U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Older Americans Month: May 2017

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After a meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens, President John F. Kennedy encouraged all Americans to pay tribute to older people across the country by designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month. Every president since has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May in support of older Americans. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation changing the name of this observance to Older Americans Month. This month continues to be a time to celebrate the age 65 and older population through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

Population

47.8 million
The number of people age 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2015. This group accounted for 14.9 percent of the total population. The age 65 and older population grew 1.6 million from 2014.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=PEP_2015_PEPAGESEX&prodType=table

98.2 million
The projected population of people age 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group will comprise nearly one in four U.S. residents. Of this number, 19.7 million will be age 85 or older.
Source: 2014 National Population Projections, Table 3
www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2014/summarytables.html

Income and Poverty

$38,515
The median income of households with householders age 65 and older in 2015.
Source: Income and Poverty in the United States: 2015, Table 1
www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-256.pdf

8.8%
The percentage of people age 65 and older in poverty in 2015, down from 10.0 percent in 2014.
Source: Income and Poverty in the United States: 2015, Table 3
www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-256.pdf

$170,516
The median net worth for householders age 65 and older in 2011.
Source: Survey of Income and Program Participation, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011
www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/wealth.html

13.7%
The supplemental poverty rate for those age 65 or older, equating to 6.5 million people in 2015. Excluding Social Security from income would more than triple the poverty rate for this group.
Source: The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2015, Table 2
www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-258.html

Serving Our Nation 

9.3 million
The estimated number of U.S. veterans age 65 and older in 2015.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B21001
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_15_1YR_B21001

Jobs

4.6 million
The number of men age 65 and older in the labor force in 2015. There were 3.7 million women age 65 and older in the labor force in 2015.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B23001
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_15_1YR_B23001&prodType=table

5.3 million
The number of full-time, year-round workers age 65 and older with earnings in 2015. 
Source: Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32
www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-income-people.html

Business Owners

15.6%
The estimated percentage of business owners in respondent firms with and without paid employees in 2012 who were age 65 and older.
Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners, Table SB1200CSCBO08
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SBO_2012_00CSCBO08&prodType=table

13.2%
The estimated percentage of women business owners in respondent firms with and without paid employees in 2012 who were age 65 and older.
Source: 2012 Survey of Business Owners, Table SB1200CSCBO08
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SBO_2012_00CSCBO08&prodType=table

Education

82.8%
The percentage of the population age 65 and older in 2015 who had completed high school or higher education.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S1501
www.factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/S1501

25.8%
The percentage of the population age 65 and older in 2015 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S1501
www.factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/S1501

Marital Status and Living Arrangements

57.8%
The percentage of the population age 65 and older in 2016 who are married.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2016, Table A1
www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2016A.html

24.0%
The percentage of the population age 65 and older in 2016 who are widowed.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2016, Table A1
www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2016A.html

Computer and Internet Use

35.3 million
The number of responders age 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2015. This is an increase from 2014 (32.9 million). Additionally, 30.9 million accessed the internet through a high-speed internet connection in 2015, up from 28.8 million in 2014.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B28005
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_15_1YR_B28005&prodType=table

Voting

59.4%
The percentage of citizens age 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2014 elections.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2014, Table 2
www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/tables/p20/577/table02_1.xls

Homeownership

79.5%
The percentage of householders age 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2016.
Source: Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Historical Table 19
www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html

Services for the Older Population

4,815
The number of continuing care retirement communities in 2012. These businesses employed 423,627 people and generated $27.6 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 5,373 such establishments, employing 416,402 people and generating $24.7 billion in revenues. These establishments provide a range of residential and personal care services with on-site nursing care facilities for the elderly and other people who are unable to care for themselves, and the elderly and other people who do not desire to live independently. Individuals live in a variety of residential settings with meals, housekeeping, social, leisure and other services available to assist residents in daily living.
Source: 2012 Economic Census Geographic Area Series, Table EC1200CCOMP1
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US_00CCOMP1&prodType=table

25,964
The number of business establishments providing services for the elderly and people with disabilities in 2012. These businesses employed 901,359 people and generated $34.1 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 20,433 such establishments, employing 621,545 people and generating $25.3 billion in revenues. These establishments provide nonresidential social assistance services to improve the quality of life for the elderly, persons diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or persons with disabilities. Senior citizens centers are among the establishments in this industry.
Source: 2012 Economic Census Geographic Area Series, Table EC1200CCOMP1
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US_00CCOMP1&prodType=table

Geography

19.4%
The percentage of Florida's population age 65 and older in 2015, followed by Maine (18.8 percent). Alaska had the lowest percentage (9.9 percent) followed by Utah (10.3 percent).
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates
www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016/cb16-107.html

54.8%
The percentage of the population in Sumter, Fla., age 65 and older in 2015, which led all of the nation's counties.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates
www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016/cb16-107.html

118,891
The estimated population of The Villages, Fla., metro area on July 1, 2015. The Villages, a metro area located to the west of the Orlando metro area, was the nation's fastest-growing metro area between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, with its population increasing by 4.3 percent. The metro area is home to one of the largest age-restricted retirement communities in the world.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates 
www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016/cb16-43.html 
www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Centenarians

53,364
The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census. In 2010, over half (62.5 percent) of the 53,364 centenarians were age 100 or 101.
Source: Centenarians: 2010, Figure 1
www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

20.7
The number of centenarian men in 2010 for every 100 centenarian women.
Source: Centenarians: 2010, Page 3
www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

43.5%
The percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household in 2010, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent).
Source: Centenarians: 2010, Figure 4
www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

3.3
The number of centenarians per 10,000 people in North Dakota in 2010. North Dakota was the only state with more than three centenarians per 10,000 people.
Source: Centenarians: 2010, Table 2
www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:

Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines.

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Nadine Huntley-Hall
Public Information Office     
301-763-3030 / [email protected]                                      
census.gov
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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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