America's child population is shrinking everywhere but the South

Data: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates; Chart: Russell Contreras/AxiosAmerica's child population fell by 1.8 million from 2020 to 2025 — with the under-18 population shrinking in every region but the South.Why it matters: Most of America is preparing for fewer students and young families, while the South faces the opposite problem: crowded classrooms, new housing pressure and rising political stakes.The big picture: The South had 303,969 more children in 2025 than in 2020, ac...