A Profile 

of 

Older Americans: 2014 

Administration on Aging 

Administration for Community Living 

U.S. partment of Health and Human Services 
Table of Contents

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

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

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

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

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

FIGURE 2: MARITAL STATUS OF PERSONS 65+, 2014 ....................................................................................................... 4

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

FIGURE 3: LIVING ARRANGEMENTS OF PERSONS 65+: 2014 ............................................................................................. 5

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

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

FIGURE 4: PERSONS 65+ AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION, 2013 ...................................................................... 7

FIGURE 5: PERCENT INCREASE IN POPULATION 65+, 2003 TO 2013 ................................................................................. 7

FIGURE 6: THE 65+ POPULATION BY STATE, 2013............................................................................................................ 8

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

FIGURE 7: PERCENT DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME: 2013 ...................................................................................................... 9

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

HOUSING ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

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

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

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

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

FIGURE 8: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS 65+ BY TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, 2013 ....................................... 13

DISABILITY AND ACTIVITY LIMITATIONS ...................................................................................... 14

FIGURE 9: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS 65+ WITH A DISABILITY, 2013 .............................................................................. 14

NOTES ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
1

Highlights* 

 The population age 65 and over numbered 44.7 million in 2013, an increase of 8.8 million or 24.7% 

since 2003. 

 Between 2003 and 2013 the population age 60 and over increased 30.7% from 48.1 million to 62.8 

million. 

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

20.7% between 2003 and 2013. 

 About one in every seven, or 14.1%, of the population is an older American. 

 Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.3 years (20.5 years for 

females and 17.9 years for males). 

 There were 67,347 persons aged 100 or more in 2013 (0.15% of the total 65+ population).

 Older women outnumber older men at 25.1 million older women to 19.6 million older men. 

 In 2013, 21.2% of persons 65+ were members of racial or ethnic minority populations--8.6% were 

African-Americans (not Hispanic), 3.9% 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 7.5% of the older population. 

 Older men were much more likely to be married than older women---72% of men, 46% of women - 

(Figure 2). In 2014, 35% older women were widows.

 About 28% (12.5 million) of noninstitutionalized older persons live alone (8.8 million women, 

3.8 million men). 

 Almost half of older women (46%) age 75+ live alone. 

 In 2013, about 536,000 grandparents aged 65 or more had the primary responsibility for their 

grandchildren who lived with them. 

 The population 65 and over has increased from 35.9 million in 2003 to 44.7 million in 2013 (a 24.7% 

increase) and is projected to more than double to 98 million in 2060. 

 The 85+ population is projected to triple from 6 million in 2013 to 14.6 million in 2040. 

 Racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.3 million in 2003 (17.5% of the older 

adult population) to 9.5 million in 2013 (21.2% of older adults) and are projected to increase to 21.1 

million in 2030 (28.5% of older adults). 

 The median income of older persons in 2013 was $29,327 for males and $16,301 for females.

Median money income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people rose 

by 3.7% (which was statistically significant) between 2012 and 2013. Households containing 

families headed by persons 65+ reported a median income in 2013 of $51,486. 

 The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2012 were Social Security (reported by 

86% of older persons), income from assets (reported by 51%), private pensions (reported by 27%), 

government employee pensions (reported by 14%), and earnings (reported by 28%). 

 Social Security constituted 90% or more of the income received by 36% of beneficiaries in 2012 

(22% of married couples and 47% of non-married beneficiaries). 

 Over 4.2 million older adults (9.5%) were below the poverty level in 2013. This poverty rate is 

statistically different from the poverty rate in 2012 (9.1%). In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau also 

released a new Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) which takes into account regional variations in 

the livings costs, non-cash benefits received, and non-discretionary expenditures but does not replace 

the official poverty measure. In 2013, the SPM shows a poverty level for older persons of 14.6% 

(more than 5 percentage points higher than the official rate of 9.5%). This increase is mainly due to

including medical out-of-pocket expenses in the poverty calculations. 

*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

The Older Population 

The population age 65 years or older numbered 44.7 million in 2013 (the most recent year for which data are 

available). They represented 14.1% of the U.S. population, about one in every seven Americans. The number 

of older Americans increased by 8.8 million or 24.7% since 2003, compared to an increase of 6.8% for the 

under-65 population. 

Between 2003 and 2013, the number of Americans aged 45-64 (who will reach age 65 over the next two 

decades) increased by 20.7% and the number of Americans age 60 and over increased by 30.7% from 48.1 

million to 62.8 million. 

In 2013, there were 25.1 million older women and 19.6 million older men, or a sex ratio of 128.1 women for 

every 100 men. At age 85 and over, this ratio increases to 195.9 women for every 100 men. 

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has more than tripled (from 4.1% in 1900 to 14.1% in 2013), 

and the number has increased over thirteen times (from 3.1 million to 44.7 million). The older population 

itself is increasingly older. In 2013, the 65-74 age group (25.2 million) was more than 10 times larger than in 

1900; the 75-84 group (13.4 million) increased by 70 percent and the 85+ group (6 million) was 49 times 

larger.

In 2013, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 19.3 years (20.5 years for 

females and 17.9 years for males). A child born in 2013 could expect to live 78.8 years, about 30 years 

longer than a child born in 1900. 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. 

About 3.4 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 2013. Census estimates showed an annual net 

increase between 2012 and 2013 of 1.6 million in the number of persons age 65 and over. 

Between 1980 and 2013, the centenarian population experienced a larger percentage increase than did the 

total population. There were 67,347 persons aged 100 or more in 2013 (0.15% of the total 65+ 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, 2013. Release Date: June 2014; 2010 Census Special Reports, Centenarians: 2010, 

C2010SR-03, 2012; and Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000, Part A. 

Hobbs, Frank and Nicole Stoops, Census 2000 Special Reports, Series CENSR-4, Demographic Trends in 

the 20th Century. Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. Mortality in the United States, 2013. NCHS 

data brief, no 178. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2014. 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 will 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 the "baby boom" generation 

begins to reach age 65. 

The population age 65 and over has increased from 35.9 million in 2003 to 44.7 million in 2013 (a 24.7% 

increase) and is projected to more than double to 98 million in 2060. By 2040, there will be about 82.3 

million older persons, over twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 14.1% of the population in 

the year 2013 but are expected to grow to be 21.7% of the population by 2040. The 85+ population is 

projected to triple from 6 million in 2013 to 14.6 million in 2040. 

Racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.3 million in 2003 (17.5% of the older adult 

population) to 9.5 million in 2013 (21.2% of older adults) and are projected to increase to 21.1 million in 

2030 (28.5% of older adults). Between 2013 and 2030, the white (not Hispanic) population 65+ is projected 

to increase by 50% compared with 123% for older racial and ethnic minority populations, including 

Hispanics (153%), African-Americans (not Hispanic) (99%), American Indian and Native Alaskans (not 

Hispanic) (104%), and Asians (not Hispanic) (121%).

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+: 1900-2060 (numbers in millions) 

Figure 1: Number of Persons

65+, 1900 to 2060 (numbers in

millions)

100

80

60

40

20

0

3.1 4.9 9

16.6

25.5

44.7

35

56.4

82.3

98.2 

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2013 2020 2040 2060

Year (as of July 1)

Note: Increments in years are uneven. 

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, 2013, Release Date: June 2014; Intercensal Estimates of the Resident Population by 

Sex and Age for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010; Intercensal Estimates of the White Alone 

Resident Population by Sex and Age for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010; 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. 
4

Marital Status 

In 2014, older men were much more likely to be married than older women--72% of men, 46% of women 

(Figure 2). Widows accounted for 35% of all older women in 2014. There were more than three times as 

many widows (8.7 million) as widowers (2.3 million).

Divorced and separated (including married/spouse absent) older persons represented only 14% of all older 

persons in 2014. 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 65+, 2014 

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+, 2014

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

46%

72%

35%

11%

Women Men

15% 12%

4% 4%

Married Widowed Divorced or

Separated/

Spouse Absent

Single (never

married)

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, Table 

A1. Marital Status of People 15 Years and Over, by Age, Sex, Personal Earnings, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 

2014. Internet data release January 2015. 
5

Living Arrangements 

Over half (57%) of older noninstitutionalized persons lived with their spouse in 2014. Approximately 14.2 

million or 72% of older men, and 11.3 million or 46% of older women, lived with their spouse (Figure 3). 

The proportion living with their spouse decreased with age, especially for women. Only 32% of women 75+ 

years old lived with a spouse.

About 28% (12.5 million) of all noninstitutionalized older persons in 2014 lived alone (8.8 million women, 

3.8 million men). They represented 35% of older women and 19% of older men. The proportion living alone 

increases with advanced age. Among women aged 75 and over, for example, almost half (46%) lived alone. 

In 2013, a total of about 2.2 million older people lived in a household with a grandchild present. About 

536,000 of these grandparents over 65 years old were the persons with primary responsibility for their 

grandchildren who lived with them. 

A relatively small number (1.5 million) and percentage (3.4%) of the 65+ population in 2013 lived in 

institutional settings such as nursing homes (1.3 million). However, the percentage increases dramatically 

with age, ranging (in 2013) from 1% for persons 65-74 years to 3% for persons 75-84 years and 10% for 

persons 85+.

Figure 3: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+: 2014 

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. 
6

Racial and Ethnic Composition 

In 2013, 21.2% of persons age 65+ were members of racial or ethnic minority populations—8.6% were 

African-Americans (not Hispanic), 3.9% 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 7.5% of the older population. 

Only 8% of all the people who were members of racial and ethnic minority populations were 65+ in 2013 

compared with 17.8% of non-Hispanic whites. The percentage of people age 65 and over within each racial 

and ethnic minority group are as follows: 9.8% of African-Americans (not Hispanic), 10.7% of Asians (not 

Hispanic), 7.4% of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (not Hispanic), 9.4% of American Indian 

and Native Alaskans (not Hispanic) and 6.2% of Hispanics. 

-----

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

Race Alone or in Combination, and Hispanic Origin for the United States and States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 

2013. Release Date: June 2014. 

Geographic Distribution 

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

much greater growth in their older populations (Figures 4 and 5). In 2013, over half (61%) of persons 65+ 

lived in 13 states: California (4.8 million); Florida (3.6 million); Texas (3.0 million); New York (2.8 

million); Pennsylvania (2.1 million); and Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia, 

Virginia, and Arizona each had well over 1 million (Figure 6). 

Persons 65+ constituted approximately 15% or more of the total population in 19 states in 2013: Florida 

(18.7%); Maine (17.7%); West Virginia (17.3%); Pennsylvania (16.4%); Vermont (16.4%); Montana 

(16.2%); Delaware (15.9%); Hawaii (15.6%); Iowa (15.6%); Rhode Island (15.5%); Oregon (15.5%); 

Arizona (15.4%); Arkansas (15.4%); New Hampshire (15.4%); South Carolina (15.2%); Connecticut 

(15.2%); Ohio (15.1%); Michigan (15.0%); and Missouri (15.0%). 

In 20 states, the 65+ population increased by 30% or more between 2003 and 2013: Alaska (61.7%); Nevada 

(50.7%); Colorado (46.8%); Georgia (44.4%); Arizona (43.2%); Idaho (43.1%); South Carolina (43.1%);

Utah (40%), Washington (38.2%); North Carolina (38.1%); Delaware (37.8%); Texas (36.7%); New Mexico 

(36.2%); Oregon (33.7%); Virginia (33.3%); New Hampshire (33%); Montana (31.5%); Tennessee (31%); 

Wyoming (30.5%); and Hawaii (30.3%). 

The 15 jurisdictions with poverty rates at or over 10% for older adults during 2013 were: District of 

Columbia (17.5%); Mississippi (14.7%); Louisiana (12.7%); New Mexico (11.7%); New York (11.6%); 

Kentucky (11.2%); Texas (11%); Florida (10.7%); Georgia (10.7%); Alabama (10.6%); Arkansas (10.5%); 

California (10.4%); South Carolina (10.2%); South Dakota (10.1%); and North Carolina (10.0%).

Most persons 65+ lived in metropolitan areas in 2013 (81%). About 54% of these older persons lived outside 

principal cities and 27% lived inside principal cities. Also, 19% of older persons lived outside of 

metropolitan areas. Older adults are less likely to change residence than other age groups. From 2013 to 

2014, only 3% of older persons moved as opposed to 13% of the under 65 population. Most older movers 

(60%) stayed in the same county and 81% remained in the same state. Only 19% of the movers moved from 

out-of-state or abroad. 

-----

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

March 24, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement. 

POV40. Age, Sex, Household Relationship, by Region and Residence - Ratio of Income to Poverty Level. 
7

Figure 4: Persons 65+ as a Percentage of Total Population, 2013

Figure 5: Percent Increase in Population 65+, 2003 to 2013
8

Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State, 2013

State

Number of Persons 

65 and Older

Percent of All 

Ages

Percent Increase 

from 2003 to 2013

Percent Below 

Poverty 2013

US Total (50 States + DC) 44,704,074 14.1 24.7 9.5%

Alabama 721,166 14.9 22.4 10.6%

Alaska 66,089 9.0 61.7 5.2%

Arizona 1,018,862 15.4 43.2 8.9%

Arkansas 454,420 15.4 20.6 10.5%

California 4,791,731 12.5 28.0 10.4%

Colorado 647,391 12.3 46.8 7.4%

Connecticut 545,671 15.2 15.1 7.4%

Delaware 147,484 15.9 37.8 7.2%

District of Columbia 73,422 11.4 9.1 17.5%

Florida 3,647,617 18.7 26.3 10.7%

Georgia 1,195,955 12.0 44.4 10.7%

Hawaii 219,557 15.6 30.3 7.2%

Idaho 223,142 13.8 43.1 8.2%

Illinois 1,743,641 13.5 15.7 8.8%

Indiana 915,033 13.9 19.7 7.9%

Iowa 480,879 15.6 10.4 7.8%

Kansas 405,063 14.0 14.2 7.9%

Kentucky 634,252 14.4 23.5 11.2%

Louisiana 613,486 13.3 17.1 12.7%

Maine 235,067 17.7 24.6 9.1%

Maryland 794,981 13.4 27.6 8.0%

Massachusetts 989,312 14.8 16.0 8.8%

Michigan 1,487,593 15.0 19.9 8.3%

Minnesota 756,077 13.9 23.8 7.4%

Mississippi 416,300 13.9 19.8 14.7%

Missouri 907,777 15.0 19.0 9.4%

Montana 164,768 16.2 31.5 9.2%

Nebraska 264,008 14.1 13.6 8.4%

Nevada 380,900 13.7 50.7 8.7%

New Hampshire 203,205 15.4 33.0 5.6%

New Jersey 1,283,468 14.4 14.8 8.2%

New Mexico 306,661 14.7 36.2 11.7%

New York 2,832,481 14.4 14.2 11.6%

North Carolina 1,407,099 14.3 38.1 10.0%

North Dakota 102,815 14.2 9.2 9.4%

Ohio 1,752,297 15.1 15.4 8.4%

Oklahoma 549,121 14.3 19.4 9.5%

Oregon 607,395 15.5 33.7 9.0%

Pennsylvania 2,091,330 16.4 10.2 8.5%

Rhode Island 162,814 15.5 8.5 8.5%

South Carolina 727,768 15.2 43.1 10.2%

South Dakota 126,163 14.9 16.3 10.1%

Tennessee 952,376 14.7 31.0 9.7%

Texas 2,966,167 11.2 36.7 11.0%

Utah 283,635 9.8 40.0 7.2%

Vermont 102,473 16.4 28.2 8.0%

Virginia 1,105,381 13.4 33.3 7.4%

Washington 951,084 13.6 38.2 8.1%

West Virginia 320,041 17.3 14.9 9.4%

Wisconsin 849,967 14.8 19.0 9.0%

Wyoming 78,689 13.5 30.5 7.6%

Puerto Rico 599,193 16.4 29.0 40.4%

Sources: Administration for Community Living, http://www.agid.acl.gov/. Data Source: Population 

Estimates, accessed March 24, 2015. 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 2013 was $29,327 for males and $16,301 for females. From 2012 to 

2013, median money income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people rose 

3.7% which was statistically significant. Households containing families headed by persons 65+ reported a 

median income in 2013 of $51,486 ($53,821 for non-Hispanic Whites, $35,981for Hispanics, $41,336 for 

African-Americans, and $53,179 for Asians). About 6% of family households with an older adult 

householder had incomes less than $15,000 and 70% had incomes of $35,000 or more (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 2013

$51,486 median for 15.6 million family households 65+

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

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
10

For all older persons reporting income in 2013 (42.9 million), 17% reported less than $10,000 and 43% 

reported $25,000 or more. The median income reported was $21,225.

The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2012 were Social Security (reported by 86% of 

older persons), income from assets (reported by 51%), private pensions (reported by 27%), government 

employee pensions (reported by 14%), and earnings (reported by 28%). In 2012, Social Security benefits 

accounted for 35% of the aggregate income

1

of the older population. The bulk of the remainder consisted of 

earnings (34%), asset income (11%), and pensions (17%). Social Security constituted 90% or more of the 

income received by 36% of beneficiaries (22% of married couples and 47% of non-married beneficiaries).

-----

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, FINC01. Selected Characteristics of Families by Total Money Income in: 2013; PINC-01. Selected Characteristics 

of People 15 Years Old and Over by Total Money Income in 2013, Work Experience in 2013, Race,

Hispanic Origin, and Sex; and DeNavas-Walt, Carmen and Bernadette D. Proctor, U.S. Census Bureau,

Current Population Reports, P60-249, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013, U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2014. Social Security Administration,“Fast Facts and Figures About 

Social Security, 2014.”

Poverty

Over 4.2 million people age 65 and over (9.5%) were below the poverty level in 2013.

2 This poverty rate is 

statistically different from the poverty rate in 2012 (9.1%). Another 2.5 million or 5.6% of older adults were 

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

Just over 2.5 million older Whites (alone, not Hispanic) (7.4%) were poor in 2013, compared to 17.6% of 

older African-Americans (alone), 13.6% of older Asians (alone), and 19.8% of older Hispanics (any race). 

Higher than average poverty rates were found in 2013 for older persons who lived inside principal cities

(12.9%) and in the South (11%).

Older women had a higher poverty rate (11.6%) than older men (6.8%) in 2013. Older persons living alone 

were much more likely to be poor (16.7%) than were older persons living with families (6.2%). The highest 

poverty rates were experienced among older Hispanic women (45.4%) who lived alone.

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 65 and older this poverty measure shows a poverty level of 14.6% in 

2013 (more than 5 percentage points higher than the official rate of 9.5%). 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, WIC, etc.) 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-toPoverty Ratio and Race: 2013; POV40: Age, Sex, Household Relationship, by Region and Residence --

Ratio of Income to Poverty Level: 2013"Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013," P60-249, issued

September, 2014; Poverty Thresholds for 2013 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 

Years; and “The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2013,” P60-251, issued October 2014.

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

2 The poverty threshold in 2013 was $11,173 for householders age 65 and over living alone and $14,095 for

householders age 65 and older living with one other person.
11

Housing

Of the 26.8 million households headed by older persons in 2013, 81% were owners and 19% were renters. 

The median family income of older homeowners was $34,500. The median family income of older renters 

was $17,300. In 2013, almost 45% of older householders spent more than one-fourth of their income on 

housing costs - 39% for owners and 69% for renters - as compared to 45% of all householders.

For older homeowners in 2013, the median construction year was 1972 compared with 1976 for all 

homeowners. Among the homes owned by people age 65 and older, 2.7% had moderate to severe problems 

with plumbing, heating, electric, kitchen, and/or upkeep. In 2013, the median value of homes owned by older 

persons was $150,000 (with a median purchase price of $63,900) compared to a median home value of

$160,000 for all homeowners. About 65% of older homeowners in 2013 owned their homes free and clear.

-----

Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Housing Survey, National Tables: 2013.

Employment

In 2014, 8.4 million (18.6 %) Americans age 65 and over were in the labor force (working or actively 

seeking work), including 4.6 million men (23%) and 3.8 million women (15.1%). They constituted 5% of the

U.S. labor force. About 5% were unemployed. Labor force participation of men 65+ 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 65+ 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 2014 level. This increase is especially noticeable

among the population aged 65-69.

----

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Labor Force Statistics.

Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. Between 1970 and 2014, the percentage of older 

persons who had completed high school rose from 28% to 84%. About 26% in 2014 had a bachelor's degree 

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

2014: 88% of Whites (not Hispanic), 76% of Asians (not Hispanic), 74% of African-Americans (not 

Hispanic), 76% of American Indian/Alaska Natives (not Hispanic), and 54% 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 2011-2013, 43% of noninstitutionalized people age 65 and over assessed their health as excellent or very 

good (compared to 55% for persons aged 45-64 years). There was little difference between the sexes on this 

measure, but older African-Americans (not Hispanic) (27%), older American Indians/Alaska Natives (28%), 

older Asians (33%), and older Hispanics (30%) were less likely to rate their health as excellent or very good 

than were older Whites (not Hispanic) (47%). Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and 

many have multiple conditions. In 2011-2013, the most frequently occurring conditions among older persons 

were: diagnosed arthritis (49%), all types of heart disease (31%), any cancer (25%), diagnosed diabetes (21% 

in 2009-2012), and hypertension (high blood pressure or taking antihypertensive medication) (71 percent in 

2009-2012).

In January-June 2014, 71% of people age 65 and over reported that they received an influenza vaccination 

during the past 12 months and 61% reported that they had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination. About 

29% (of persons 60+) reported height/weight combinations that placed them among the obese. Slightly over 

41% of persons aged 65-74 and 27% of persons 75+ reported that they engaged in regular leisure-time 

physical activity. Only 9% reported that they are current smokers and 7% reported excessive alcohol 

consumption. Only 2% reported that they had experienced psychological distress during the past 30 days.

In 2012, 6.8 million people age 65 and over stayed in a hospital overnight at least one night during the year. 

Among this group of older adults, 11 percent stayed overnight 1 time, 3 percent stayed overnight 2 times, and 

2 percent stayed overnight 3 or more times. This is approximately double the number of overnight hospital 

stays for the population age 45 to 64 who had 6 percent stay overnight 1 time, 1 percent stay overnight 2 

times, and 1 percent stay overnight 3 or more times. Older persons averaged more office visits with doctors 

in 2012. Among people age 75 and over, 23 percent had 10 or more visits to a doctor or other health care 

professional in the past 12 months compared to 14 percent among people age 45 to 64.

In January-June 2014, 97% of older persons reported that they did have a usual place to go for medical care 

and only 2.4% said that they failed to obtain needed medical care during the previous 12 months due to 

financial barriers.

In 2013 older consumers averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures of $5,069, an increase of 35% 

since 2003. In contrast, the total population spent considerably less, averaging $3,631 in out-of-pocket costs. 

Older Americans spent 12.2% of their total expenditures on health, as compared with 7.1% among all 

consumers. Health costs incurred on average by older consumers in 2013 consisted of $3,347 (66%) for 

insurance, $803 (16%) for medical services, $730 (14%) for drugs, and $188 (4.0%) 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 2014; Blackwell DL, Lucas JW, Clarke TC. Summary health

statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2012. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital

Health Stat 10(260). 2014. National Health Interview Survey; and National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, Table 1300. Age of 

Reference Person: Annual Expenditures Means, Shares, Standard Errors, and Coefficient of Variation.
13

Health Insurance Coverage

In 2013, almost all (93%) non-institutionalized persons 65+ 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 54% had some type of private health insurance. Among noninstitutionalized older adults, 7% had military-based health insurance and 6% were covered by Medicaid 

(Figure 8). Less than 2% did not have coverage of some kind.

Figure 8: Percentage of Persons 65+ by type of Health Insurance Coverage, 2013

Note: Figure 8 data are for the non-institutionalized older adults. 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; and 

Health Insurance in the United States: 2013," P60-250, issued September, 2014.
14

Disability and Activity Limitations

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 36% of people 

age 65 and over in 2013. The percentages for individual disabilities ranged from almost one quarter (23 

percent) having an ambulatory disability to 7 percent having a vision difficulty (Figure 9). Some of these 

disabilities may be relatively minor but others cause people to require assistance to meet important personal 

needs.

Figure 9: Percentage of persons 65+ with a disability, 2013

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

Using limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to 

measure disability, in 2012, 33% of community-resident Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ reported difficulty 

in performing one or more ADLs and an additional 12% reported difficulty with one or more IADLs. By 

contrast, 96% of institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries had difficulties with one or more ADLs and 83% of 

them had difficulty with three or more ADLs. [ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around 

the house. IADLs include preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using the telephone, doing 

housework, and taking medication.] Limitations in activities because of chronic conditions increase with age.

Except where noted, the figures above are taken from surveys of the noninstitutionalized older adults. 

Although nursing homes are being increasingly used for short-stay post-acute care, about 1.3 million older 

adults are in nursing homes (almost half are age 85 and over). These individuals often need care with their 

ADLs and/or have severe cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 

Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.
15

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.

Age-adjusted estimates are used when available.

A Profile of Older Americans: 2014 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, 244 Tribal organizations, and 2 Native Hawaiian organizations.