DataPoint: Senior Population Projections

The number of individuals age 65 and over grew from 35.0 million in 2000 to 49.2 million in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationwide, the population of adults over 65 is predicted to double between 2015 and 2060, from 48 million to 98 million. The number of U.S. residents over 85 is expected to triple by 2050. In New York State, the 65 plus population is expected to increase by 25 percent, while the number of individuals over 85 is expected to increase by 35 percent by 2040. While overall population is predicted to increase 0.4 percent in New York State by 2040, the percentage of retirement age residents is expected to increase from 14.6 percent to 18.2 percent.

Population statistics are based on 2010 U.S. Census statistics and can be found here. Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics provides New York State-specific projections based on age and several other demographic categories and can be found here.

Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820