Statistics on the Baby Boomer Phenomenon

These facts and figures are taken directly from the "2008 Older Americans : Key indicators of Well-Being" report which is made available to the public on the website of the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics:   http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/Main_Site/ 

 

For a .pdf file of the complete 179 page report click here. 

Elderly Population Numbers

 

In 2006, 37 million people age 65 and over lived in the United States, accounting for just over 12 percent of the total population. Over the 20th century, the older population grew from 3 million to 37 million. The oldest-old population (those age 85 and over) grew from just over 100,000 in 1900 to 5.3 million in 2006.

 

The Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) will start turning 65 in 2011, and the number of older people will increase dramatically during the 2010-2030 period. The older population in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as in 2000, growing from 35 million to 71.5 million and representing nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population.

 

The growth rate of the older population is projected to slow after 2030, when the last Baby Boomers enter the ranks of the older population. From 2030 onward, the proportion age 65 and over will be relatively stable, at around 20 percent, even though the absolute number of people age 65 and over is projected to continue to grow. The oldest-old population is projected to grow rapidly after 2030, when the Baby Boomers move into this age group.

 

The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the population age 85 and over could grow from 5.3 million in 2006 to nearly 21 million by 2050. Some researchers predict that death rates at older ages will decline more rapidly than is reflected in the U.S. Census Bureau's projections, which could lead to faster growth of this population.

As in most countries of the world, older women outnumber older men in the United States, and the proportion that is female increases with age. In 2006, women accounted for 58 percent of the population age 65 and over and for 68 percent of the population age 85 and over.

 

The United States is fairly young for a developed country, with just over 12 percent of its population age 65 and over. The older population made up more than 15 percent of the population in most European countries and nearly 20 percent in both Italy and Japan in 2006.

Nursing Home Population (long-term skilled nursing care)

 

 In 2004, 9 people per 1,000 age 65-74 resided in nursing homes, compared with 36 people per 1,000 age 75-84 and 139 people per 1,000 age 85 and over.

 

The total rate of nursing home residence among the older population declined between 1985 and 2004. In 1985, the age adjusted nursing home residence rate was 54 people per 1,000 age 65 and over. By 2004 this rate had declined to 35 people per 1,000. Among people age 65-74, rates declined by 24 percent, compared with a 37 percent decline among people age 75-84 and age 85 and over.

 

Despite the decline in rates of nursing home residence, the number of nursing home residents age 65 and over had been increasing until recently because of the rapid growth of the older population. Between 1985 and 1999, the number of current nursing home residents age 65 and over increased from 1.3 million to 1.5 million but then declined to 1.3 million in 2004. In 2004, almost three-fourths (980,000) of older nursing home residents were women.

Life Expectancy

 

Americans are living longer than ever before. Life expectancies at both age 65 and age 85 have increased. Under current mortality conditions, people who survive to age 65 can expect to live an average of 18.7 more years, almost 7 years longer than people age 65 in 1900. The life expectancy of people who survive to age 85 today is 7.2 years for women and 6.1 years for men.

 

Life expectancy varies by race, but the difference decreases with age. In 2004, life expectancy at birth was 5.2 years higher for white people than for black people. At age 65, white people can expect to live an average of 1.6 years longer than black people. Among those who survive to age 85, however, the life expectancy among black people is slightly higher (7.1 years) than white people (6.7 years).

 

Life expectancy at age 65 in the United States is lower than that of many other industrialized nations. In 2003, women age 65 in Japan could expect to live on average 3.2 years longer than women in the United States. Among men, the difference was 1.2 years.

 

Click here for a .pdf file of the complete 179 pg. "2008 Older Americans : Key indicators of Well-Being" report.