U.S. Census Bureau Facts Older Americans Month

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 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.

44.7 million The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2013. This group accounted for 14.5 percent of the total population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPAGESEX

98.2 million Projected population of people 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group would comprise just over one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 19.7 million would be 85 or older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections, Table 3http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2014/summarytables.html

2.4 millionProjected number of baby boomers in 2060. At that time, the youngest baby boomers would be 96 years old.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html

2056The year in which, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html

Income and Poverty

$35,611The 2013 median income of households with householders 65 and older, not significantly different from the previous year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013, Table 1
http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf

9.5%The percent of people 65 and older (4.2 million) who were in poverty in 2013. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:  2013, Table 3http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf

$170,516Median net worth for householders 65 and older in 2011, down from $203,015 (in 2011 dollars) in 2005.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011 http://www.census.gov/people/wealth

14.6% Percent supplemental poverty rate for those 65 and older, equating to 6.5 million people. Excluding Social Security would leave the majority of this population (14.2 percent or 44.5 million) in poverty.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2013
http://census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-251.pdf

Serving Our Nation

9.3 million Estimated number of people 65 and older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Jobs

12.6% Labor force participation rate for men 65 and older in 2013, down from 17.6 percent in 1990 and significantly less than the rate for women 65 and older at 15.6 percent (8.4 percent in 1990).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Table B23001
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

4.9 millionNumber of full-time, year-round workers 65 and older with earnings in 2012, up from 1.5 million in 1993. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/people/

Education

83.6%Proportion of people 65 and older in 2014 who had completed high school or higher education.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2014, Table 1 All Raceshttp://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2014/tables.html

26.3%Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2014 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2014, Table 1 All Raceshttp://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2014/tables.html

Marital Status and Living Arrangements

58.3% Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1 http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2014A.html

11.3%Percentage of people 65 and older in 2014 who were widowed.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2014A.html

Computer and Internet Use

71%The percentage of those 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2013. Additionally, 62.4 percent accessed the Internet through a high-speed Internet connection.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2
http://census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/acs/acs-28.pdf

Voting

69.8%Percentage for those 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2012 presidential election. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2012, Table 2
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2012/tables.html

Homeownership

79.5% Percentage of householders 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Table 7
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/q414ind.html

Services for the Older Population

25,899
Number of business establishments providing services for the elderly and people with disabilities in 2012. These businesses employed 911,331 workers and generated $34.4 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 20,433 such establishments, employing 621,545 and producing $25.3 billion in revenues. Senior citizens centers are among the establishments in this industry.
Source: 2012 and 2007 Economic Census Industry Series (NAICS 624120)

4,792Number of continuing care retirement communities in 2012. These businesses employed 426,109 workers and generated $27.7 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 5,939 such establishments, employing 442,219 people and producing $26.0 billion in revenues. These establishments provide a range of residential and personal care services with on-site nursing care facilities for older people who do not desire to live independently. Individuals live in a variety of residential settings with meals, housekeeping, social, leisure and other services available to assist residents in daily living.
Source: 2012 and 2007 Economic Census Industry Series (NAICS 623311)

On the Map

17.8%Percentage of Florida's population that was 65 and older in 2013, followed by Maine (16.5 percent) and West Virginia (16.5 percent).Alaska had the lowest percentage (8.2 percent), followed by Utah (9.3 percent) and Texas (10.7 percent). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S0103&prodType=table

51.6%Percentage of the population in Sumter County, Fla., that was 65 and older in 2013, which led the nation. Chattahoochee County, Ga.(3.8 percent) had the lowest percentage.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-118.html

114,350The estimated July 1, 2014, population of The Villages, Fla., metro area. The Villages, located to the west of the Orlando metro area, was the nation's fastest-growing metro area between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, with its population increasing by 5.4 percent. The metro area is home to one of the largest age-restricted retirement communities in the world.
Source: 2014 metro area population estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2015/20150326_popestimates.html

Centenarians

54,956The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Centenarian Population: 2007-2011 Table 1
http://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/acsbr12-18.pdf

20.7For every 100 centenarian women, the number of centenarian men in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Older Population: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-09.pdf

43.5%In 2010, percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

3.29Number of centenarians per 10,000 people in North Dakota in 2010. North Dakota was the only state with more than three centenarians per 10,000 people.