Background paper
Description
Children under the age of 18 accounted for about 26 percent of the US population, with approximately 72 million children in 2000. Over the last decade, the overall well-being of America's children has shown gains in some areas but has declined in others. The teen birth rate is at a new low, youth are less likely to become the victims of violent crimes, and the death rate has declined for children and young teens.
