DataPoint: Profile of Americans 65+
From 2006 to 2016, the U.S. population age 65 and over increased from 37.2 million to 49.2 million, which represented a 33 percent increase and a 48 percent increase since 1980. Based on the 2017 Profile of Older Americans conducted by the Administration of Community Living using statistics primarily compiled from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 85 and over is projected to increase from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 2040, which represents a 129 percent increase. In 2016, 15.2 percent of the nationwide population was 65 and over. While New York ranked 29th nationally in the percentage of residents 65 and over (15.4 percent), the state’s 65+ population exceeded 3 million, which was the fourth highest nationwide. In addition, the study revealed that women outnumbered men by nearly 6 million among the over-65 population. Care needs were also revealed to increase with age. During the first half of 2017, 3 percent of adults age 65 to 74 needed personal care assistance, while 9 percent of adults age 75 to 84 and 22 percent of adults 85 and over needed such assistance. The study estimated that 35 percent of adults over 65 were living with some form of disability.
To view the 2017 Profile of Older Americans, click here.
Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820