Greater Baltimore maintained its 9th place position among the 20 metro areas compared for total population. Each of the other 19 metro areas maintained their positions as well.

Greater Baltimore's population growth continued to be slow relative to the U.S. and the 20 metro areas. The region's average annual growth rate from 1990 to 1996 was .7 percent. The average annual growth rate from 1996 to 1998 was only .3 percent, ranking the region 17th among the 20 regions.
Greater Baltimore's population is 69.4 percent white, 27.8 percent black, 2.5 percent asian or pacific islander, and 1.9 percent hispanic.

While the rankings for median age remain unchanged, the median age rose about half a year in each of the metro areas compared. Austin and Dallas remain the youngest metro areas, while Tampa and Cleveland have the oldest average age. Baltimore ranks 14th at 35.9 years, just above the U.S. median age of 35.4.

Washington, Raleigh-Durham, Austin and Seattle have over 69 percent of their populations in the age 15 to 64 bracket. Baltimore ranks 13th for this measure at 66.3 percent. This factor is considered a critically important measure of the available workforce for expanding and newly locating employers.

POPULATION CHARTS

• Metropolitan Population Growth, 1996 and 1998
  
• Population Growth, 1990-1996 vs. 1996-1998
  
• White Population, 1998
  
• Black Population, 1998
  
• Asian or Pacific Islander Population, 1998
  
• Hispanic Population, 1998
  
• Median Age, 1997 and 1999
  
• Population Age 65 and Over, 1996
  
• Population Age 65 and Over, 1997
  
• Population Age 15 to 64, 1997