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Statistics
A Profile of
Older Americans: 2007
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
2007 - Marital
Status
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