Older Americans Month: May 2008
A meeting with the National
Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating
May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in
some way to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter's
proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate
those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.
37.3 million
The number of people 65 and older in the
This age group accounted for
12 percent of the total population. Between
2005 and 2006, this age group increased by 473,000 people.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
86.7 million
Projected population of people 65 and older in 2050. People in this age group
would comprise 21 percent of the total population at that time.
Source: Population
projections
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html>
147%
Projected percentage increase in the 65-and-older
population between 2000 and 2050. By comparison, the population as a whole would have
increased by only 49 percent during the same period.
Source: Population
projections
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html>
506 million
Projected 2008 midyear world population 65 and
older.
Projections indicate the
number will increase to 999 million by 2030.
Source: Population
projections <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb>
Income and Wealth
$27,798
Median 2006 income of households with householders 65 and older,
up 3.4 percent, in real terms, from the previous year.
Source: Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in the United
States: 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
9.4%
Poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2006, down
from 10.1 percent in 2005. There were 3.4 million seniors in poverty in 2006,
a decline from
3.6 million in 2005.
Source: Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in the United
States: 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
$190,100
Median net worth for families in 2004 whose head was
between 65 and 74. For those whose head was 75 or older, the corresponding figure
was $163,100.
Source: Statistical Abstract
of the
Serving Our Nation
9.1 million
Estimated number of people 65 and older who are
military veterans.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Jobs
5.5 million
Number of people 65 and older who were in the labor
force in 2006.
Projections indicate that by
2016, the number will reach 10.1 million.
Source: Statistical Abstract
of the
23%
Percentage of people 65 to 74 in the labor force in 2006, up
from 20 percent in 2000.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/010601.html>
Some of the highest rates
were found in
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/010601.html>
Education
76%
Proportion of people 65 and older in 2007 with at
least a high school diploma.
Source: Educational
Attainment in the
19%
Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2007
who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: Educational
Attainment in the
7.3 million
Number of people 66 and older taking adult education
courses, comprising about 8 percent of these students.
Source: Statistical Abstract
of the
69,000
Number of people 65 and older enrolled in high school or college
in October 2005.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of
Students: October 2005
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/007909.html>
Marital Status and Living Arrangements
53%
Percentage of people 65 and older who were married
in 2006.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
32%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2006 who were
widowed.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
64%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2006 who lived
with relatives. Another 27 percent lived alone, while 5 percent lived in group
quarters and 2 percent in a household with nonrelatives.
In addition, 6 percent lived in their children’s home, and 1 percent lived with
unmarried partners.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
1.6 million
Number of people 65 and older who lived in nursing
facilities in 2006.
These residents comprised 4
percent of all people in this age group.
Source: 2006 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Voting
79%
Percentage of citizens 65 and older registered to vote in the
2004 presidential election.
Seventy-one percent of
citizens in this age group reported actually casting a ballot.
Source: Voting and
Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>
19%
In the 2004 presidential election, the percentage of votes cast
by people 65 and older.
Source: Voting and
Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>
Homeownership
81% Proportion of householders 65 and older in 2006 who owned
their homes.
This compares with 43 percent for householders at the
other end of the age spectrum —
younger than 35.
Source: Current Population
Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/hvs.html>
Businesses
11% Percentage of the nation’s business owners who
are 65 and older.
Source: Characteristics of
Business Owners: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007537.html>
Population Distribution
Nation
72
The number of men 65 and older on July 1, 2006, for
every 100 women in this age group. For those 85 and older, it drops to 47 men
per 100 women.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
5.3 million
The number of people 85 and older in the
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
84,331
Estimated number of centenarians in the
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/2006_nat_res.html>
580,605
Projected number of centenarians in the
Source: Population
projections
<http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterimproj/>
States
3.9 million
Number of people 65 and older living in
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
17%
Percentage of
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
31.2%
Percentage of the population of
Cars
75%
Percentage of households with a householder 65 and
older who owns a motor vehicle. About 3 percent of these households have three or
more cars.
Source: Statistical Abstract
of the