Meanwhile, the States with the greatest proportion of elderly are generally different from those with the greatest number. Two exceptions, however, were Florida, where 19 percent of residents were elderly, and Pennsylvania, where 16 percent were. In-migration of the elderly contributed to Florida's high rankings. Out-migration of the young contributed to the high proportions in these States and in Pennsylvania. During the 1980's, the greatest percent increases in elderly population were mostly in Western States and Southeastern coastal States.
Men generally have higher death rates than women at every age.
This difference grew with advancing age. At ages 65 to 69, it was only 6 to 5. However, at age 85 and over, it reached 5 to 2. As more men live to older ages over the next 50 years, these differences may narrow somewhat. The remaining men and women were either separated, divorced, had never married, or had absent spouses.