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A Profile of Older Americans: 2006
Future Growth
The older population will continue to grow significantly in the
future (see Figure 1). This growth slowed somewhat during the
1990's because of the relatively small number of babies born during the Great
Depression of the 1930's. But the older population will burgeon between the
years 2010 and 2030 when the "baby boom" generation reaches age 65.
The population
65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010
(a 15% increase)and then to
55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). By
2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, almost twice their number
in 2005. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2005 but are
expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.2 million
in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2010 (40%) and then to 7.3 million in 2020 (44% for
that decade).
Minority populations are projected to increase from 5.7 million in 2000 (16.4% of the
elderly population) to 8.1 million in 2010 (20.1% of the elderly) and then to
12.9 million in 2020 (23.6% of the elderly). Between
2004 and 2030, the white** population 65+ is projected to increase by 74%
compared with 183% for older minorities, including Hispanics (254%),
African-Americans** (147%), American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts** (143%), and
Asians and Pacific Islanders** (208%).
Note: Increments in years are uneven.
(Sources:
Projections of the Population by Age are taken from the January 2004 Census
Internet Release.Historical data
are taken from "65+ in the United States," Current Population Reports,
Special Studies, P23-190 Data for
2000 are from the 2000 Census and 2005 data are taken from the Census estimates
for 2005.)
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AoA - Statistics - A Profile of Older Americans 2006 - Marital Status
| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 8:31:06 AM |
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