Sixty-Five and Older Age Group On the Rise

More Americans are age sixty-five and older now than at any other time in American history. On April 1, 2010, the number of individuals who are sixty-five and older increased to 40.3 million. This age group now makes up 13% of the total U.S. population, compared to 12.4% in 2000 and 4.1% in 1900.

While females in this age group outnumber males at older ages, the gap is narrowing. In 2000, there were 88.1 males per 100 females. In 2010, there were 90.5 males for every 100 females. The 2010 Census showed that, beginning at age 89, there were approximately twice as many women as men.

The West has seen the most rapid growth of this age group since the 2000 Census, with the number of senior citizens increasing to 23.5% from 2000 to 2010 (6.9 million in 2000 compared to 8.5 million in 2010). The Northwest is comprised of 14.1% of senior citizens, the Midwest is comprised of 13.5%, the South is comprised of 13.0%, and the West is comprised of 11.9%. Florida has the greatest population of senior citizens at 17.3%, followed by West Virginia at 16%, Maine at 15.9%, Pennsylvania at 15.4%, and Iowa at 14.9%. Alaska has the smallest percentage of senior citizens, at only 7.7%.  

See Emily Brandon, 65-and-Older Population Soars, U.S. News, Jan. 9, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.