DEMOGRAPHIC REALITIES OF THE INCREASING OLDER POPULATION
American Psychological Association
Table of Contents
Why Practitioners Need Information
- Since 1900 the percentage of Americans 65 years and older has more than tripled.
- The proportion of people 65 years and older is almos13 percent of the U.S. population. By the year 2030, it will be 20 percent.
- The older population itself is getting older. In 1994 the 65-74 age group was 8 times larger than in 1900. The 75-84 age group was 14 times larger. The 85 and older age group was 28 times larger.
- The "oldest old" group (those over 85 years) is increasing faster than any other age group.
- The ethnic racial minority population over 65 years old is growing faster than the older adults group as a whole, at a 2:3 ratio. Minority persons are projected to represent up to 25 percent of older adults by the year 2030.
- Life expectancy for men is 73 years; for women, 80 years. After age 80, women outnumber men by almost 3 to 1.
- In 1994 there were nearly 8.6 million veterans 65 years or older (32 percent of the total veteran population), about 4 percent of whom were women. Because of the aging of World War II veterans, the number is expected to peak by the year 2000, when there will be about 9.3 million elderly veterans (38 percenof the total veteran population). In 1996, 76 percent of civilian males aged 70-74 years were veterans, reflecting U.S. participation in World War II.
...THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS 65 YEARS AND OLDER HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED.
1900 to the Present