Profile of Older Americans

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A Profile of Older Americans: 2011

Marital Status

In 2010, older men were much more likely to be married than older women--72% of men, 42% of women (Figure 2). Widows accounted for 40% of all older women in 2010. There were over four times as many widows (8.7 million) as widowers (2.1 million).

Divorced and separated (including married/spouse absent) older persons represented only 12.4% of all older persons in 2010. However, this percentage has increased since 1980, when approximately 5.3% of the older population were divorced or separated/spouse absent.

Figure 2 - Chart shows the gender differences as men are more likely to be married (72% to 42%) and women more likely to be widowed (40% to 13%)

(Based on Internet releases of data from the 2010 Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the U.S. Census Bureau)

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Last Modified: 2/10/2012 8:23:02 AM