Click here for the latest updated Profile

A STATISTICAL PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS:1994

[NOTE: This is an electronic version of a printed brochure. For information about ordering the brochure, see below.]

THE OLDER POPULATION

The older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 32.8 million in 1993. They represented 12.7% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. The number of older Americans increased by 1.6 million or 5% since 1990, compared to an increase of 3% for the under-65 population.

In 1993, there were 19.5 million older women and 13.3 million older men, or a sex ratio of 147 women for every 100 men. The sex ratio increased with age, ranging from 122 for the 65-69 group to a high of 256 for persons 85 and older.

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has more than tripled (4.1% in 1900 to 12.7% in 1993), and the number has increased over 10 times (from 3.1 million to 32.8 million).

The older population itself is getting older. In 1993 the 65-74 age group (18.7 million) was eight times larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 group (10.8 million) was 14 times larger and the 85+ group (3.4 million) was 27 times larger.

In 1992, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 17.5 years (19.1 years for females and 15.5 years for males).

A child born in 1992 could expect to live 75.7 years, about 28 years longer than a child born in 1900. The major part of this increase occurred because of reduced death rates for children and young adults. Life expectancy at age 65 increased by only 2.4 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased by 3.2 years since 1960.

About 2.0 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 1993 (5,500 per day). In the same year, about 1.7 million persons 65 or older died, resulting in a net increase of 516,000 (1,410 per day).

• Notes
• Years (as of July 1)
• Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census

FUTURE GROWTH

The older population will continue to grow in the future (see Table 1). This growth will slow somewhat during the 1990's because of the relatively small number of babies born during the Great Depression of the 1930's. The most rapid increase is ex- pected between the years 2010 and 2030 when the "baby boom" generation reaches age 65.

By 2030, there will be about 70 million older persons, more than twice their number in 1990. People 65+ are projected to represent 13% of the population in the year 2000 but will be 20% by 2030.

Minority populations are projected to represent 25% of the elderly population in 2030, up from 13% in 1990. Between 1990 and 2030, the white nonhispanic population 65+ is projected to in- crease by 93% compared with 328% for older minorities, including Hispanics (555%) and nonhispanic blacks (160%), American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts (231%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders (693%).

MARITAL STATUS

In 1993, older men were nearly twice as likely to be married as older women--77% of men, 42% of women (Table 2).*

Half of all older women in 1993 were widows (48%). There were nearly five times as many widows (8.6 million) as widowers (1.8 million).*

Although divorced older persons represented only 5% of all older persons in 1993, their numbers (1.6 million) had increased three times as fast as the older population as a whole since 1980 (2.0 times for men, 4.3 times for women).*

Based on data from US. Bureau of the Census

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

The majority (68%) of older noninstitutionalized persons lived in a family setting in 1993. Approximately 10.5 million or 82% of older men, and 10.4 million or 57% of older women, lived in families (Table 3). The proportion living in a family setting de- creased with age. About 13% (7% of men, 17% of women) were not living with a spouse but were living with children, siblings, or other relatives. An additional 3% of men and 2% of women, or 685,000 older persons, lived with nonrelatives.*

About 30% (9.4 million) of all noninstitutionalized older persons in 1993 lived alone (7.4 million women, 2.0 million men). They represented 41% of older women and 16% of older men. Older persons living alone increased in number by 32% between 1980 and 1993, compared with 27% for the balance of the older population.*

Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census

A 1984 study found that 4 of every 5 older persons had living children. Of these, two-thirds (66%) lived within 30 minutes of a child. Six out of ten (62%) had at least weekly visits with children and three-fourths (76%) talked on the phone at least weekly with children.*

While a small number (1.6 million) and percentage (5%) of the 65+ population lived in nursing homes in 1990, the percentage increased dramatically with age, ranging from 1% for persons 65-74 years to 6% for persons 75-84 years and 24% for persons 85+.

RACIAL and ETHNIC COMPOSITION

In 1993, about 96% of persons 65+ were not of Hispanic origin-- 86% were White, 8% were Black, 2% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% were American Indian or Native Alaskan. Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) represented 4% of the older population.

Only 7% of minority race and Hispanic populations were 65+ in 1993 (8% of nonhispanic blacks, 7% of Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and native Alaskans, 6% of Hispanics), compared with 15% of nonhispanic whites.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

In 1993, about half (52%) of persons 65+ lived in nine states. California had over 3 million, Florida and New York had over 2 million each, and Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and New Jersey each had over 1 million (Table 4).

Persons 65+ constituted 14.0% or more of the total population in 12 states in 1993 (Table 4): Florida (18.6%); Pennsylvania (15.8%); Iowa and Rhode Island (15.5% each); West Virginia (15.3%); Arkansas (15.0%); North Dakota (14.8%); South Dakota (14.7%); Nebraska and Missouri (14.2% each); Connecticut (14.1%); and Massachusetts (14.0%).

In eight states, the 65+ population increased by 8.5% or more between 1990 and 1993 (Table 4): Nevada (22%); Alaska (19%); Arizona (11%); Hawaii, Utah, and New Mexico (10% each); and Wyoming and Colorado (9% each).

The 13 states with the highest poverty rates for the elderly in 1989 are located in the South, including 8 states with poverty rates of 20% or more: Mississippi (29%); Louisiana and Alabama (24% each); Arkansas (23%); Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina (21% each); and Georgia (20%).*

Persons 65+ were slightly less likely to live in metropolitan areas in 1993 than younger persons (74% of the elderly, 78% of persons under 65). About 29% of older persons lived in central cities, and 44% lived in suburbs.*

The elderly are less likely to change residence than other age groups. In 1992 only 5% of persons 65+ had moved since 1991 (compared to 19% of persons under 65).The majority (75%) had moved to another home in the same state.*

Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census

INCOME

The median income of older persons in 1993 was $14,983 for males and $8,499 for females. After adjusting for a 1992-93 inflation rate of 3%, these figures represented no significant change in "real" income from 1992 for both women and men.*

Households containing families headed by persons 65+ reported a median income in 1993 of $25,821 ($26,503 for Whites, $18,489 for Blacks, and $19,569 for Hispanics). Nearly one of every five (21%) family households with an elderly head had incomes less than $15,000 and 41% had incomes of $30,000 or more (Table 5).*

Notes:

• $25,821 median for 11.2 million family households 65 +
• $10,908 median for 9.6 million nonfamily households 65 +

Based on data from US. Bureau of the Census

Elderly nonfamily households (persons living alone or with nonrelatives) were likely to have low incomes in 1993, with 45% reporting less than $10,000. One in twelve (9%) had incomes under $5,000, and 33% had $15,000 or more. The median income in 1993 for these households was $10,908 ($11,283 for Whites, $7,492 for Blacks, and $7,347 for Hispanics).*

The major source of income for older couples and individuals in 1992 was Social Security (40%), followed by asset income (21%), public and private pensions (19%), earnings (17%), and all other sources (3%).*

Older households were less likely than younger households in 1993 to have received public assistance income (19% vs. 22%), food stamps (6% vs. 11%), or to have one or more members covered by Medicaid (12% vs. 15%). Over one-fourth (28%) of older renter households lived in publicly owned or subsidized housing in 1992 (12% for younger renters).*

The median net worth (assets minus liabilities) of older households ($73,500), including those 75+ years ($61,500), was well above the U.S. average ($35,800)in 1988. Net worth was below $10,000 for 17% of older households but was above $250,000 for 14%.*

POVERTY

About 3.8 million elderly persons were below the poverty level** in 1993. The poverty rate for persons 65+ was 12.2%, about the same as the rate for persons 18-64 (12.4%). Another 2.3 million or 8% of the elderly were classified as "near-poor" (income between the poverty level and 125% of this level). In total, one-fifth (20%) of the older population was poor or near-poor in 1993.*

One of every nine (11%) elderly Whites was poor in 1993, compared to over one-fourth (28%) of elderly Blacks and one-fifth (21%) of elderly Hispanics.*

Older women had a higher poverty rate (15%) than older men (8%)in 1993. Likewise, older persons living alone or with nonrelatives were more likely to be poor (24%) than were older persons living in families (6%).*

Over four of ten (44%) older black women who lived alone were poor in 1993. The poverty rate in 1993 for people 65+ was also high for those who lived in nonmetropolitan areas (16%) or the South (16%), had not completed high school (20%), or were too ill or disabled to work (21%).*

HOUSING

Of the 20.9 million households headed by older persons in 1993, 77% were owners and 23% were renters. Older male householders were more likely to be owners (85%) than were females (67%).*

The housing of older Americans is generally older and less adequate than the balance of the nation's housing. About 38% of homes owned by older persons in 1991 were built prior to 1950 (23% for younger owners) and 7% had physical problems (6% for younger owners).*

The percentage of income spent on housing (excluding maintenance and repair) in 1991 was higher for older households than for younger households among homeowners without a mortgage (16% vs. 9%), homeowners with a mortgage (28% vs. 22%), and renters (37% vs. 27%).*

In 1991, the median value of homes owned by older persons was $70,400 ($46,600 for Blacks and $81,200 for Hispanics). About 82% of older homeowners in 1991 owned their homes free and clear.*

EMPLOYMENT

About 3.5 million older Americans (11%) were in the labor force (working or actively seeking work) in 1993, including 2.0 million men (16%) and 1.5 million women (8%). They constituted 2.7% of the U.S. labor force. About 3.2% of them were unemployed.*

Labor force participation of older men decreased steadily from 2 of 3 in 1900 to 15.8% in 1985, and has stayed at 16% since then. The participation rate for older females rose slightly from 1 of 12 in 1900 to 10.8% in 1956, fell to 7.3% in 1985, and has been around 8% since 1988.*

Approximately half (54%) of the workers over 65 in 1993 were employed part-time: 48% of men and 60% of women.*

About 834,000 or 24% of older workers in 1993 were self-employed, compared to 8% for younger workers. Three-fourths of them (75%) were men.*

EDUCATION

The educational level of the older population is increasing. Between 1970 and 1993, the percentage who had completed high school rose from 28% to 60%. About 12% in 1993 had a bachelors degree or more. Nevertheless, the average performance of people 65+ on the 1992National Adult Literacy Survey was below all other age groups. *

The percentage who had completed high school varied considerably by race and ethnic origin among older persons in 1993: 63% of Whites, 33% of Blacks, and 26% of Hispanics.*

HEALTH and HEALTH CARE

In 1992, 29% of older persons assessed their health as fair or poor (compared to 8% for persons under 65). There was little difference between the sexes on this measure, but older Blacks were much more likely to rate their health as fair or poor (44%) than were older Whites (27%).*

The number of days in which usual activities are restricted because of illness or injury increases with age. Older persons averaged 35 such days in 1992 (34 days for males, 37 days for females, 34 days for whites, 48 days for blacks) and spent all or most of 15 of these days in bed (14 days for males, 15 days for females, 14 days for Whites, 22 days for Blacks).*

In 1986, about 6.1 million (23%) older people living in the community had health-related difficulties with one or more activities of daily living or ADLs (18% of men, 26% of women) and 7.6 million (28%) had difficulty with one or more instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs (19% of men, 35% of women). Less than half who had difficulty with ADLs but most of those who had difficulty with IADLs were receiving at least some personal help. The percentages needing and receiving help increased sharply with age (Table 6).[ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, transferring from bed or chair, walking, getting outside, and using toilet. IADLs include preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using telephone, and doing housework.]*

NOTE:

• Data refer to health-related difficulties only. Based on data from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and many have multiple conditions. The most frequently occurring conditions per 100 elderly in 1992 were: arthritis (48), hypertension (36), heart disease and hearing impairments (32 each), orthopedic impairments (19), cataracts (17), sinusitis (16), diabetes (11), and tinnitus and visual impairments (9 each).*

Older people accounted for 35% of all hospital stays and 46% of all days of care in hospitals in 1992. The average length of a hospital stay was 8.2 days for older people, compared to only 5.1 days for people under 65. The average length of stay for older peoplehasdecreased6.0days since 1968 and 2.5 days since 1980. Older persons also averaged more contacts with doctors in 1992 than did persons under 65 (11 contacts vs. 5 contacts ).*

In 1987 the 65+ group represented 12% of the U.S. population but accounted for 36% of total personal health care expenditures. These expenditures totaled $162 billion and averaged $5,360 per year for each older person, more than 4 times the $1,290 spent for younger persons. About $1,500 or one-fourth of the average expenditure came from direct ("out-of-pocket") payments by or for older persons.

Hospital expenses accounted for the largest share (42%) of health expenditures for older persons in 1987, followed by physicians (21%), and nursing home care (20%).

Benefits from government programs, including Medicare ($72 billion), Medicaid ($20 billion), and others ($10 billion), covered about two-thirds (63%) of the health expenditures for older persons in 1987, compared to only 26% for persons under 65.

Footnotes:

* Numbers or percentages in paragraphs and tables followed by this symbol refer to the noninstitutionalized population only. ** By the official 1993 definition of $8,740 for an older couple household or $6,930 for an older individual living alone.

"A Profile of Older Americans: 1994" was prepared by the Administration on Aging (AoA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The printed version of this brochure was prepared with the assistance of the Program Resources Department, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

The information in this brochure was researched and compiled by Donald G. Fowles, AoA.Production of the printed version of this document is by Felo Madrid, AARP.

For up to 50 copies of the printed version (brochure), write:

For quantities over 50, write:

Go to Top of Page Go to AoA Statistical Menu Go to top of AoA Home Page

Hypertext by Saadia Greenberg, original hypertext conversion July 31, 1995; last updated November 30, 1997