The U.S. Census Bureau recently released July 1, 2007, estimates of the voting-age population in each state. The Census Bureau is required by law to produce these estimates annually for the Federal Election Commission.

     The estimates show the total number of residents in each state, the total population age 18 and older and the percentage of the total population 18 and older. They do not reflect citizenship status or voting eligibility. According to the estimates, California had the largest adult population, at 27.2 million, while Vermont had the highest percentage adult population, at 78.9 percent. (In the District of Columbia, the corresponding percentage was 80.7 percent.) There were 227.7 million U.S. residents 18 and older, comprising 75.5 percent of the total population.

     This is one in a series of population estimates that will be released over the next several months. In addition to this set, estimates will be provided for the total population of counties, incorporated cities and metro areas, as well as the population of the nation, states, and counties by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.

The Census Bureau develops state population estimates by measuring the population change since the most recent census. It uses births, deaths, administrative records and survey data to develop estimates of migration. For more detail regarding the methodology see <http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/>.