2017 Profile

of Older Americans

April 2018

 The Administration for Community Living, which includes the Administration on Aging, is an 

operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Table of Contents

HIGHLIGHTS ................................................................................................................................................ 1

THE OLDER POPULATION ........................................................................................................................ 2

FUTURE GROWTH ....................................................................................................................................... 3

FIGURE 1: NUMBER OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER: 1900-2060 (NUMBERS IN MILLIONS)........................................... 3

MARITAL STATUS........................................................................................................................................ 4

FIGURE 2: MARITAL STATUS OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER, 2017.............................................................................. 4

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.......................................................................................................................... 5

FIGURE 3: LIVING ARRANGEMENTS OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER, 2017................................................................... 5

RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMPOSITION................................................................................................... 6

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ................................................................................................................. 6

FIGURE 4: PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION, 2016............................................ 7

FIGURE 5: PERCENT INCREASE IN POPULATION AGE 65 AND OVER, 2006 TO 2016........................................................ 7

FIGURE 6: THE AGE 65 AND OVER POPULATION BY STATE, 2016 .................................................................................. 8

INCOME........................................................................................................................................................... 9

FIGURE 7: PERCENT DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME: 2016.................................................................................................... 9

POVERTY...................................................................................................................................................... 10

HOUSING....................................................................................................................................................... 10

EMPLOYMENT............................................................................................................................................ 11

EDUCATION................................................................................................................................................. 11

HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE ................................................................................................................ 12

HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE........................................................................................................ 13

FIGURE 8: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER BY TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, 2016............ 13

DISABILITY AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING..................................................................................... 14

FIGURE 9: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER WITH A DISABILITY, 2016 ..................................................... 14

CAREGIVING............................................................................................................................................... 15

NOTES............................................................................................................................................................ 16
1

Highlights1 2 3

• Over the past 10 years, the population age 65 and over increased from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 

million in 2016 (a 33% increase) and is projected to almost double to 98 million in 2060. 

• Between 2006 and 2016 the population age 60 and over increased 36% from 50.7 million to 68.7 million.

• The 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 

2040 (a 129% increase).

• Racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.9 million in 2006 (19% of the older adult 

population) to 11.1 million in 2016 (23% of older adults) and are projected to increase to 21.1 million in 

2030 (28% of older adults). 

• The number of Americans aged 45-64 – who will reach age 65 over the next two decades – increased by

12% between 2006 and 2016.

• About one in every seven, or 15.2%, of the population is an older American.

• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.4 years (20.6 years for 

females and 18 years for males).

• There were 81,896 persons age 100 and over in 2016 (0.2% of the total age 65 and over population). 

• Older women outnumber older men at 27.5 million older women to 21.8 million older men.

• In 2016, 23% of persons age 65 and over were members of racial or ethnic minority populations--9% 

were African-Americans (not Hispanic), 4% were Asian or Pacific Islander (not Hispanic), 0.5% were 

Native American (not Hispanic), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, (not Hispanic), and 0.7% 

of persons 65+ identified themselves as being of two or more races. Persons of Hispanic origin (who may 

be of any race) represented 8% of the older population. 

• A larger percentage of older men are married as compared with older women---70% of men, 46% of 

women. In 2017, 33% older women were widows.

• About 28% (13.8 million) of noninstitutionalized older persons lived alone (9.3 million women, 

4.5 million men).

• Almost half of older women (45%) age 75 and over lived alone.

• The median income of older persons in 2016 was $31,618 for males and $18,380 for females. The real 

median income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people increased by 2.1% 

(which was not statistically significant) between 2015 and 2016. Households containing families headed 

by persons age 65 and over reported a median income in 2016 of $58,559.

• The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2015 were Social Security (reported by 84% 

of older persons), income from assets (reported by 63%), earnings (reported by 29%), private pensions 

(reported by 37%), and government employee pensions (reported by 16%).

• Social Security constituted 90% or more of the income received by 34% of beneficiaries in 2015 (23% of 

married couples and 43% of non-married beneficiaries).

• Over 4.6 million older adults (9.3%) were below the poverty level in 2016. This poverty rate is not 

statistically different from the poverty rate in 2015 (8.8%). In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau released a 

new Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) which takes into account regional variations in living costs, 

non-cash benefits received, and non-discretionary expenditures but does not replace the official poverty 

measure. In 2016, the SPM showed a poverty level for persons age 65 and over of 14.5% (more than 5 

percentage points higher than the official rate of 9.3%). This increase is mainly due to including medical 

out-of-pocket expenses in the poverty calculations.

• The need for caregiving increases with age. In January-June 2017, the percentage of older adults age 85 

and over needing help with personal care (22%) was more than twice the percentage for adults ages 

75–84 (9%) and more than six times the percentage for adults ages 65–74 (3%). 

 1 Principal sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Profile incorporates the latest data available but not all items are updated on an annual basis. 2 This report includes data on the 65 and over population unless otherwise noted. The phrases “older adults” or “older 

persons” refer to the population age 65 and over.

3 Numbers in this report may not add up due to rounding.
2

The Older Population

In the United States, the population age 65 and over numbered 49.2 million in 2016 (the most recent year for 

which data are available). They represented 15.2% of the population, about one in every seven Americans. The 

number of older Americans increased by 12.1 million or 33% since 2006, compared to an increase of 5% for the 

under-65 population.

Between 2006 and 2016, the number of Americans aged 45-64 (who will reach age 65 over the next two decades)

increased by 12% and the number of Americans age 60 and over increased by 36% from 50.7

million to 68.7 million.

In 2016, among the population age 65 and over there were 27.5 million women and 21.8 million men, or a sex 

ratio of 126 women for every 100 men. At age 85 and over, this ratio increased to 187 women for every 100 men. 

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans age 65 and over has more than tripled (from 4.1% in 1900 to 15.2% in 

2016), and the number has increased over fifteen times (from 3.1 million to 49.2 million). The older population 

itself is increasingly older. In 2016, the 65-74 age group (28.6 million) was more than 13 times larger than in 

1900 (2,186,767); the 75-84 group (14.2 million) was more than 18 times larger (771,369), and the 85+ group

(6.4 million) was 52 times larger (122,362).

In 2016, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 19.4 years (20.6 years for 

females and 18 years for males). A child born in 2016 could expect to live 78.6 years, more than 30 years longer 

than a child born in 1900 (47.3 years). Much of this increase occurred because of reduced death rates for children 

and young adults. However, the period of 1990-2007 also has seen reduced death rates for the population aged 65-

84, especially for men – by 41.6% for men aged 65-74 and by 29.5% for men aged 75-84. Life expectancy at age 

65 increased by only 2.5 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased by 4.2 years from 1960 to 2007. 

Nonetheless, some research has raised concerns about future increases in life expectancy in the US compared to 

other high-income countries, primarily due to past smoking and current obesity levels, especially for women age 

50 and over (National Research Council, 2011).

In 2016, 3.5 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday. Census estimates showed an annual net increase 

between 2015 and 2016 of 1.5 million in the number of persons age 65 and over.

Between 1980 and 2016, the centenarian population experienced a larger percentage increase than did the total 

population. There were 81,896 persons age 100 and over in 2016 (0.2% of the total age 65 and over population).

This is more than double the 1980 figure of 32,194.

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Selected Age 

Groups by Sex for the United States, States, Counties, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth and Municipios: April 1, 

2010 to July 1, 2016. Release Date: June 2017; Table 1. Intercensal Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex 

and Age for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010. Release Date: September 2011; Annual Estimates of 

the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex for the United States, States, Counties, and Puerto Rico 

Commonwealth and Municipios: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016. Release Date: June 2017; 2010 Census Special 

Reports, Centenarians: 2010, C2010SR-03, 2012; Hobbs, Frank and Nicole Stoops, Census 2000 Special Reports, 

Series CENSR-4, Demographic Trends in the 20th Century, Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United 

States: 1900 to 2000, Part A; National Center for Health Statistics, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. 

Mortality in the United States, 2016. NCHS data brief, no 293. Hyattsville, MD: December 2017; and National 

Research Council, Crimmins EM, Preston SH, Cohen B, editors. Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in 

High-Income Countries. Panel on Understanding Divergent Trends in Longevity in High-Income Countries, 2011.
3

Future Growth

The older population is expected to continue to grow significantly in the future (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 is beginning to burgeon as approximately one-third of the "baby boom" 

generation is now age 65 and over.

The population age 65 and over has increased from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016 (a 33% increase) 

and is projected to almost double to 98 million in 2060. By 2040, there will be about 82.3 million older persons, 

over twice their number in 2000. People age 65 and over represented 15.2% of the population in the year 2016 but 

are expected to grow to be 21.7% of the population by 2040. The 85 and over population is projected to more than 

double from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 2040 (a 129% increase).

Racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.9 million in 2006 (19% of the older adult

population) to 11.1 million in 2016 (23% of older adults) and are projected to increase to 21.1 million in 2030

(28% of older adults). Between 2016 and 2030, the white (not Hispanic) population age 65 and over is projected 

to increase by 39% compared to 89% for older racial and ethnic minority populations, including Hispanics 

(112%), African-Americans (not Hispanic) (73%), American Indian and Native Alaskans (not Hispanic) (72%), 

and Asians (not Hispanic) (81%).

Figure 1: Number of Persons Age 65 and Over: 1900-2060 (numbers in millions)

Note: Increments in years are uneven. Lighter bars indicate projections.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates and Projections.

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Selected Age 

Groups by Sex for the United States, States, Counties, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth and Municipios: April 1, 

2010 to July 1, 2016, Release Date: June 2017; Intercensal Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex and Age 

for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010. Release Date: September 2011; Intercensal Estimates of the 

White Alone Not Hispanic Resident Population by Sex and Age for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 

2010. Release Date: September 2011; 2014 National Population Projections: Summary Tables, Table 3. 

Projections of the Population by Sex and Selected Age Groups for the United States: 2015 to 2060, released 

December 10, 2014; and NP2014_D1: Projected Population by Single Year of Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic 

Origin for the United States: 2014 to 2060. Release date: December 2014.

3.1 4.9 9

16.2

25.5

35

49.2

56.4

82.3

98.2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2016 2020 2040 2060

Year (as of July 1)

Figure 1: Number of Persons Age 65 and Over, 

1900 to 2060 (numbers in millions)
4

Marital Status

In 2017, a larger percentage of older men were married as compared with older women--70% of men, 46% of 

women (Figure 2). Widows accounted for 33% of all older women in 2017. There were more than three times as 

many widows (8.9 million) as widowers (2.5 million).

Divorced and separated (including married/spouse absent) older persons represented only 15% of all older 

persons in 2017. However, this percentage has increased since 1980, when approximately 5.3% of the older 

population were divorced or separated/spouse absent.

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons Age 65 and over, 2017

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

-----

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

46%

33%

16%

6%

70%

11% 14%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Married Widowed Divorced or

Separated/ Spouse

Absent

Single (never

married)

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons Age 65 and Over, 2017

Women Men
5

Living Arrangements

Over half (59%) of older noninstitutionalized persons age 65 and over lived with their spouse (including partner)

in 2017. Approximately 16 million or 72% of older men, and 12.9 million or 48% of older women, lived with 

their spouse (Figure 3). The proportion living with their spouse decreased with age, especially for women. Only

34% of women 75 and over years old lived with a spouse.

About 28% (13.8 million) of all noninstitutionalized older persons in 2017 lived alone (9.3 million women, 4.5

million men). They represented 34% of older women and 20% of older men. The proportion living alone 

increases with advanced age. Among women age 75 and over, for example, almost half (45%) lived alone.

A relatively small number (1.5 million) and percentage (3.1%) of the 65 and over population lived in institutional 

settings in 2016. Among those who did, 1.2 million lived in nursing homes. However, the percentage increases 

dramatically with age, ranging from 1% for persons ages 65-74 to 3% for persons ages 75-84 and 9% for persons 

age 85 and over.

Figure 3: Living Arrangements of Persons Age 65 and Over, 2017

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Current Population Survey, Annual Social 

and Economic Supplement 1967 to present; Table AD3. Living arrangements of adults 65 to 74 years 

old, 1967 to present; Table AD3. Living arrangements of adults 75 and over, 1967 to present.

72%

20%

8%

Men

Living with spouse or partner

Living alone

Other

48%

34%

18%

Women

Living with spouse or partner

Living alone

Other
6

Racial and Ethnic Composition

In 2016, 23% of persons age 65 and over were members of racial or ethnic minority populations—9% were 

African-Americans (not Hispanic), 4% were Asian or Pacific Islander (not Hispanic), 0.5% were Native 

American (not Hispanic), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, (not Hispanic), and 0.7% of persons age 

65+ identified themselves as being of two or more races. Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) 

represented 8% of the older population. 

Only 9% of all the people who were members of racial and ethnic minority populations were age 65 and over in 

2016 compared to 19% of non-Hispanic whites. The percentage of people age 65 and over within each racial and 

ethnic minority group were as follows: 11% of African-Americans (not Hispanic), 12% of Asians (not Hispanic),

9% of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (not Hispanic), 11% of American Indian and Native Alaskans 

(not Hispanic), and 7% of Hispanics.

-----

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Age, 

Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States and States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016. Release Date: June 

2017.

Geographic Distribution

The proportion of older persons in the population varied considerably by state with some states experiencing 

much greater growth in their older populations (Figures 4 and 5). In 2016, more than half (54%) of persons age 65

and over lived in 10 states: California (5.3 million); Florida (4.1 million); Texas (3.4 million); New York (3.0

million); Pennsylvania (2.2 million); Ohio (1.9 million); Illinois (1.9 million); Michigan (1.6 million); North 

Carolina (1.6 million); and New Jersey (1.4 million). Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, and 

Tennessee each had over 1 million people age 65 and over in 2016 

(Figure 6).

The five states with the highest percentage of persons age 65 and over in 2016 were Florida (19.9%), Maine 

(19.4%), West Virginia (18.8%), Vermont (18.1%), and Montana (17.7%).

In four states, the age 65 and over population increased by 50% or more between 2006 and 2016: Alaska (66%);

Nevada (57%); Colorado (55%); and Arizona (50%).

The 14 states with poverty rates at or over 10% for older adults during 2016 were: District of Columbia (13.4%); 

Louisiana (13%); Mississippi (12.3%); New Mexico (11.5%); New York (11.4%); Kentucky (11.1%); South 

Dakota (10.9%); Arkansas (10.5%); Texas (10.5%); Florida (10.4%); California (10.3%); Georgia (10.1%); 

Alabama (10.0%); and Idaho (10.0%). 

A smaller percentage of older adults changed residence as compared with younger age groups. From 2016 to 

2017, only 4% of older persons moved as opposed to 12% of the under age 65 population. Most older movers 

(57%) stayed in the same county and 21% remained in the same state (different county). Only 22% moved out-ofstate or abroad.

-----

Sources: Administration for Community Living agid.acl.gov. Data Source: Population Estimates 2006, accessed 

January 30, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Current Population Survey, Annual Social 

and Economic Supplement; Table 1. General Mobility, by Race and Hispanic Origin, Region, Sex, Age, 

Relationship to Householder, Educational Attainment, Marital Status, Nativity, Tenure, and Poverty Status: 2016 

to 2017; Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Selected Age Groups by Sex for the United States, 

States, Counties, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth and Municipios: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016. Release date 

June 2017. 
7

Figure 4: Persons Age 65 and Over as a Percentage of Total Population, 2016

Figure 5: Percent Increase in Population Age 65 and Over, 2006 to 2016
8

Figure 6: The Age 65 and Over Population by State, 2016

State Number of Persons 

65 and Over (1)

Percent of All 

Ages

Percent Increase from 

2006 to 2016

Percent Below 

Poverty 2016 (2)

US Total (50 States+ DC) 49,244,195 15.20% 32.5 9.30%

Alabama 784,551 16.10% 28.0 10.00%

Alaska 77,206 10.40% 65.6 4.20%

Arizona 1,170,924 16.90% 50.0 9.00%

Arkansas 486,734 16.30% 24.0 10.50%

California 5,346,635 13.60% 38.1 10.30%

Colorado 743,524 13.40% 55.0 7.60%

Connecticut 577,403 16.10% 21.2 6.50%

Delaware 166,950 17.50% 44.2 6.90%

District of Columbia 78,691 11.60% 19.4 13.40%

Florida 4,094,917 19.90% 36.3 10.40%

Georgia 1,354,662 13.10% 49.4 10.10%

Hawaii 243,962 17.10% 37.3 8.90%

Idaho 254,989 15.10% 48.7 10.00%

Illinois 1,871,264 14.60% 22.8 9.20%

Indiana 991,563 14.90% 25.9 7.70%

Iowa 514,215 16.40% 17.1 6.90%

Kansas 436,993 15.00% 21.7 8.00%

Kentucky 690,717 15.60% 28.3 11.10%

Louisiana 674,443 14.40% 30.9 13.00%

Maine 257,683 19.40% 32.4 9.10%

Maryland 876,210 14.60% 35.6 8.20%

Massachusetts 1,073,964 15.80% 26.3 8.50%

Michigan 1,611,755 16.20% 27.0 8.10%

Minnesota 832,228 15.10% 31.8 7.20%

Mississippi 450,941 15.10% 26.0 12.30%

Missouri 978,021 16.10% 24.8 8.20%

Montana 185,040 17.70% 39.5 8.90%

Nebraska 286,744 15.00% 21.6 7.80%

Nevada 441,142 15.00% 57.3 8.70%

New Hampshire 226,804 17.00% 39.9 4.60%

New Jersey 1,372,612 15.30% 22.1 8.30%

New Mexico 342,426 16.50% 40.4 11.50%

New York 3,032,509 15.40% 21.8 11.40%

North Carolina 1,569,465 15.50% 43.1 9.40%

North Dakota 109,999 14.50% 16.0 7.90%

Ohio 1,886,629 16.20% 22.4 8.10%

Oklahoma 590,138 15.00% 24.2 8.60%

Oregon 688,878 16.80% 42.8 7.50%

Pennsylvania 2,223,721 17.40% 17.5 7.80%

Rhode Island 173,964 16.50% 17.4 9.10%

South Carolina 830,232 16.70% 49.5 8.60%

South Dakota 138,805 16.00% 25.1 10.90%

Tennessee 1,047,052 15.70% 35.3 8.90%

Texas 3,353,240 12.00% 44.0 10.50%

Utah 321,164 10.50% 44.8 6.70%

Vermont 112,932 18.10% 35.2 8.70%

Virginia 1,228,744 14.60% 39.7 7.80%

Washington 1,081,063 14.80% 47.2 7.60%

West Virginia 343,517 18.80% 21.0 9.50%

Wisconsin 928,418 16.10% 26.7 7.60%

Wyoming 87,812 15.00% 38.0 8.50%

Puerto Rico 645,887 18.90% 26.3 38.10%

Notes: (1) Population Estimates (2) Poverty data for the US total are from the Current Population Survey, Poverty 

data for States and Puerto Rico are from the American Community Survey.

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement; 

Population Estimates; and American Community Survey.
9

Income

The median income of older persons in 2016 was $31,618 for males and $18,380 for females. From 2015 to 

2016, the real median income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people increased by 

2.1% which was not statistically significant. Households containing families headed by persons age 65 and over

reported a median income in 2016 of $58,559 ($61,458 for non-Hispanic Whites, $44,986 for Hispanics, $43,554 

for African-Americans, and $66,116 for Asians). About 5% of family households with an older adult householder 

had incomes less than $15,000 and 73% had incomes of $35,000 or more (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 2016

Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

3%

2%

9%

12%

15%

20%

38%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Under $10,000

$10,000 - $14,999

$15,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $34,999

$35,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $74,999

$75,000 and over

Family Households with Householder Age 65 and Over, 2016

$58,559 median for 17.1 million family households with householder age 65 and over

4%

10%

16%

23%

13%

12%

22%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Under $5,000

$5,000 - $9,999

$10,000 - $14,999

$15,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $34,999

$35,000 - $49,999

$50,000 and over

Persons Age 65 and Over Reporting Income, 2016

$23,394 median for 47.5 million persons age 65 and over reporting income
10

For all older persons reporting income in 2016 (47.5 million), 14% reported less than $10,000 and 47% reported 

$25,000 or more. The median income reported was $23,394.

The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2015 were Social Security (reported by 84% of older 

persons), income from assets (reported by 63%), earnings (reported by 29%), private pensions (reported by 37%), 

and government employee pensions (reported by 16%). In 2015, Social Security benefits accounted for 33% of 

the aggregate income4 of the older population. The bulk of the remainder consisted of earnings (34%), asset 

income (9%), pensions (20%) and other (4%). Social Security constituted 90% or more of the income received by 

34% of beneficiaries (23% of married couples and 43% of non-married beneficiaries).

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, FINC-01. 

Selected Characteristics of Families by Total Money Income in 2016; PINC-01. Selected Characteristics of 

People 15 Years Old and Over by Total Money Income in 2016, Work Experience in 2016, Race, Hispanic 

Origin, and Sex; and U.S. Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2016, Current Population 

Reports, P60-259, issued September 2017. Social Security Administration, “Fast Facts and Figures About Social 

Security, 2017.”

Poverty

Over 4.6 million people age 65 and over (9.3%) were below the poverty level in 2016.

5 This poverty rate is not 

statistically different from the poverty rate in 2015 (8.8%). Another 2.4 million or 4.9% of older adults were 

classified as "near-poor" (income between the poverty level and 125% of this level).

In 2016, 2.7 million older Whites (alone, not Hispanic) (7.1%) were poor in 2016, compared to 18.7% of older 

African-Americans (alone), 11.8% of older Asians (alone), and 17.4% of older Hispanics (any race). 

Older women had a higher poverty rate (10.6%) than older men (7.6%) in 2016. A higher percentage of older 

persons living alone were poor (17.3%) as compared with older persons living with families (5.3%). The highest 

poverty rates were experienced among older Hispanic women who lived alone (39.5%).

In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau released a new Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). The SPM methodology 

shows a significantly higher number of older persons below poverty than is shown by the official poverty 

measure. For persons age 65 and over, this poverty measure showed a poverty level of 14.5% in 2016 (more than 

5 percentage points higher than the official rate of 9.3%). Unlike the official poverty rate, the SPM takes into 

account regional variations in the cost of housing etc. and, even more significantly, the impact of both non-cash 

benefits received (e.g., SNAP/food stamps, low income tax credits, and WIC) and non-discretionary expenditures 

including medical out-of-pocket (MOOP) expenses. For persons 65 and over, MOOP was the major source of the 

significant differences between these measures. The SPM does not replace the official poverty measure.

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement; POV01: 

Age and Sex of All People, Family Members and Unrelated Individuals Iterated by Income-to-Poverty Ratio and 

Race: 2016; "Income and Poverty in the United States: 2016," P60-259, issued September, 2017; Poverty 

Thresholds for 2016 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years; and “The Supplemental 

Poverty Measure: 2016,” P60-261(RV), revised September 2017.

Housing

Of the 11.9 million households headed by persons age 75 and over in 2015, 76% were owners and 24% were 

renters. The median family income of older homeowners was $31,000. The median family income of older renters 

 4 Aggregate income refers to the total income of couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older.

5 The poverty threshold in 2016 was $11,511 for householders age 65 and over living alone.
11

was $17,400. In 2015, almost 44% of older householders spent more than one-third of their income on housing 

costs - 36% for owners and 78% for renters.

For older homeowners age 75 and over in 2015, the median construction year was 1969 compared to 1978 for all 

homeowners. Among the homes owned by people age 75 and over, 3.5% had moderate to severe problems with 

plumbing, heating, electric, wiring, and/or upkeep. In 2015, the median value of homes owned by older persons 

was $150,000 (with a median purchase price of $53,000). In comparison, the median home value all homeowners

was $180,000 (with a median purchase price of $127,000). About 78% of older homeowners in 2015 owned their 

homes free and clear.

-----

Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Housing Survey, National Tables: 2015.

Employment

In 2017, 9.6 million (19.3%) Americans age 65 and over were in the labor force (working or actively seeking 

work), including 5.3 million men (23.9%) and 4.3 million women (15.7%). They constituted 6% of the U.S. labor 

force. About 3.6% were unemployed. Labor force participation of men age 65 and over decreased steadily from 

63.1% in 1900 to 15.8% in 1985; then stayed at 16%-18% until 2002; and has been increasing since then to over 

20%. The participation rate for women age 65 and over rose slightly from 8.3% in 1900 to 10.9% in 1956, fell to 

7.3% in 1985, and then stayed at 8%-9% during the 1990s. Beginning in 2000, labor force participation of older 

women started to gradually rise from 9.7% to the 2017 level of 15.7%. This increase is especially noticeable 

among the population ages 65-69.

----

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Labor Force Statistics, Household Data, Annual 

Averages, Table 3. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by age, sex, and race.

Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. Between 1970 and 2017, the percentage of older 

persons who had completed high school rose from 28% to 86%. About 30% in 2017 had a bachelor's degree or 

higher. The percentage who had completed high school varied considerably by race and ethnic origin in 2017:

91% of Whites (not Hispanic), 79% of Asians (not Hispanic), 75% of African-Americans (not Hispanic), 79% of 

American Indian/Alaska Natives (not Hispanic), and 58% of Hispanics. The increase in educational levels is also 

evident within these groups. In 1970, only 30% of older Whites and 9% of older African-Americans were high 

school graduates.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
12

Health and Health Care

In June-July 2017, 45% of noninstitutionalized people age 65 and over assessed their health as excellent or very 

good (compared to 64% for persons ages 18-64 years). Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and 

many have multiple conditions. In 2015, among persons age 65 and over, the top five chronic conditions were 

hypertension (58%), hyperlipidemia (48%), arthritis (31%), ischemic heart disease (29%), and diabetes (27%). 

In January-June 2017, 71% of people age 65 and over reported that they received an influenza vaccination during 

the past 12 months and 69% reported that they had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination. About 31% (of 

persons age 60 and over) reported height/weight combinations that placed them among the obese. Slightly under 

half (44%) of persons ages 65-74 and 29% of persons age 75 and over reported that they engaged in regular 

leisure-time physical activity. Only 9% of persons age 65 and over reported that they were current smokers and

8% reported excessive alcohol consumption. Less than 3% of persons age 65 and over reported that they had 

experienced serious psychological distress during the past 30 days.

In 2015, 7.1 million people age 65 and over stayed in a hospital overnight at least one night during the year. 

Among this group of older adults, 10% stayed overnight 1 time, 3% stayed overnight 2 times, and 2% stayed 

overnight 3 or more times. This is approximately double the number of overnight hospital stays for the population 

ages 45 to 64; 6% had stayed overnight 1 time, 1% stayed overnight 2 times, and 1% stayed overnight 3 or more 

times. Older persons averaged more office visits with doctors than younger persons in 2016. Among people age 

75 and over, 19% had 10 or more visits to a doctor or other health care professional in the past 12 months 

compared to 17% among people ages 65 to 74,15% among people ages 45 to 64, and 11% among people ages 18 

to 44.

In January-June 2017, 97% of persons age 65 and over reported that they did have a usual place to go for medical 

care and only 3% said that they failed to obtain needed medical care during the previous 12 months due to cost.

In 2016, consumers age 65 and over averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures of $5.994, an increase of 

38% since 2006 ($4,331). In contrast, the total population spent considerably less, averaging $4,612 in out-ofpocket costs. Older Americans spent 13.1% of their total expenditures on health, as compared to 8% among all 

consumers. Health costs incurred on average by older consumers in 2016 consisted of $4,159 (69%) for insurance, 

$913 (15%) for medical services, $715 (12%) for drugs, and $207 (3%) for medical supplies.

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Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, Early Release of Selected 

Estimates Based on Data from the January-June 2017; Tables of Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2015

and 2016; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare claims data. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, Table 1300. Age of Reference Person: Annual Expenditures Means, Shares, 

Standard Errors, and Coefficient of Variation, 2016. Table 3. Age of reference person: Average annual 

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2006.
13

Health Insurance Coverage

In 2016, almost all (93%) non-institutionalized persons age 65 and over were covered by Medicare. Medicare 

covers mostly acute care services and requires beneficiaries to pay part of the cost, leaving about half of health 

spending to be covered by other sources. About half of older adults (53%) had some type of private health 

insurance, 8% had military-based health insurance,7% were covered by Medicaid, and 1% had no coverage 

(Figure 8).

Figure 8: Percentage of Persons Age 65 and Over by type of Health Insurance Coverage, 2016

Note: A person can be represented in more than one category. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement; Table HI01. 

Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by Selected Characteristics: 2016.

99%

53%

28% 28%

94% 93%

7% 8%

1% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Figure 8: Percentage of Persons age 65 and Over by Type of 

Health Insurance Coverage, 2016
14

Disability and Physical Functioning

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, some type of disability (i.e., difficulty in 

hearing, vision, cognition, ambulation, self-care, or independent living) was reported by 35% of people age 65 

and over in 2016. The percentages for individual disabilities ranged from almost one quarter (23%) having an

ambulatory disability to 7% having a vision difficulty (Figure 9).

Figure 9: Percentage of persons age 65 and over with a disability, 2016

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

In 2016, 44.3% of people age 75 and over reported having a difficulties in physical functioning. This percentage 

is more than twice as large as for the age group 45 to 64 (19.7%). The percentage of people age 75 and over 

reporting difficulties in physical functioning ranged from 4.9% reporting it was very difficult to (or cannot) sit for 

2 hours to 29.2% reporting it was very difficult to (or cannot) stand for 2 hours.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. National Center for Health Statistics, National 

Health Interview Survey.

35%

15%

7%

9%

23%

8%

15%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Any disability

Hearing difficulty

Vision difficulty

Cognitive difficulty

Ambulatory difficulty

Self-care difficulty

Independent living difficulty

Figure 9: Percentage of Persons age 65 and Over

with a Disability, 2016
15

Caregiving

The need for caregiving increases with age. In January-June 2017, the percentage of older adults age 85 and over

needing help with personal care (22%) was more than twice the percentage for adults ages 75–84 (9%) and more 

than six times the percentage for adults ages 65–74 (3%). 

Older adults not only need care, but often also provide care to younger family members. For example,

approximately 1 million grandparents age 60 and over were responsible for the basic needs of one or more 

grandchildren under age 18 living with them in 2016. Of these caregivers, 58% were grandmothers and 42% were 

grandfathers.

In addition, in 2015, among the 3.6 million people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)6 living 

with a family caregiver, 24% had caregivers who were age 60 and over (872,042). The percentage of people with 

I/DD living with older caregivers ranged from 11% in Alaska to 25% in Florida. 

-----

Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, Early Release of Selected 

Estimates Based on Data from the January-June 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. 

Braddock, D., Hemp, R., Tanis, E.S. Wu, J. & Haffer, L. (2017). State of the States in Developmental Disabilities. 

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

 6 The total number of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) is estimated to be 5 million.
16

Notes

Principal sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and 

the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Profile incorporates the latest data available but not all items are updated on 

an annual basis.

Numbers in this report may not add up due to rounding.

Age-adjusted estimates are used when available.

The data presented in this report refer to the noninstitutionalized population except where noted.

A Profile of Older Americans: 2017 was developed by the Administration on Aging (AoA), Administration for 

Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

AoA serves as an advocate for older adults within the federal government and is working to encourage and 

coordinate a responsive system of family and community based services throughout the nation. AoA helps states 

develop comprehensive service systems which are administered by 56 State Units on Aging, 629 Area Agencies 

on Aging, 263 Tribal organizations, and 1 Native Hawaiian organization.