While no amount of data can capture the richness of the stories, experiences, contributions and presence of our country’s older adults, data does help us see and understand trends in populations. The Administration for Community Living recently released their 2023 Profile of Older Americans, which provides a summary of the available statistics related to the older population in the United States. Principal sources of data are the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Profile illustrates the shifting demographics of Americans 65 and older. It includes key topic areas such as future population growth, marital status, living arrangements, income, employment, and health.
Highlights from the Profile
- In 2022, 31.9 million women and 25.9 million men were 65 or older.
- People 65 and older represented 17.3% of the population in the year 2022. That percentage is expected to grow to 22% by 2040.
- Of older adults 65 and older living in the community, 59% lived with their spouse/partner in 2023. About 28% lived alone.
- States with the highest percentage of populations 65 and older in 2022 were Maine, Florida, Vermont, and West Virginia.
- The 2022 median income of older people was $29,740 ($37,430 for men and $24,630 for women).
- In 2023, 11.2 million Americans age 65 and older were in the labor force (working or actively seeking work).
The Profile incorporates the latest data available. Not all data are updated annually.
