Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States
The report “Aging in the United States” by the United States Population Reference Bureau examines recent trends and disparities among adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Baby boomers are reshaping America’s older population; the baby boom generation is expected to be between the ages of 55 and 73 in 2019.
Demographic Shifts
By 2060, the number of Americans aged 65 and up is expected to nearly double, from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million, as older people work longer and become more ethnically and racially diverse. Many parts of the country are aging in place as young people migrate elsewhere.
Positive Developments
The average life expectancy in the United States has increased from 68 years in 1950 to 78.6 years in 2017. The poverty rate among Americans 65 and older has decreased dramatically. In 1990, there was a seven-year gap in life expectancy between men and women; by 2017, the gap had narrowed to five years.
Challenges
Obesity rates among adults aged 60 and up have been rising, and the percentage of divorced women aged 65 and up has risen from 3% in 1980 to 14% in 2018. Demand for elder care will also be fueled by an increase in the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease.
How many seniors are there in the US?
In the United States, the population aged 65 and up totaled 52.4 million in 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), accounting for 16% of the population, or more than one in every seven people.
How many 65+ are there in the US?
In 2016 (the most recent year for which data are available), the population aged 65 and up in the United States totaled 49.2 million, accounting for 15.2% of the population, or roughly one in every seven Americans.
What age is elderly in the US?
The u201celderlyu201d have traditionally been defined as people aged 65 and up.
What percent of US population dies before age 65?
Since 1900, life expectancy has increased by more than 50%, from a little less than fifty years to around seventy-five years in the United States.
What is the largest age group in the US?
In 2021, the estimated population of the United States was 329.48 million, with adults aged 25 to 29 accounting for the largest age group, with 11.88 million males and around 11.36 million females.
Which race has the highest population in the world?
The Han Chinese are the world’s largest ethnic group, with Mandarin being the most spoken language in terms of native speakers; the world’s population is primarily urban and suburban, with significant migration toward cities and urban centers.
What is the world population as of 2020?
In Europe, on the other hand, the trend is toward a graying population, with the world population projected to rise from 7.8 billion in 2020 to 9.9 billion by 2050, according to the 2020 World Population Data Sheet.
How many adults in the US are over 2020?
The US Census Bureau estimated that 331.4 million people lived in the country in 2020; more than three-quarters (77.9%), or 258.3 million, were adults aged 18 and up, up 10.1% from 234.6 million in 2010.
What are the odds of living to 70?
Thanks to advances in medicine and changes in lifestyle, Americans today are living longer than previous generations. As shown in the dark green bars, a man who reached 65 had an 81 percent chance of reaching 70, a 41 percent chance of reaching 80, and a 10% chance of reaching 90.
What percentage of the US population is over 75?
The share of the older population aged 75 to 84 was around 14.3 million, or 29 percent (Table 1), more than double the number and proportion (6.3 million, or 13 percent) of those aged 85 and up.
Which group has the highest income in old age?
Asians have the highest median family income, followed by whites, Hispanics, and blacks. NOTE: Family income for people 65 and up is higher than income for people 65 and up because it includes income from all family members, not just a spouse.