U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Older Americans Month: May 2014

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter's proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

43.1 million
The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2012. This group accounted for 13.7 percent of the total population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population  Estimates
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPAGESEX

92.0 million
Projected population of people 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group would comprise just over one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 18.2 million would be 85 or older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

2.4 million
Projected number of baby boomers in 2060. At that time, the youngest baby boomers would be 96 years old.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

2056
The year in which, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html

Income and Poverty

$33,848
The 2012 median income of households with householders 65 and older, not significantly different from the previous year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table 1
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

9%
The percent of people 65 and older (3.9 million) who were in poverty in 2012.  
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:  2012, Table 3
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

$170,516
Median net worth for householders 65 and older in 2011, down from $203,015 (in 2011 dollars) in 2005.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011
http://www.census.gov/people/wealth

14.8%
Percent supplemental poverty rate for those 65 and older, equating to 6.4 million people. Excluding Social Security would leave the majority of this population (54.7 percent or 23.7 million) in poverty.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2012
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-247.pdf

Serving Our Nation

9.6 million
Estimated number of people 65 and older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001

Jobs

21.3%
Labor force participation rate for men 65 and older in 2012, up from 17.6 percent in 1990 and significantly higher than the rate for women 65 and older at 13.4 percent (8.4 percent in 1990).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Table B23001
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B23001

4.3 million
Number of full-time, year-round workers 65 and older with earnings in 2012, up from 1.3 million in 1992. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/people/

Education

82.6%
Proportion of people 65 and older in 2013 who had completed high school or higher education. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races
http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html

25.3%
Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2013 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races
http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html

Marital Status and Living Arrangements

58%
Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html

26%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2013 who were widowed.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html

Computer and Internet Use

61.8%
The percentage of those 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2011. Additionally, 45.5 percent accessed the Internet either from home or elsewhere.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-569.pdf

Voting

71.9%
Percentage for those 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2012 presidential election.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, The Diversifying Electorate—Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections), Table 6
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-568.pdf

Homeownership

80.7%
Percentage of householders 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Table 7 http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/q413ind.html

On the Map

18.2%
Percentage of Florida's population that was 65 and older in 2012, followed by Maine (17.0 percent) and West Virginia (16.8 percent). Alaska had the lowest percentage (8.5 percent), followed by Utah (9.5 percent) and Texas (10.9 percent). 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html

49.3%
Percentage of the population in Sumter, Fla., that was 65 and older in 2012 – which led all of the nation's counties. Other counties were Charlotte, Fla. (36.0 percent) and La Paz, Ariz. (34.9 percent). Chattahoochee, Ga. (3.6 percent) had the lowest percentage.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html

Centenarians

53,364
The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

20.7
For every 100 centenarian women, the number of centenarian men in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

43.5%
In 2010, percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household, 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: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

3.29
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: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010 http://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. Profile America Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: [email protected].

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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau