Census Bureau Presents Latest Facts about Senior
Citizens for Older Americans Month
President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as
Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way
to older people across the country; now Older Americans Month in May
2009
May
1, 2009 - 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 in some way to
older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carters
proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to
celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public
recognition.
37.9 million The number of people 65 and older in the United States on
July 1, 2007. This age group accounted for 13 percent of the total
population. Between 2006 and 2007, this age group increased by 635,000
people.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
518 million Projected 2009 midyear world population 65 and older.
Projections indicate the number will increase to 1.6 billion by 2050.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb>
9.7% Poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2007, statistically
unchanged from 2006. There were 3.6 million seniors in poverty in 2007,
up from 3.4 million in 2006. Source: Income, Poverty, and Health
Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>
$190,100 Median net worth for families in 2004 whose head was between
65 and 74.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
(Table 699)
Serving Our Nation
9 million Estimated number of people 65 and older who were military
veterans in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Jobs
5.8 million Number of people 65 and older who were in the labor force in
2007. Projections indicate that by 2016, the number will reach 10.1
million.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
(Table 568)
15% Percentage of people 65 and older in the labor force in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Education
74% Proportion of people 65 and older in 2007 with at least a
high school diploma.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
19% Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2007 who had
earned a bachelors degree or higher.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
7.3 million Number of people 66 and older taking adult education courses
in 2004-05, comprising about 8 percent of these students.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
(Table 294)
Marital Status and Living
Arrangements
54% Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
31% Percentage of people 65 and older in 2007 who were widowed.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
65% Percentage of people 65 and older in 2007 who lived with
relatives. Another 27 percent lived alone, while 5 percent lived in
group quarters and 2 percent in a household with nonrelatives. In
addition, 6 percent lived in their childrens home.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
1.5 million Number of people 65 and older who lived in nursing facilities
in 2007. These residents comprised 4 percent of all people in this age
group.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Voting
78% Percentage of citizens 65 and older registered to vote in the
2006 congressional election. Sixty-three percent of citizens in this age
group reported actually casting a ballot.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/012234.html>
Homeownership
80% Percentage of householders 65 and older in 2007 who owned
their homes. This compares with 42 percent for householders at the other
end of the age spectrum younger than 35.
Source: Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/hvs.html>
17% Percentage of Floridas population 65 and older in 2007,
which led the nation. States with the next-highest percentages of older
people included West Virginia (15.5 percent) and Pennsylvania (15.2
percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>
32% Percentage of the population of La Paz County, Ariz., that
was 65 and older on July 1, 2007, which led the nation. There were 24
counties with at least one-quarter of their population 65 and older.
Nine of those counties were in Florida, with four in Texas and three in
Michigan.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>
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Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
May
1, 2009 - 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 in some way to
older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carters
proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to
celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public
recognition.