Millennials, younger generations make up majority of U.S. population: study

Millennials and those born after them make up a majority of the U.S. population for the first time, according to a new study published on Tuesday.

However, older generations still make up a majority of the country's electorate, the study by Brookings Institution demographer William Frey showed.

Members of the millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996, now make up 22 percent of the U.S. population.

Combined with members of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, and members of the as-yet-unnamed generation born after 2013, people under 40 years old now make up 50.7 percent of the nation's population.

Census projections suggest millennials and those who come after them will make up a majority of eligible voters by 2030, according to a The Hill report.

The younger cohorts stand out from older generations for their diversity and their more liberal attitudes on issues including immigration, police reform and protecting the environment, said the report.