Facts on Elderly Populations
The older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 34.5 million in 1999. They represented 12.7% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans.
The number of older Americans increased by 3.3 million or 10.6% since 1990, compared to an increase of 9.1% for the under-65 population.
In 1999, there were 20.2 million older women and 14.3 million older men, or a sex ratio of 141 women for every 100 men. The sex ratio increased with age, ranging from 118 for the 65-69 group to a high of 237 for persons 85 and over.
Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has more than tripled (4.1% in 1900 to 12.7% in 1999), and the number has increased more than 1,100% (from 3.1 million to 34.5 million).
The older population itself is getting older. In 1999 the 65-74 age group (18.2 million) was eight times larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 group (12.1 million) was 16 times larger and the 85+ group (4.2 million) was 34 times larger.
Life expectancy at age 65 increased by only 2.4 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased by 3.5 years since 1960.
Almost 2.0 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 1999 (5,422 per day). In the same year, about 1.8 million persons 65 or older died, resulting in a net increase of approximately 200,000 (558 per day).
Where Do We Live?
The majority (67%) of older non-institutionalized persons lived in a family setting in 1998.
Approximately 10.8 million or 80% of older men, and 10.7 million or 58% of older women, lived in families.
The proportion living in a family setting decreased with age. Only 45% of those 85+ years old lived in family setting.
About 13% of older persons (7% of men, 17% of women) were not living with a spouse but were living with children, siblings, or other relatives. An additional 3% of men and 2% of women, or 718,000 older persons, lived with non relatives.
About 31% (9.9 million) of all non-institutionalized older persons in 1998 lived alone (7.6 million women, 2.3 million men). They represented 41% of older women and 17% of older men. Living alone correlates with advanced age.
Among women aged 85 and over, for example, three of every five lived outside a family setting.
Future Predictions
The older population will continue to grow significantly in the future. The older population will burgeon between the years 2010 and 2030 when the "baby boom" generation reaches age 65.
By 2030, there will be about 70 million older persons, more than twice their number in 1999. People 65+ will represent almost 13% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030.
Minority populations are projected to represent 25.4% of the elderly population in 2030, up from 16.1% in 1999.
Between 1999 and 2030, the white** population 65+ is projected to increase by 81% compared with 219% for older minorities, including Hispanics (328%), African-Americans** (131%), American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts** (147%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders** (285%).
**Data for this section were compiled primarily from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics:
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