The demographic universe estimates for the 1987-1988 television season as defined and published by Nielsen Media Research.
| Demographic | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Households | 88,600,000 | |
| Persons 2+ | 229,120,000 | |
| Persons 2-11 | 34,360,000 | 15.0% |
| Persons 2-5 | 14,170,000 | 6.18% |
| Persons 6-11 | 20,190,000 | 8.81% |
| Persons 6-8 | 10,410,000 | 4.54% |
| Persons 9-11 | 9,780,000 | 4.27% |
| Persons 12-14 | 9,700,000 | 4.23% |
| Persons 12-17 | 19,880,000 | 8.68% |
| Persons 15-17 | 10,180,000 | 4.44% |
| Persons 15-24 | 35,970,000 | 15.7% |
| Persons 18+ | 174,880,000 | 76.3% |
| Persons 18-34 | 67,530,000 | 29.5% |
| Persons 18-49 | 114,820,000 | 50.1% |
| Persons 21+ | 164,300,000 | 71.7% |
| Persons 21-49 | 104,240,000 | 45.5% |
| Persons 21-54 | 115,180,000 | 50.3% |
| Persons 25-49 | 89,030,000 | 38.9% |
| Persons 25-54 | 99,970,000 | 43.6% |
| Persons 35+ | 107,350,000 | 46.9% |
| Persons 35-64 | 79,420,000 | 34.7% |
| Persons 50+ | 60,060,000 | 26.2% |
| Persons 50-54 | 10,940,000 | 4.77% |
| Persons 55+ | 49,120,000 | 21.4% |
| Males 2-11 | 17,540,000 | 7.66% |
| Males 6-11 | 10,310,000 | 4.50% |
| Males 12-17 | 10,100,000 | 4.41% |
| Males 15-24 | 18,010,000 | 7.86% |
| Males 18+ | 82,980,000 | 36.2% |
| Males 18-24 | 12,850,000 | 5.61% |
| Males 18-34 | 33,560,000 | 14.7% |
| Males 18-49 | 56,670,000 | 24.7% |
| Males 21+ | 77,720,000 | 33.9% |
| Males 21-49 | 51,410,000 | 22.4% |
| Males 21-54 | 56,670,000 | 24.7% |
| Males 25-49 | 43,820,000 | 19.1% |
| Males 25-54 | 49,080,000 | 21.4% |
| Males 35-64 | 38,240,000 | 16.7% |
| Males 55+ | 21,050,000 | 9.19% |
| Females 2-11 | 16,820,000 | 7.34% |
| Females 6-11 | 9,880,000 | 4.31% |
| Females 12-17 | 9,780,000 | 4.27% |
| Females 15-24 | 17,960,000 | 7.84% |
| Females 18+ | 91,900,000 | 40.1% |
| Females 18-34 | 33,970,000 | 14.8% |
| Females 18-49 | 58,150,000 | 25.4% |
| Females 21+ | 86,580,000 | 37.8% |
| Females 21-49 | 52,830,000 | 23.1% |
| Females 21-54 | 58,510,000 | 25.5% |
| Females 25-49 | 45,210,000 | 19.7% |
| Females 25-54 | 50,890,000 | 22.2% |
| Females 35-64 | 41,180,000 | 18.0% |
| Females 55+ | 28,070,000 | 12.3% |