Table of Contents

The Older Population..................................................................................... 2

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900 - 2030 (numbers in millions)

Future Growth............................................................................................. 3

Marital Status.............................................................................................. 4

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+ - 1999

Living Arrangements..................................................................................... 5

Figure 3: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+: 1998*

Racial and Ethnic Composition.......................................................................... 6

Geographic Distribution..................................................................................

Figure 4: Persons 65+ as Percentage of Total Population by State: 1999 (US Map)

Figure 5: Percentage Increase in Population 65+ by State: 1999 (US Map)

Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State: 1999 (table)

Income ..................................................................................................... 9

Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 1999

Poverty.................................................................................................... 10

Housing ................................................................................................... 10

Employment .............................................................................................. 11

Education ................................................................................................. 11

Health and Health Care ................................................................................. 11

Figure 8: Percent With Disabilities, By Age: 1994-95

Footnotes ................................................................................................. 12
The Older Population*

The older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 34.5 million in 1999. They represented 12.7% 

of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. The number of older Americans increased by 

3.3 million or 10.6% since 1990, compared to an increase of 9.1% for the under-65 population.

In 1999, there were 20.2 million older women and 14.3 million older men, or a sex ratio of 141 women 

for every 100 men. The sex ratio increased with age, ranging from 118 for the 65-69 group to a high of 

237 for persons 85 and over.

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has more than tripled (4.1% in 1900 to 12.7% in 1999), and 

the number has increased eleven times (from 3.1 million to 34.5 million).

The older population itself is getting older. In 1999 the 65-74 age group (18.2 million) was eight times 

larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 group (12.1 million) was 16 times larger and the 85+ group (4.2 

million) was 34 times larger.

In 1998, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 17.8 years (19.2 years 

for females and 16.0 years for males).

A child born in 1998 could expect to live 76.7 years, about 29 years longer than a child born in 1900. The 

major part of this increase occurred because of reduced death rates for children and young adults. Life 

expectancy at age 65 increased by only 2.4 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased by 3.5 years 

since 1960.

Almost 2.0 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 1999 (5,422 per day). In the same year, about 

1.8 million persons 65 or older died, resulting in a net increase of approximately 200,000 (558 per day).

(Data for this section were compiled primarily from Internet releases of the U.S. Bureau of the Census 

and the National Center for Health Statistics).
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.

By 2030, there will be about 70 million older persons, more than twice their number in 1999. People 65+ 

will represent almost 13% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the 

population by 2030.

Minority populations are projected to represent 25.4% of the elderly population in 2030, up from 16.1% 

in 1999. Between 1999 and 2030, the white** population 65+ is projected to increase by 81% compared 

with 219% for older minorities, including Hispanics (328%), African-Americans** (131%), American 

Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts** (147%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders** (285%).

(Compare “Projections of the Total Resident Population by 5 Year Age Groups, Race, and Hispanic 

Origin with Special Age Categories: Middle Series, 1999 to 2000,” U.S. Census Internet Release Date: 

January 13,2000 with "Population Projections of the United States by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic 

Origin: 1995-2050," Current Population Reports, P25-1130).

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900 - 2030

Number of Person over 65+

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 1998 2000 2010 2020 2030

Year (as of July 1)

numbers in millions

Note: Increments in years are uneven. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census
Marital Status

In 1999, older men were much more likely to be married as older women--77% of men, 43% of women 

(Figure 2). Almost half of all older women in 1999 were widows (45%). There were over four times as 

many widows (8.4 million) as widowers (1.9 million).

Divorced and separated older persons represented only 8% of all older persons in 1999. However, their 

numbers (2.2 million) have increased significantly since 1990, when approximately 1.5 million of the 

older population were divorced or separated.

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+ - 1999

Marital Status of Persons 65 + - 1999

43% 45%

4% 8%

77%

14%

4% 8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Married Widowed Single (never

married)

Divorced or

Separated

Women Men

Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. See: "The Older Population in the United States: 

March 1999, Current Population Reports, P20-532
Living Arrangements

The majority (67%) of older noninstitutionalized persons lived in a family setting in 1998. Approximately 

10.8 million or 80% of older men, and 10.7 million or 58% of older women, lived in families (Figure 3). 

The proportion living in a family setting decreased with age. Only 45% of those 85+ years old lived in 

family setting. About 13% of older persons (7% of men, 17% of women) were not living with a spouse 

but were living with children, siblings, or other relatives. An additional 3% of men and 2% of women, or 

718,000 older persons, lived with nonrelatives.

About 31% (9.9 million) of all noninstitutionalized older persons in 1998 lived alone (7.6 million women, 

2.3 million men). They represented 41% of older women and 17% of older men. Living alone correlates 

with advanced age. Among women aged 85 and over, for example, three of every five lived outside a 

family setting.

While a small number (1.47 million) and percentage (4.3%) of the 65+ population lived in nursing homes 

in 1997, the percentage increases dramatically with age, ranging from 1.1% for persons 65-74 years to 

4.5% for persons 75-84 years and 19.0% for persons 85+.

Figure 3: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+: 1998*

Women

41%

17%

42%

living with spouse

living with other relatives

living alone or with

nonrelatives

Men

73%

7%

20% living with spouse

living with other relatives

living alone or with

nonrelatives

Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census. See: "Household and Family Characteristics: March 

1998," Current Population Reports, P20-515.

While a small number (1.47 million) and percentage (4.3%) of the 65+ population lived in nursing homes 

in 1997, the percentage increases dramatically with age, ranging from 1.1% for persons 65-74 years to 

4.5% for persons 75-84 years and 19.0% for persons 85+.

(Based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics. See “An Overview of Nursing Home 

Facilities: Data from the 1997 National Nursing Home Survey,” Advance Data No.311, March_1, 2000).
Racial and Ethnic Composition

In 1999, 16.1% of persons 65+ were minorities--8.1% were African-Americans,** 2.3% were Asian or 

Pacific Islander,** and less than 1% were American Indian or Native Alaskan.** Persons of Hispanic 

origin (who may be of any race) represented 5.3% of the older population.

Only 7.2% of minority race and Hispanic populations were 65+ in 1999 (8.4% of African-Americans, 

7.6% of Asians and Pacific Islanders, 7.3% of American Indians and Native Alaskans, 5.9% of 

Hispanics), compared with 14.8% of whites.

(Data for this section were compiled from Internet releases of the U.S. Bureau of the Census).

Geographic Distribution

In 1999, about half (52%) of persons 65+ lived in nine states. California had over 3.6 million; Florida 2.7 

million; New York 2.4 million; Texas 2.0 million; and Pennsylvania 1.9 million. Ohio, Illinois, 

Michigan, and New Jersey each had well over 1 million (Figure 4).

Person 65+ constituted 14.0% or more of the total population in 10 states in 1999 (Figure 4): Florida 

(18.1%); Pennsylvania (15.8%); Rhode Island (15.6%); West Virginia (15.1%); Iowa (14.9%); North 

Dakota (14.6%); South Dakota (14.4); Connecticut (14.3%); Arkansas (14.2%); and Maine (14.0).

In twelve states, the 65+ population increased by 17.0% or more between 1990 and 1999 (Figure 5): 

Nevada (61%); Alaska (55%); Arizona (31%); Hawaii (30%); Colorado, Utah and New Mexico (23%); 

Delaware (21%); South Carolina and North Carolina (19%); Wyoming (18%); and Texas (17%).

The ten jurisdictions with the highest poverty rates for elderly over the period 1997-1999 were: 

Mississippi (19.1%); Louisiana (17.1%); the District of Columbia (16.5); Arkansas (15.8%); West 

Virginia (15.1); New Mexico (14.8%); Texas (14.4%); Alabama (13.3%); New York (13.2%); and North 

Carolina (12.7%).

Persons 65+ were slightly less likely to live in metropolitan areas in 1999 than younger persons (77% of 

the elderly, 81% of persons under 65). About 50% of older persons lived in the suburbs, 27% lived in 

central cities, and 23% lived in nonmetropolitan areas.

The elderly are less likely to change residence than other age groups. In 1998 only 4.6% of persons 65+ 

had moved since 1997 (compared to 17.5% of persons under 65). A large majority of those elderly (78%) 

had moved to another home in the same state.

(Data for this section and for Figure 4 were compiled primarily from Internet releases of the U.S. Bureau 

of the Census).
Figure 4: Persons 65+ as a Percentage of Total Population - 1999

Based on Data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census

See: http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/state/st-99-08.txt

Figure 5: Percentage Increase in Population 65+ -- 1990 to 1999

Based on Data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census

See: http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/state/st-99-08.txt
State Number of Persons

 Percent of all 

Ages

% Increase 

1990-1999

Percent Below Poverty 

1997-1999***

U.S. Total 34,540,025 12.70% 10.60% 10.20%

Alabama 567,952 13.00% 8.90% 13.30%

Alaska 34,750 5.60% 54.70% 6.40%

Arizona 628,633 13.20% 30.80% 8.10%

Arkansas 361,342 14.20% 3.40% 15.80%

California 3,647,532 11.00% 16.30% 8.40%

Colorado 407,773 10.10% 23.20% 5.50%

Connecticut 468,576 14.30% 5.20% 7.00%

Delaware 98,135 13.00% 21.40% 7.40%

District of Columbia 72,102 13.90% -6.40% 16.50%

Florida 2,741,849 18.10% 15.50% 9.30%

Georgia 761,143 9.80% 16.30% 10.50%

Hawaii 161,889 13.70% 29.50% 7.50%

Idaho 142,029 11.30% 16.80% 9.10%

Illinois 1,496,177 12.30% 4.30% 9.70%

Indiana 743,020 12.50% 6.60% 7.40%

Iowa 428,487 14.90% 0.50% 6.00%

Kansas 354,079 13.30% 3.30% 8.20%

Kentucky 493,154 12.50% 5.70% 12.60%

Louisiana 501,458 11.50% 7.00% 17.10%

Maine 175,357 14.00% 7.30% 11.70%

Maryland 596,961 11.50% 15.30% 11.00%

Massachusetts 859,731 13.90% 5.20% 10.10%

Michigan 1,223,560 12.40% 10.30% 8.40%

Minnesota 585,394 12.30% 6.90% 9.90%

Mississippi 335,492 12.10% 4.90% 19.10%

Missouri 745,684 13.60% 3.90% 9.80%

Montana 117,239 13.30% 10.00% 8.40%

Nebraska 228,286 13.70% 2.30% 11.70%

Nevada 207,412 11.50% 60.60% 8.90%

New Hampshire 144,585 12.00% 15.50% 8.90%

New Jersey 1,108,257 13.60% 7.60% 8.60%

New Mexico 199,974 11.50% 22.50% 14.80%

New York 2,429,632 13.40% 3.60% 13.20%

North Carolina 954,866 12.50% 18.50% 12.70%

North Dakota 92,383 14.60% 1.40% 12.00%

Ohio 1,501,136 13.30% 6.50% 8.10%

Oklahoma 448,698 13.40% 5.70% 11.00%

Oregon 435,099 13.10% 10.90% 8.50%

Pennsylvania 1,898,936 15.80% 3.80% 7.90%

Rhode Island 154,348 15.60% 2.70% 10.50%

South Carolina 473,371 12.20% 19.30% 12.30%

South Dakota 105,442 14.40% 3.00% 11.30%

Tennessee 680,954 12.40% 10.00% 10.80%

Texas 2,016,497 10.10% 17.30% 14.40%

Utah 185,603 8.70% 23.10% 5.10%

Vermont 72,916 12.30% 10.30% 7.60%

Virginia 774,885 11.30% 16.40% 11.30%

Washington 657,312 11.40% 14.00% 8.60%

West Virginia 272,896 15.10% 1.60% 15.10%

Wisconsin 691,409 13.20% 6.00% 6.50%

Wyoming 55,630 11.60% 17.60% 10.70%

Source: Population Estimates Program, Population Division,

U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233

See: http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/state/st-99-08.txt

*** Based on Current Population Surveys

Table compiled by the U.S. Administration on Aging

Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State: 1999 
Income

The median income of older persons in 1999 was $19,079 for males and $10,943 for females. Real 

median income (after adjusting for inflation) grew more for men (+2.8%) than for women (+1.9%) since 

1998.

Households containing families headed by persons 65+ reported a median income in 1999 of $33,148 

($33,795 for Whites, $25,992 for African-Americans, and $23,634 for Hispanics). About one of every 

nine (11.5%) family households with an elderly head had incomes less than $15,000 and 46.9% had 

incomes of $35,000 or more (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 1999*

Family Households with Head 65+

19%

18%

14%

15%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

$25,000 - $34,999

$35,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $74,999

$75,000 and over 

$33,148 median for 11.6 million family households 65+

Persons 65+ Reporting Income

5%

26%

21%

22%

10%

6%

7%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

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

$14,425 median for 32.0 million persons 65+ reporting income

Based on data from Current Population Reports, "Consumer Income," P60-209, issued September, 

2000, by the U.S. Bureau of the Census
For all older persons reporting income in 1999 (32.0 million), 34% reported less than $10,000. Only 23% 

reported $25,000 or more. The median income reported was $14,425.

The major sources of income as reported by the Social Security Administration for older persons in 1998 

were Social Security (reported by 90% of older persons), income from assets (reported by 62%), public 

and private pensions (reported by 44%), and earnings (reported by 21%).

In 1998, Social Security benefits accounted for 38% of the aggregate income of the older population. The 

bulk of the remainder consisted of earnings (21%), assets (20%), and pensions (18%).

Poverty

About 3.2 million elderly persons were below the poverty*** level in 1999. The poverty rate for persons 

65+ dropped to a historic low of 9.7%. Another 2.0 million or 6.1% of the elderly were classified as 

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

One of every twelve (8.3%) elderly Whites was poor in 1999, compared to 22.7% of elderly AfricanAmericans and 20.4% of elderly Hispanics. Higher than average poverty rates for older persons correlated 

with living in central cities (11.7%), in rural areas (11.7%), and in the South (11.7%).

Older women had a higher poverty rate (11.8%) than older men (6.9%) in 1999. Older persons living 

alone or with nonrelatives were much more likely to be poor (20.2%) than were older persons living with 

families (5.2%). The highest poverty rates (58.8%) were experienced by older Hispanic women who 

lived alone.

(Based on data from Current Population Reports, " Poverty in the United States: 1999," P60-210, 

Issued September, 2000 by the U.S. Bureau of the Census).

Housing

0f the 20.9 million households headed by older persons in 1997, 79% were owners and 21% were renters. 

The median family income of older homeowners was $20,280. The median family income of older renters 

was $10,867.

About 50% of homes owned by older persons in 1997 were built prior to 1960 (33% for younger owners) 

and 6% had physical problems.

In 1997, 37%of older homeowners spent more than one-fourth of their income on housing costs, 

compared to 30% of homeowners under age 65.

In 1997, the median value of homes owned by older persons was $89,294, compared to a median home 

value of $98,815 for all homeowners. About 77% of older homeowners in 1997 owned their homes free 

and clear.

(Based on data from the "American Housing Survey for the United States in 1997," H150/95 RU.)
Employment

In 1999, 4.0 million (12 %) Americans age 65 and over were in the labor force (working or actively 

seeking work), including 2.3 million men (16.9%) and 1.7 million women (8.9%). They constituted 2.9% 

of the U.S. labor force. About 3.1% were unemployed.

Labor force participation of men 65+ decreased steadily from 2 of 3 in 1900 to 15.8% in 1985, and has 

stayed at 16%-17% since then. The participation rate for women 65+ rose slightly from 1 of 12 in 1900 to 

10.8% in 1956, fell to 7.3% in 1985, and has been around 8%-9% since 1988.

About 860,000 or 21% of workers over 65 in 1999 were self-employed, compared to 7% for younger 

workers. Over two-thirds of them (70%) were men.

(See the Bureau of Labor Statistics web-site: http://stats.bls.gov.cpsaatab.htm, Tables 3,8,15, and 31).

Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. Between 1970 and 1999, the percentage who 

had completed high school rose from 28% to 68% About 15% in 1999 had a bachelor's degree or more.

The percentage who had completed high school varied considerably by race and ethnic origin among 

older persons in 1999: 73% of Whites, 68% of Asians and Pacific Islanders, 45% of African-Americans, 

and 32% of Hispanics.

(See Current Population Reports, "Educational Attainment in the United States: March 1999," P20-

528).

Health and Health Care

In 1996, 27.0% of older persons assessed their heath as fair or poor (compared to 9.2% for all persons). 

There was little difference between the sexes on this measure, but older African-Americans (41.6%) and 

older Hispanics (35.1%) were much more likely to rate their health as fair or poor than were older Whites 

(26%).

Limitations on activities because of chronic conditions increase with age. In 1997, among those 65-74 

years old, 30.0 percent reported a limitation caused by a chronic condition. In contrast, over half (50.2%) 

of those 75 years and over reported they were limited by chronic conditions.

Shifting the focus to disability, in1994-95 more than half of the older population (52.5%) reported having 

at least one disability. One-third had at least one severe disability. Over 4.4 million (14%) had difficulty 

in carrying out activities of daily living (ADLs) and 6.5 million (21%) reported difficulties with 

instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). The percentages with disabilities increase sharply with age 

(Figure 8). Disability takes a much heavier toll on the very old. Almost three-fourths (71.5%) of those age 

80+ report at least one disability. Better than half (53.5%) had one or more severe disabilities. The 

percentage of those age 80+ having difficulty with ADLs (27.5%) and with IADLs (40.4%) is about 

double that of the 65+ population in total. [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].
Figure 8: Percent With Disabilities, By Age: 1994-95

Percent With Disabilities, By Age: 1994-95

52.50%

33.40%

18.70%

9.10% 8.70%

1.10%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

1 2

65+ 15-64 0-14

Source: Current Population Reports, "Americans with Disabilities, 1994-95," P70-61, August, 1997

Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and many have multiple conditions. The most 

frequently occurring conditions per 100 elderly in 1996 were: arthritis (49), hypertension (36), hearing 

impairments (30), heart disease (27), cataracts (17), orthopedic impairments (18), sinusitis (12), and 

diabetes (10).

Older people accounted for 36% of all hospital stays and 49% of all days of care in hospitals in 1997. The 

average length of a hospital stay was 6.8 days for older people, compared to only 5.5 days for people 

under 65. The average length of stay for older people has decreased 5.3 days since 1964. Older persons 

averaged more contacts with doctors in 1997 than did persons under 65 (11.7 contacts vs. 4.9 contacts).

In 1998, older consumers averaged $2,936 in out-of-pocket health care expenditures, a 33% increase 

since 1990. In contrast, those under age 65 spent considerably less, averaging $1,638 in out-of-pocket 

costs, up 27% since 1990. Older Americans spent 12%of their total expenditures on health, three times 

the proportion spent by younger consumers. Health costs incurred on average by older consumers in 1998 

consisted of $1528 (52%) for insurance, $670 (22%) for drugs, $596 (20%) for medical services, and 

$142 (5%) for medical supplies.

Footnotes:

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

Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

**Excludes persons of Hispanic origin.

***Calculated on the basis of the official poverty definitions for the years 1997-1999

A Profile of Older Americans: 2000 was prepared by the Administration on Aging (AoA), U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services.

The annual Profile of Older Americans was originally developed and researched by Donald G. Fowles, 

AoA. Alfred Duncker and Saadia Greenberg, AoA updated the 2000 edition. Previous editions of the 

Profile were printed by AARP.

AoA serves as an advocate for the elderly 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 

administer by 57 State and Territorial Units on Aging, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, over 225 

Native American organizations, and more than 27,000 local service providers.