2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 1

2021 

PROFILE OF OLDER 

AMERICANS

PUBLICATION DATE: NOVEMBER 2022

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.
Profile Notes

This report is prepared by the Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the

Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the 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 a national network

of 56 state agencies on aging; 618 area agencies on aging; nearly 20,000

service providers; and 282 Title VI grantees representing more than 400 federally

recognized tribes, made up of 281 tribal organizations and one Native Hawaiian

organization.

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

Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This report includes data on the American population age 65 and older unless

otherwise noted. The phrases “older adults” and “older persons” refer to that

population. Age-adjusted estimates are used when available.

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

Some numbers in this report may not add up due to rounding.

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 2
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 3

Profile Highlights

■ In 2020, the population age 65+ was 30.8 million women and 24.8 million men.

■ People age 65+ represented 17% of the population in the year 2020. That is

expected to grow to 22% by 2040.

■ In 2021, a larger percentage of older men (69%) than older women (47%) were married.

OF OLDER ADULTS AGE 65+ LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, 

60% LIVED WITH THEIR SPOUSE/PARTNER IN 2021. 

 ABOUT 27% LIVED ALONE.

■ In 2020 the four states with the highest percentage of populations age 65+ were

Maine, Florida, West Virginia, and Vermont.

■ The 2020 median income of older persons was $26,668 ($35,808 for men and

$21,245 for women).

■ In 2020, 5 million people age 65+ lived below the poverty level. Another 2.6 million

were “near-poor.”

NEARLY 1 IN 4 OLDER ADULTS WERE MEMBERS OF RACIAL OR 

ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS IN 2020.

■ The median household income of older homeowners age 75+ was $36,200 in 2019.

The median household income of older renters was $18,280.

■ In 2021, 10.6 million Americans age 65+ were in the labor force (working or actively

seeking work).

THE PERCENTAGE OF OLDER ADULTS WHO HAD COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL WAS 

28% IN 1970 VS. 

 89% IN 2021.

■ Consumers age 65+ averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures of $6,668 in

2020, up 38% from 2010.

■ In 2020, about 1.1 million people age 60+ were responsible for the basic needs of at

least one grandchild under age 18 living with them.
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 4

The Older American Population

In the U.S., the population of Americans age 65 and older was 55.7 million in 2020. 

They represented 17% of the population, more than 1 in every 6 Americans. The 

number of older Americans has increased by 15.2 million (or 38%) since 2010, 

compared to an increase of 2% for the under-65 population.

Between 2010 and 2020, the number of Americans age 45-64 (who will reach age 

65 over the next two decades) increased by 1% from 81.8 million to 82.8 million. 

The number of Americans age 60 and older increased by 33% from 57.5 million to 

76.5 million.

In 2020, 30.8 million women and 24.8 million men were age 65 and older. That’s 

124 women for every 100 men. At age 85 and older, this ratio increased to 176 

women for every 100 men.

In 2018, 0.7% of older Americans said they think of themselves as gay or lesbian, 

and 0.2% said they think of themselves as bisexual. 

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans age 65 and older more than quadrupled 

(from 4.1% in 1900 to 17% in 2020), and the number increased more than 

17 times (from 3.1 million to 55.7 million). The older population itself became 

increasingly older. In 2020, the 65-74 age group (32.5 million) was more than 14 

times larger than in 1900 (2.2 million); the 75-84 group (16.5 million) was 21 times 

larger (771,369), and the 85+ group (6.7 million) was more than 54 times larger 

(122,362). 

In 2020, persons reaching age 65 had an average life 

expectancy of an additional 18.5 years (19.8 years for 

women and 17.0 years for men). This is a decrease from 

2019 when the average was 19.6 years. 

Life expectancy at birth decreased 1.8 years from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77.0 in 

2020, largely because of increases in mortality due to COVID-19, unintentional 

injuries, heart disease, homicide, and diabetes.

In 2020, 3.9 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday. U.S. Census Bureau 

population estimates showed an annual net increase between 2019 and 2020 of 

1.6 million people age 65 and older.

There were 104,819 persons age 100 and older in 2020 – more than triple the 

1980 figure of 32,194. 
Future Growth

The older population is expected to continue to grow significantly in the future. 

Growth slowed somewhat during the 1990s because of the relatively small number 

of babies born during the Great Depression of the 1930s. But the older population 

is beginning to burgeon again as almost half (46%) of the “baby boom” generation 

is now age 65 and older.

The population age 65 and older increased from 40.5 million in 2010 to 55.7 million 

in 2020 (a 38% increase) and is projected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. By 2040, 

there will be about 80.8 million older persons, more than twice as many as in 2000.

People age 65 and older represented 17% of the 

population in the year 2020 but are expected to grow 

to be 22% of the population by 2040.

The 85 and older population is projected to more than double from 6.7 million in 

2020 to 14.4 million in 2040 (a 117% increase).

Number of Persons Age 65 and Older, 1900-2060 

(numbers in millions)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Note: Lighter bars (2040 and 2060) indicate projections.

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

Racial and ethnic minority populations increased from 8.1 million in 2010 (20% of the

older adult population) to 13.5 million in 2020 (24% of older adults) and are projected

to increase to 27.7 million in 2040 (34% of older adults). Between 2020 and 2040,

the white (not Hispanic) population age 65 and older is projected to increase by 26%

compared to 105% for older racial and ethnic minority populations: Hispanic (148%),

African American (not Hispanic) (73%), American Indian and Alaska Native (not

Hispanic) (58%), and Asian American (not Hispanic) (93%).

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 5
Marital Status

In 2021, a larger percentage of older men (69%) than older women (47%) 

were married.

Widows accounted for 30% of all older women in 2021. There were more than 

three times as many widows (9.1 million) as widowers (2.7 million). 

Divorced and separated/spouse absent older persons 

represented 16% of all older persons in 2021. This percentage 

has increased since 1980 when approximately 5% of the older 

population were divorced or separated/spouse absent.

Marital Status of Persons Age 65 and Older, 2021

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Men

Women

Single 

(never married)

Divorced or Separated/ 

Spouse Absent

Married Widowed

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

Living Arrangements

Of the older adults living in the community, more than half (60%) of persons age

65 and older lived with their spouse (including partner) in 2021. Approximately 18

million, or 72% of older men, and 15 million, or 49% of older women, lived with

their spouses.

About 27% (15.2 million) of all older adults living in the community in 2021 lived alone

(5.2 million men, 10.1 million women). They represented 21% of older men and 33%

of older women. The proportion living alone increases with advanced age for both men

and women. Among women age 75 and older, for example, 43% lived alone.

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 6
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 7

Living Arrangements of Persons Age 65 and Older, 2021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement 1967 

to present

A relatively small number of people (1.2 million) age 65 and older lived in nursing 

homes in 2019. However, the percentage increased with age, ranging from 1% for 

persons ages 65-74 and 2% for persons ages 75-84 to 8% for persons over age 85. 

Racial and Ethnic Composition

In 2020, 24% of persons age 65 and older were members of racial or ethnic 

minority populations — 9% were African American (not Hispanic), 5% were Asian 

American (not Hispanic), 0.6% were American Indian and Alaska Native (not 

Hispanic), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (not Hispanic), and 0.8% of 

persons age 65 and older identified themselves as being of two or more races.

Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) 

represented 9% of the older population.

Only 10% of all the people who were members of racial and ethnic minority 

populations were age 65 and older in 2019 compared to 21% of the non-Hispanic 

white population. The percentage of people age 65 and older within each racial 

and ethnic minority group were as follows: 

■ 12% of African Americans (not Hispanic)

■ 13% of Asians (not Hispanic)

■ 10% of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (not Hispanic)

■ 12% of American Indian and Alaska Natives (not Hispanic)

■ 8% of Hispanics

■ 6% of persons identifying as being of two or more races.
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. 

In 2020, 51% of Americans 

age 65 and older lived in 

nine states:

• California (6 million)

• Florida (4.6 million)

• Texas (3.9 million)

• New York (3.4 million)

• Pennsylvania (2.4 million)

• Ohio (2.1 million)

• Illinois (2.1 million)

• North Carolina (1.8 million)

• Michigan (1.8 million).

Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee,

Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin each had more than 1 million people age 65 and

older in 2020.

The four states with the highest percentage of their populations age 65 and older

in 2020 were Maine (22%), Florida (21%), West Virginia (21%), and Vermont (21%).

In nine states, the age 65 and older population increased by more than 50% between

2010 and 2020: Alaska (73%), Nevada (59%), Colorado (58%), Idaho (56%), Arizona

(55%), South Carolina (53%), Utah (52%), Delaware (52%), and Georgia (51%).

In 2020, poverty rates were at or above 10% for older adults living in the District

of Columbia (24.4%), Mississippi (15.9%), Louisiana (13.2%), Alabama (12.7%),

Kentucky (12.4%), Montana (11.2%), New Mexico (11.2%), Nevada (11%),

Oklahoma (10.9%), New York (10.8%), Ohio (10.8%), California (10.7%), Florida

(10.6%), North Carolina (10%), and Texas (10%).

A smaller percentage of older adults changed residence as compared with younger

age groups. From 2020 to 2021, only 3% of older persons moved as opposed to

10% of the population below age 65. Most older movers (55%) stayed in the same

county. The other older movers either remained in the same state (21%) or moved

out of state or abroad (24%).

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 8
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 9

Persons Age 65 and Older as a Percentage of Total Population, 2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates

Increase in Population Age 65 and Older, 2010 to 2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 10

The 65 and Older Population by State, 2020

State Persons 

65+

% of all 

ages

% Increase 

2010-2020

% Below 

Poverty 2020

Alabama 874,244 17.8% 32.3% 12.7%

Alaska 95,876 13.1% 72.5% 6.6%

Arizona 1,373,975 18.5% 54.5% 7.3%

Arkansas 536,306 17.7% 27.2% 8.6%

California 5,976,166 15.2% 39.8% 10.7%

Colorado 876,387 15.1% 58.1% 8.9%

Connecticut 645,996 18.2% 27.0% 7.4%

Delaware 197,594 20.0% 51.9% 7.1%

District of Columbia 89,833 12.6% 30.0% 24.4%

Florida 4,638,094 21.3% 41.5% 10.6%

Georgia 1,574,667 14.7% 51.3% 9.9%

Hawaii 275,080 19.6% 39.9% 9.0%

Idaho 305,994 16.7% 56.0% 7.9%

Illinois 2,089,234 16.6% 29.3% 8.9%

Indiana 1,115,285 16.5% 32.1% 7.9%

Iowa 566,136 17.9% 24.8% 5.6%

Kansas 488,316 16.8% 29.5% 3.4%

Kentucky 770,835 17.2% 32.8% 12.4%

Louisiana 763,750 16.4% 36.2% 13.2%

Maine 293,776 21.8% 38.6% 5.2%

Maryland 987,352 16.3% 38.7% 6.4%

Massachusetts 1,198,402 17.4% 32.2% 8.3%

Michigan 1,812,441 18.2% 32.7% 7.9%

Minnesota 948,841 16.8% 38.2% 4.6%

Mississippi 499,955 16.9% 30.8% 15.9%

Missouri 1,089,714 17.7% 29.5% 5.7%

Montana 213,392 19.7% 44.7% 11.2%

Nebraska 319,437 16.5% 29.2% 3.7%

Nevada 519,316 16.5% 58.8% 11.0%

New Hampshire 263,129 19.3% 46.7% 5.1%

New Jersey 1,510,028 17.0% 26.8% 7.0%

New Mexico 389,911 18.5% 42.3% 11.2%

New York 3,369,569 17.4% 28.2% 10.8%

North Carolina 1,814,542 17.1% 46.0% 10.0%

North Dakota 123,141 16.1% 26.1% 8.0%

Ohio 2,097,638 17.9% 29.0% 10.8%

Oklahoma 653,159 16.4% 28.3% 10.9%
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 11

State Persons 

65+

% of all 

ages

% Increase 

2010-2020

% Below 

Poverty 2020

Oregon 789,527 18.6% 47.1% 7.3%

Pennsylvania 2,447,687 19.1% 24.7% 7.2%

Rhode Island 192,477 18.2% 26.3% 3.6%

South Carolina 976,375 18.7% 53.2% 7.8%

South Dakota 157,177 17.6% 34.6% 5.7%

Tennessee 1,180,543 17.1% 37.5% 7.9%

Texas 3,873,683 13.2% 47.8% 10.0%

Utah 381,593 11.7% 51.9% 6.1%

Vermont 128,594 20.6% 40.5% 8.8%

Virginia 1,401,044 16.3% 42.4% 4.0%

Washington 1,247,874 16.2% 49.7% 8.2%

West Virginia 373,569 20.9% 25.3% 9.5%

Wisconsin 1,047,935 18.0% 34.3% 3.3%

Wyoming 103,776 17.8% 47.1% 8.7%

 Puerto Rico 696,817 22.0% 27.4% 38.8%

Sources: Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates. Poverty data for the 

states is from the Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Poverty data for 

Puerto Rico is from the American Community Survey.

Income

The median income of older persons in 2020 was $26,668. Men had a higher 

median income overall: $35,808 compared to $21,245 for women. From 2019 

to 2020, the real median income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households 

headed by older people decreased by 3.3%, which was statistically significant. 

Households headed by persons age 65 and older reported a median income in 

2020 of $68,067 ($72,855 for non-Hispanic white, $46,183 for Hispanic, $54,909 

for African American, and $67,378 for Asian American). About 5% of family 

households with an older adult householder had incomes less than $15,000, and 

79% had incomes of $35,000 or more.
Distribution of Family Households with Householder Age 65 and 

Older by Income, 2020

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

Distribution by Income of Persons Age 65 and Older Reporting 

Income, 2020

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

For all older persons reporting income in 2020 (53.9 million), 12% reported less 

than $10,000, and 53% reported $25,000 or more.

Poverty

In 2020, nearly 1 in 10 people age 65 and older (9% or 5 million) lived below the 

poverty level.

1This poverty rate is not statistically different from the poverty rate in 

2019 (8.9%). Another 2.6 million, or 4.6% of older adults, were classified as “nearpoor” (income between the poverty level and 125% of this level).

In 2020, 6.8% of the older non-Hispanic white population was poor, compared to

higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority groups: 17.2% of African Americans,

11.5% of Asian Americans, and 16.6% of the Hispanic population (any race).

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 12
Persons Age 65 and Over Living Below the Poverty Level by 

Race and Hispanic Origin, 2020

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

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

Older women had a higher poverty rate (10.1%) than older men (7.6%) in 2020. A 

higher percentage of older persons living alone were poor (15.7%) as compared 

with older persons living with families (5.6%).

The highest poverty rates were experienced 

among older Hispanic women who lived alone (35.6%).

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 older, this poverty measure showed a poverty rate of 9.5% in 2020 — 0.5

percentage points higher than the official rate of 9%. Unlike the official poverty

rate, the SPM considers regional variations in the cost of housing and the impact of

both non-cash benefits received (e.g., SNAP/food stamps, low-income tax credits,

and WIC) and non-discretionary expenditures, including out-of-pocket medical

expenses. For persons 65 and older, out-of-pocket medical expenses are typically

the major source of the significant differences between these measures. The SPM

does not replace the official poverty measure.

In 2020, multiple pieces of legislation (CARES Act and CRRSA Act) were passed

in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that provided households with additional

income in the form of stimulus payments and expanded unemployment, SNAP, and

pandemic electronic benefits transfer (P-EBT) benefits. As a result, in 2020, the

difference between the supplemental poverty measure and the official poverty rate

for adults age 65 and older was smaller than it has ever been.

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 13
Housing 

Of the 14.1 million households headed by persons age 75 and older in 2019, 77% 

(10.8 million) owned their homes and 23% (3.3 million) rented. The median household 

income of older homeowners was $36,200. The median household income of older 

renters was $18,280. In 2019, 45% of older householders spent one-third or more of 

their income on housing costs: 36% for owners and 76% for renters.

For homeowners age 75 and older in 2019, the median construction year for their 

home was 1972, compared to 1979 for all homeowners. Among the homes owned 

by people age 75 and older, 3% had moderate to severe problems with plumbing, 

heating, electric, wiring, and/or upkeep. In 2019, the median value of homes 

owned by older persons was $200,000 (with a median purchase price of $75,000). 

In comparison, the median home value of all homeowners was $230,000 (with a 

median purchase price of $150,000).

Employment

In 2021, 10.6 million (18.9%) Americans age 65 and older 

were in the labor force (working or actively seeking work). 

This is similar to the 10.6 million (19.4%) older adults in the labor force in 2020.

Older adults constituted 6.6% of the U.S. labor force. Approximately 4.5% of older

adults were unemployed in 2021, compared to 7.5% in 2020.

Labor force participation of men age 65 and older decreased steadily from 63.1%

in 1900 to 45.8% in 1950 and then to 15.8% in 1985. It stayed under 20% until

2006 and has been hovering between 23%-24% for the last few years. The labor

force participation rate for women age 65 and older rose slightly from 8.3% in

1900 to 9.7% in 1950 and then fell to 7.3% in 1985. It stayed at 8%-9% during the

1990s. Beginning in 2000, the labor force participation rate of older women started

to gradually rise to the 2021 level of 15.2%. 

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 14
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 15

Rate of Employment: Persons Age 65 and Older by Sex, 

Selected Years 1900 to 2021

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Women

Men

Note: Increments between years are uneven

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

U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census, 1990
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 16

Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. 

Between 1970 and 2021, the percentage of older persons 

who had completed high school rose from 28% to 89%.

Approximately one-third (33%) in 2021 had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The 

education level of older adults varied considerably by race and Hispanic origin. 

Percentage of Persons Age 65 and Older Who Completed High 

School or a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher by Race and Hispanic 

Origin, 2021

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completed High School Completed Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Hispanic 

(any race)

Asian 

alone

African 

American alone

White alone, 

not Hispanic

Total 

population 65+

Note: The race categories white, African American, and Asian refer to people who 

reported only one race category and did not report being Hispanic.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

The increase in educational levels is also clear within these groups. In 1970, only 

30% of older white adults and 9% of older African American adults were high 

school graduates.
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 17

Health and Health Care

In 2020, 20% of the population age 65 to 74 assessed their health as fair or poor, 

compared to 27% of the population age 75 and older. 

Most older Americans have at least one chronic 

condition, and many have multiple conditions.

Leading chronic conditions among adults age 65 and older in 2020 include:

■ Arthritis (47%)

■ Coronary heart disease (14%)

■ Myocardial infarction (9%)

■ Angina (4%)

■ Any cancer (26%)

■ COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis (11%)

■ Diagnosed diabetes (21%)

In 2021 (January-June), among people age 65 and older:

■ 58% reported having diagnosed hypertension during the past 12 months

■ 75% reported that they received an influenza vaccination during the past 12

months

■ 68% reported that they had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination

■ 95% reported that they had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine

In 2020:

■ 9% of persons age 65 and older reported that they were current smokers

■ 30% were obese

■ 12% of people age 65 and older reported taking prescription medicine for feelings

of worry, nervousness, or anxiety

■ 11% reported taking prescription medicine for depression

■ 97% of persons age 65 and older reported that they had a usual place to go for

medical care

■ 22% had a hospital emergency department visit in the past year

■ 2% said that they failed to obtain needed medical care during the previous 12

months due to cost
Consumers age 65 and older averaged out-of-pocket 

health care expenditures of $6,668 in 2020, 

an increase of 38% since 2010 ($4,843). 

In contrast, the total population spent considerably less, averaging $5,177 in outof-pocket costs. Older Americans spent 14% of their total expenditures on health, 

compared to 8.4% among all consumers. Health costs incurred, on average, by 

older consumers in 2020 consisted of $4,854 (73%) for insurance, $835 (13%) for 

medical services, $727 (11%) for drugs, and $251 (4%) for medical supplies.

Health Insurance Coverage

In 2020, almost all (94%) non-institutionalized persons age 65 and older 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. Half of older adults (50%) had some type of private 

health insurance, 6% had military-based health insurance, 6% were covered by 

Medicaid, and 1% had no coverage.

Health Insurance Coverage, 2020

Notes: 1) CPS/ASEC 2021 asks about insurance for 2020. 2) Military includes VA/

CHAMPVA/TRICARE

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

Functioning

In 2020, 18% of adults age 65 and older reported they could not function at all

or had a lot of difficulty with at least one of six functioning domains. Specifically,

21% had trouble seeing (even if wearing glasses), 29% had difficulty hearing (even

if wearing hearing aids), 39% had trouble with mobility (walking or climbing stairs),

8% had difficulty with communication (understanding or being understood by 

2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 18
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 19

others), 28% had trouble with cognition (remembering or concentrating), and 8% 

had difficulty with self-care (such as washing all over or dressing).

Difficulty in Functioning Among People Age 65 and Older, 2020

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Communication 

difficulty

Self-care 

difficulty

Ambulatory 

difficulty

Cognitive 

difficulty

Vision 

difficulty

Hearing 

difficulty

Any 

difficulty

Note: “Any disability” includes those reported who “a lot of difficulty” or “cannot do 

it at all” in any functioning domain.

Source: Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National 

Health Interview Survey

Special Section: Family Caregivers

In 2017-2018, 40.4 million family caregivers 

provided unpaid care to a family 

or non-family member age 65 and older.

■ Family caregivers ages 55 to 64 were the most likely to provide care (24%),

followed by those ages 45 to 54 (21%) and those ages 65 and older (18%).

■ While 39% of family caregivers cared for someone age 85 or older, 13% provided

care for someone age 65 to 69.

■ Only 15% of family caregivers cared solely for someone with whom they lived,

while 83% cared solely for someone with whom they did not live.

■ On a given day, about one-fourth (26%) of family caregivers engaged in caregiving

activities. Compared with those in other age groups, caregivers who were ages

65 and older were the most likely to provide care on a given day (37%).

■ On average over all days — including days they did and did not provide care —

family caregivers who cared solely for someone with whom they lived (6.1 million

providers) spent 3.0 hours per day providing care.
2021 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 20

■ There were 8.2 million family caregivers who were parents of children living at

home. Of these parents, about one-third (35%) had a child under age 6, and the

remainder (65%) were parents whose youngest child was between the ages of 6

and 17.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.

■ In 2015-2018, 9% of caregivers reported providing unpaid care to a friend or

family member with dementia.2

■ One in six non-caregivers (all ages) expect to become caregivers within two years.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

In 2016-2020, there were 1.1 million grandparents age 60 and older responsible 

for most of the basic care of coresident grandchildren under age 18:

3

■ 407,000 were in the labor force

■ 33% were unmarried (never married, widowed, or divorced)

■ 31% had a disability

■ 16% lived below the poverty level

■ 23% spoke a language other than English

■ 44% reported there was no parent of their grandchildren present

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

In addition, in 2019, among the 5.37 million people with intellectual and 

developmental disabilities (ID/DD) living with a family caregiver, 24% had caregivers 

who were age 60 and older (1.3 million). The percentage of people with ID/DD 

living with older caregivers ranged from 13% in Utah to 24% in Florida. 

Source: Tanis, et al., (in preparation). State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 

Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado.

––––––––––––

1 The poverty threshold in 2020 was $12,413 for householders age 65 and older and living alone.

2 Includes care recipients of all ages. 

3 The eligibility age for grandparents to receive support services to care for their grandchildren from the Administration on Aging’s 

National Family Caregiver Support Program is 55 years old.