The median age in the United States reached 39.2 years in 2024. This was up from 28.1 in 1970, reflecting a significant aging of the population. Over the coming decades, the number of retirees is projected to rise by about 40 percent by 2050. This demographic shift will present new challenges to American society, reshaping patterns of consumption, work and public policy in the decades ahead. Can an older America balance the books? Social Security spending is set to rise as America grows older. The program, which is the government’s main pillar of support for retirees, already absorbs about five percent of GDP. This could reach six percent by 2035. That trajectory will keep pressure on policymakers to balance promises to pensioners with broader fiscal constraints. A world growing older The aging trend is not unique to the U.S. The global median age reached 30.9 in 2025, up from 20.3 in 1970. By 2050, China, Japan and South Korea are expected to rank among the countries with the largest shares of people aged 65 and over. The change will oblige policymakers to adapt long-standing arrangements to societies where a larger share of people are in later life.

This statistic depicts the age distribution in the United States from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, about 17.32 percent of the U.S. population fell into the 0-14 year category, 64.75 percent into the 15-64 age group and 17.93 percent of the population were over 65 years of age. The increasing population of the United States The United States of America is one of the most populated countries in the world, trailing just behind China and India. A total population count of around 320 million inhabitants and a more-or-less steady population growth over the past decade indicate that the country has steadily improved its living conditions and standards for the population. Leading healthier lifestyles and improved living conditions have resulted in a steady increase of the life expectancy at birth in the United States. Life expectancies of men and women at birth in the United States were at a record high in 2012. Furthermore, a constant fertility rate in recent years and a decrease in the death rate and infant mortality, all due to the improved standard of living and health care conditions, have helped not only the American population to increase but as a result, the share of the population younger than 15 and older than 65 years has also increased in recent years, as can be seen above.

United States US: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data was reported at 5.956 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.864 % for 2016. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 4.108 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.956 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.594 % in 1996. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 60 to 64 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Graph and download economic data for 12-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Age: 55 Years and Over (FRBATLWGT12MMUMHWG55O) from Dec 1997 to Aug 2025 about 55 years +, growth, moving average, age, 1-year, average, wages, median, and USA.

In 2023, the median age of the population of the United States was 39.2 years. While this may seem quite young, the median age in 1960 was even younger, at 29.5 years. The aging population in the United States means that society is going to have to find a way to adapt to the larger numbers of older people. Everything from Social Security to employment to the age of retirement will have to change if the population is expected to age more while having fewer children. The world is getting older It’s not only the United States that is facing this particular demographic dilemma. In 1950, the global median age was 23.6 years. This number is projected to increase to 41.9 years by the year 2100. This means that not only the U.S., but the rest of the world will also have to find ways to adapt to the aging population.

United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data was reported at 23.470 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.796 % for 2016. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data is updated yearly, averaging 18.473 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.470 % in 2017 and a record low of 15.162 % in 1960. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2022, the state with the highest median age of its population was Maine at 45.1 years. Utah had the lowest median age at 32.1 years. View the distribution of the U.S. population by ethnicity here.

Additional information on the aging population in the United States

High birth rates during the so-called baby boom years that followed World War II followed by lower fertility and morality rates have left the United States with a serious challenge in the 21st Century. However, the issue of an aging population is certainly not an issue unique to the United States. The age distribution of the global population shows that other parts of the world face a similar issue.

Within the United States, the uneven distribution of populations aged 65 years and over among states offers both major challenges and potential solutions. On the one hand, federal action over the issue may be contentious as other states are set to harbor the costs of elderly care in states such as California and Florida. That said, domestic migration from comparably younger states may help to fill gaps in the workforce left by retirees in others.

Nonetheless, aging population issues are set to gain further prominence in the political and economic decisions made by policymakers regardless of the eventual distribution of America’s elderly. Analysis of the financial concerns of Americans by age shows many young people still decades from retirement hold strong concern over their eventual financial position.

United States US: Population: Male: Ages 75-79: % of Male Population data was reported at 2.399 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.355 % for 2016. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 75-79: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.984 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.399 % in 2017 and a record low of 1.514 % in 1960. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 75-79: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 75 to 79 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 52.268 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 51.652 % for 2016. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 52.247 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.700 % in 1962 and a record low of 49.442 % in 2009. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

Retirement Age Men in the United States increased to 66.83 Years in 2025 from 66.67 Years in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Retirement Age Men - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United States US: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data was reported at 3.553 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.377 % for 2016. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.712 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.553 % in 2017 and a record low of 2.264 % in 1969. United States US: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 70 to 74 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

In 2023, about 17.7 percent of the American population was 65 years old or over; an increase from the last few years and a figure which is expected to reach 22.8 percent by 2050. This is a significant increase from 1950, when only eight percent of the population was 65 or over. A rapidly aging population In recent years, the aging population of the United States has come into focus as a cause for concern, as the nature of work and retirement is expected to change to keep up. If a population is expected to live longer than the generations before, the economy will have to change as well to fulfill the needs of the citizens. In addition, the birth rate in the U.S. has been falling over the last 20 years, meaning that there are not as many young people to replace the individuals leaving the workforce. The future population It’s not only the American population that is aging -- the global population is, too. By 2025, the median age of the global workforce is expected to be 39.6 years, up from 33.8 years in 1990. Additionally, it is projected that there will be over three million people worldwide aged 100 years and over by 2050.

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 15-19, male and country United States. Indicator Definition:Male population between the ages 15 to 19.The indicator "Population ages 15-19, male" stands at 11.55 Million as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 1.06 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 1.06.The 3 year change in percent is 3.16.The 5 year change in percent is 3.61.The 10 year change in percent is 7.00.The Serie's long term average value is 10.04 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 15.02 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +73.23%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.

Graph and download economic data for Real Median Personal Income in the United States (MEPAINUSA672N) from 1974 to 2024 about personal income, personal, median, income, real, and USA.

This map shows the average household income in the U.S. in 2022 in a multiscale map by country, state, county, ZIP Code, tract, and block group. Information for the average household income is an estimate of income for calendar year 2022. Income amounts are expressed in current dollars, including an adjustment for inflation or cost-of-living increases.The pop-up is configured to include the following information for each geography level:Average household incomeMedian household incomeCount of households by income groupAverage household income by householder age groupThe data shown is from Esri's 2022 Updated Demographic estimates using Census 2020 geographies. The map adds increasing level of detail as you zoom in, from state, to county, to ZIP Code, to tract, to block group data.Esri's U.S. Updated Demographic (2022/2027) Data: Population, age, income, sex, race, home value, and marital status are among the variables included in the database. Each year, Esri's Data Development team employs its proven methodologies to update more than 2,000 demographic variables for a variety of U.S. geographies.Additional Esri Resources:Esri DemographicsU.S. 2022/2027 Esri Updated DemographicsEssential demographic vocabularyThis item is for visualization purposes only and cannot be exported or used in analysis.Permitted use of this data is covered in the DATA section of the Esri Master Agreement (E204CW) and these supplemental terms.

As of July 2024, the largest age group among the United States population were adults aged 30 to 34 years old. There were 11.9 million males and some 12.1 million females in this age cohort. The total population of the country was estimated to be 340.1 million Which U.S. state has the largest population? The United States is the third most populous country in the world. It is preceded by China and India, and followed by Indonesia in terms of national population. The gender distribution in the U.S. has remained consistent for many years, with the number of females narrowly outnumbering males. In terms of where the residents are located, California was the state with the largest population. The U.S. population by race and ethnicity The United States poses an ethnically diverse population. In 2023, the number of Black or African American individuals was estimated to be 45.76 million, which represented an increase of over four million since the 2010 census. The number of Asian residents has increased at a similar rate during the same time period and the Hispanic population in the U.S. has also continued to grow.

United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Age 25-54 data was reported at 4.400 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.300 % for Mar 2025. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Age 25-54 data is updated monthly, averaging 3.850 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 338 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.200 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 1.700 % in Dec 2010. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Age 25-54 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G113: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker: 3-Month Moving Average.

Time series data for the statistic Population, ages 7-10, female and country United States. Indicator Definition:Population, ages 7-10, female is the total number of females age 7-10.The indicator "Population, ages 7-10, female" stands at 8.44 Million as of 12/31/2015, the highest value at least since 12/31/1991, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.8502 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.8502.The 3 year change in percent is 2.67.The 5 year change in percent is 4.17.The 10 year change in percent is 5.06.The Serie's long term average value is 7.95 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 6.17 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1990, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is +19.34%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2015, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 0.0%.

From the mid-19th century until today, life expectancy at birth in the United States has roughly doubled, from 39.4 years in 1850 to 79.6 years in 2025. It is estimated that life expectancy in the U.S. began its upward trajectory in the 1880s, largely driven by the decline in infant and child mortality through factors such as vaccination programs, antibiotics, and other healthcare advancements. Improved food security and access to clean water, as well as general increases in living standards (such as better housing, education, and increased safety) also contributed to a rise in life expectancy across all age brackets. There were notable dips in life expectancy; with an eight year drop during the American Civil War in the 1860s, a seven year drop during the Spanish Flu empidemic in 1918, and a 2.5 year drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. There were also notable plateaus (and minor decreases) not due to major historical events, such as that of the 2010s, which has been attributed to a combination of factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, poor access to healthcare, poverty, and increased suicide rates, among others. However, despite the rate of progress slowing since the 1950s, most decades do see a general increase in the long term, and current UN projections predict that life expectancy at birth in the U.S. will increase by another nine years before the end of the century.

Graph and download economic data for 3-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Age: 25-54 Years (FRBATLWGT3MMAUMHWGA2554Y) from Mar 1997 to Aug 2025 about growth, moving average, 25 to 54 years, 3-month, average, wages, median, and USA.