As the U.S. population has doubled from 1950 to 2012, the number of vehicles has grown nearly 6-fold and vehicle travel even more than that. The number of vehicles and vehicle travel peaked in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and remained at similar levels in 2012. The growth in licensed drivers has not kept the pace with the growth of vehicle miles traveled reflecting that the average driver is driving more miles in 2012 than in 1950. However, the trends have changed for vehicle miles traveled and number of vehicles in operation. Since 2008 the amount of travel and number of vehicles has increased far less quickly than in the previous 50 years.

Population and Vehicle Growth Comparison, 1950-2012
Image

Fact #842 Dataset

Supporting Information

Population and Vehicle Growth Comparison, 1950-2012
YearResident PopulationNumber of HouseholdsNumber of Vehicles in OperationTotal Vehicle Miles TraveledNumber of Licensed Drivers
19501.001.001.001.001.00
19511.01Not available1.071.071.04
19521.03Not available1.111.121.07
19531.05Not available1.171.191.12
19541.07Not available1.221.231.16
19551.091.101.301.321.20
19561.111.121.361.381.25
19571.131.141.411.411.28
19581.151.161.441.451.31
19591.171.181.511.531.36
19601.191.211.561.571.40
19611.201.231.611.611.43
19621.221.261.661.671.46
19631.241.271.731.761.50
19641.261.291.801.851.54
19651.271.321.891.941.58
19661.291.341.972.021.62
19671.301.362.022.101.66
19681.321.382.092.221.69
19691.331.432.192.321.74
19701.351.462.262.421.79
19711.371.492.342.571.84
19721.381.532.442.751.90
19731.401.572.562.871.95
19741.411.602.662.792.02
19751.421.632.762.902.09
19761.441.672.863.062.16
19771.451.702.953.202.22
19781.471.753.073.372.26
19791.481.783.163.342.30
19801.501.853.213.332.34
19811.511.893.263.392.36
19821.531.923.313.482.42
19831.541.933.383.612.48
19841.561.963.503.752.50
19851.571.993.613.872.52
19861.582.033.734.002.56
19871.602.053.844.192.60
19881.612.093.954.422.62
19891.632.134.044.582.66
19901.652.144.124.682.69
19911.672.174.174.742.72
19921.692.204.174.902.78
19931.712.214.285.012.78
19941.732.234.345.142.82
19951.762.274.455.292.84
19961.782.294.565.422.89
19971.802.324.625.592.94
19981.822.354.715.742.97
19991.842.384.825.873.01
20001.862.404.905.993.07
20011.882.484.986.103.08
20021.902.515.086.233.12
20031.912.555.196.313.15
20041.932.575.346.473.20
20051.952.605.486.523.22
20061.972.635.626.583.26
20071.992.665.726.613.31
20082.012.685.746.503.35
20092.022.695.726.453.37
20102.042.705.716.483.38
20112.052.725.726.443.41
20122.072.785.786.483.41

Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 33, July 2014, ORNL-6990, Table 8.1.

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