 million (2000); 62 million (2006)
Number of homes with satellite TV systems11.7 million (2000); 28 million (2007)
Average monthly cost for basic cable$28.92 (1999); $44.28 (2008)In constant 1999 dollars$28.92 (1999); $34.26 (2008)
Number of AOL subscribers18.6 million (first quarter 2000); 5.4 million (third quarter 2009)
Number of digital TVs and monitors sold121 (1999); 35,414 (2009)
Average price of a digital monitor$2,443 (1999); $688 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$2,443 (1999); $530 (2009)
Number of personal computers sold14,900 (1999); 27,945 (2009)
Average price of a personal computer$1,100 (1999); $590 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$1,100 (1999); $454 (2009)
Number of laptops sold7,248 (2003); 18,738 (2009)
Average price of a laptop$1,155 (2003); $623 (2009)In constant 2003 dollars$1,155 (2003); $530 (2009)
Number of satellites in orbit623 (1999); 1,002 (2009)
Number of countries with manned space programs2 (1999); 3 (2009)
Minutes of Skype Internet phone calls0 (1999; Skype was founded in 2003); 3.1 billion (third quarter 2009)
Number of contributors to Wikipedia0 (1999; Wikipedia was created in 2001); 85,000 (2009)
Number of entries on Wikipedia0 (1999); 14 million in 260 languages (3,120,633 in English) (2009)
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, AOL, Consumer Electronics Association, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Skype, Wikipedia, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator.
ENVIRONMENT
Average annual estimated CO2 emissions worldwide (tons)23.4 billion (1999); 29.9 billion (2007)
United States: 5.97 billion (1999); 6.01 billion (2007)China: 2.91 billion (1999); 6.28 billion (2007)Europe: 4.42 billion (1999); 4.69 billion (2007)
Average U.S. vehicle gasoline consumption in miles per gallon27.5 (1999); 27.5 (2009)
U.S. oil consumption (barrels per day)19.519 million (1999); 19.498 million (2008)
China oil consumption (barrels per day)4.364 million (1999); 7.831 million (2008)
Europe oil consumption (barrels per day)16.03 million (1999); 16.147 million (2008)
Species protected under the Endangered Species Act1,189 (1999); 1,322 (2009)
Number of people in the world without safe drinking water1.1 billion (2000); 884 million (2009)
Number of days of unsafe air in Los Angeles152 (1999); 112 (2009)
Area of the Arctic ice cap (square miles)2.48 million (September 1999); 2.07 million (September 2009)
Sources: Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency
MILITARY
Number of active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines)1.1 million (1999); 1.4 million (2009)
Defense budget (including supplementals)$270.5 billion (fiscal year 1999); $680 billion (fiscal year 2010)In constant 1999 dollars$270.5 billion (fiscal year 1999); $524 billion (fiscal year 2010)
Percentage of new recruits who graduated high school98 (1999); 73.8 (2009)
Number of troops based in Germany65,540 (1999); 53,960 (2009)
Number of troops based in South Korea36,000 (1999); 28,500 (2009)
Authorized strength of U.S. military Reserves (National Guard and Reserves)877,000 (1999); 847,900 (2009)
Number of troops based in the country with the largest U.S. military presence65,540 (1999, Germany); 115,000 (November 2009, Iraq)
Minimum pay for a major in the Army$31,349 (1999); $48,322 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$31,349 (1999); $37,214 (2009)
Minimum pay for a private first class in the Army$13,417 (1999); $19,796 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$13,417 (1999); $15,245 (2009)
Number of Air Force bases in the United States72 (1999); 68 (2009)
Number of U.S. military commands8 (1999); 10 (2009)
Number of U.S. aircraft carriers12 (1999); 11 (2009)
Russian military spending in constant 2005 dollars$14.04 billion (1999); $38.23 billion (2008)
Chinese military spending in constant 2005 dollars$21.62 billion (1999); $63.4 billion (2008)
U.S. arms sales to developing countries (constant 2007 dollars)$22.67 billion (2000); $12.16 billion (2007)
U.S. market share of arms sales (percentage)59 (2000); 34 (2007)
China's market share of arms sales (percentage)1.8 (2000); 9 (2007)
Sources: Department of Defense, Military Pay Chart, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator
EDUCATION
Percentage of science and engineering Ph.D.s granted by U.S. universities that went to foreigners33 (1999); 42 (2009)
Number of private high school students1.278 million (1999); 1.319 million (2008)
Number of public high school students14.638 million (1999); 15.397 million (2008)
National high school dropout rate5 percent (1999); 3.5 percent (2007)
Number of students enrolled in four-year colleges, full and part time11 million (1999); 9.6 million (2008)
Number of full-time students at four-year colleges7.913 million (1999); 7.981 million (2008)
Number of African-Americans enrolled in four-year colleges1.4 million (1999); 1 million (2008)
Number of students enrolled in two-year colleges4.201 million (1999); 3.397 million (2008)
Enrollment in traditional black colleges270,641 (fall 1999); 312,248 (fall 2008)
Salary and benefits of the highest paid college president$878,222 (1999, Harry C. Payne, Williams College)$1,598,247 (2008, Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; in constant 1999 dollars, $1,236,713)
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, United Negro College Fund, Chronicle of Higher Education, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator.
HEALTH
Average U.S. life expectancy76.7 (1999); 77.9 (2007)
Men: 73.9 (1999); 75.3 (2007)Women: 79.4 (1999); 80.4 (2007)
U.S. infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)7.1 (1999); 6.77 (2007)
Global child mortality rate (deaths before age 5 per 1,000 live births)87 (1999); 65 (2009)
Life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa (years)46 (1999); 51 (2009)
Number of new AIDS cases in the U.S.41,356 (1999); 37,041 (2007)
Number of AIDS deaths in U.S.17,982 (1999); 14,561 (2007)
Diagnosed diabetics in the United States11.1 million (1999); 17.9 million (2009)
Number of births to unmarried women in the U.S.1.307 million (1999); 1.642 million (2006)
Number of Trojan condoms shipped in the United States340.992 million (1999); 552.672 million (2009)
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF,Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, Trojan.
LIFESTYLES/MISCELLANY
Average movie ticket price$5.08 (1999); $7.46 (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$5.08 (1999); $5.75 (2009)
Percentage of U.S. households that watched the top-rated television show18.6 (1999, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"); 14.4 (2009, "American Idol")
Number of Roman Catholics28 million (1999); 23.9 million (2007)
Number of Jews2 million (1999); 1.7 million (2007)
Number of American homes without indoor plumbing1.436 million (1999); 1.259 million (2007)
States that have legalized medical marijuana5 (1999); 13 (2009)
Registered marijuana users in California0 (1999); 37,236 (2009)
Number of states that permit same-sex marriage0 (1999); 6 (2009)
U.S. prison inmates2,026,596 (1999); 2,304,115 (2009)
Number of homicides in the United States15,530 (1999); 16,272 (2008)
Number of U.S. executions98 (1999); 51 (as of Dec. 14, 2009)
Sources: Hollywood.com, Nielsen, U.S. Census Bureau, Marijuana Policy Project, Department of Justice, FBI, Death Penalty Information Center.
INTERNATIONAL
Number of countries on which the U.S. has imposed sanctions9 (1999); 12 (2009)
Total U.N. peacekeeping budget$1.3 billion (1999); $7.8 billion (2009)In constant 1999 dollars$1.3 billion (1999); $6.01 billion (2009)
Number of U.N. peacekeepers worldwide18,460 (1999); 117,000 (2009)
Number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank177,000 (1999); 300,000 (2009, estimated)
Population of Russia146,670,000 (2000); 140,367,000 (2010 estimate)
Sources: U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations, U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, B'Tselem, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator.
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