In 2026, about 19.2 percent of the American population was over 65 years of age. This figure is forecast to reach 22.8 percent by 2050. In 1950, U.S. seniors accounted for only eight percent of the population. 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.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the United States (SPPOP65UPTOZSUSA) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, population, and USA.

In 2024, an estimated *** million seniors aged 65 years or older were living in California. This was the highest figures among U.S. states. It was followed by Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five states with the largest population of residents aged 65 and over.

This statistic presents the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in the United States in 2019, distinguished by state. In 2019, about ** percent of Florida's population was aged 65 and over. The national share stood at **** percent.

United States US: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 50,204,174.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 48,612,690.000 Person for 2016. United States US: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 30,722,814.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50,204,174.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 16,487,378.000 Person in 1960. United States US: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above 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. Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

In 2023, there were ********* adults aged 65 and older living in California, the most out of all U.S. states, followed by Florida with over *** million adults aged 65 and older. Both California and Florida have some of the highest resident population figures in the United States.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the United States population by age cohorts (Children: Under 18 years; Working population: 18-64 years; Senior population: 65 years or more). It lists the population in each age cohort group along with its percentage relative to the total population of United States. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution across children, working population and senior population for dependency ratio, housing requirements, ageing, migration patterns etc.

Key observations

The largest age group was 18 to 64 years with a poulation of 202.77 million (61% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age cohorts:

• Under 18 years
• 18 to 64 years
• 65 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age cohort for the United States population analysis. Total expected values are 3 groups ( Children, Working Population and Senior Population).
• Population: The population for the age cohort in United States is shown in the following column.
• Percent of Total Population: The population as a percent of total population of the United States is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States Population by Age. You can refer the same here

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.

Population ages 65 and above for the United States was 17.92873 % of Total in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population ages 65 and above for the United States reached a record high of 17.92873 in January of 2024 and a record low of 8.21311 in January of 1950. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population ages 65 and above for the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2026.

United States US: Population: Female: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 27,842,737.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 27,037,960.000 Person for 2016. United States US: Population: Female: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 18,235,236.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27,842,737.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 9,137,507.000 Person in 1960. United States US: Population: Female: Aged 65 and Above 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. Female population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

This map shows population aged 65 and up in the United States as a percent of total population and by total youth population. The color shows the percentage of the total population age 65+. As you zoom in, the size of the symbols represents the count of population age 65+. The colors mean the same thing at all geography levels.The map shows this pattern for states, counties, tracts, and block groups. There is increasing geographic detail as you zoom in, and only one geography is configured to show at any time. The data source is the US Census Bureau, and the vintage is 2010. The original service and data metadata can be found here.

Population ages 65 and above, total in North America was reported at 64508900 Persons in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North America - Total Population for Age 65 and above (only 2005 and 2010) (in number of people) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2026.

United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 16.925 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 16.550 % for 2016. United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 14.035 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.925 % in 2017 and a record low of 10.023 % in 1960. United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above 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. Female population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

The average for 2024 based on 24 countries was 11.63 percent. The highest value was in Puerto Rico: 24.72 percent and the lowest value was in Honduras: 4.42 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2022, about 17.3 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 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 in order to keep up. If a population is expected to live longer than the generations before, the economy will have to change as well in order 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.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the United States population distribution across 18 age groups. It lists the population in each age group along with the percentage population relative of the total population for United States. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of United States by age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group in United States.

Key observations

The largest age group in United States was for the group of age 30 to 34 years years with a population of 22.71 million (6.86%), according to the ACS 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates. At the same time, the smallest age group in United States was the 80 to 84 years years with a population of 6.25 million (1.89%). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group in consideration
• Population: The population for the specific age group in the United States is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the population of each age group as a proportion of United States total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States Population by Age. You can refer the same here

The percent of persons, out of all persons living in an area, 65 years and above. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community SurveyYears Available: 2010, 2011-2015, 2012-2016, 2013-2017, 2014-2018, 2015-2019, 2017-2021, 2018-2022, 2019-2023Please note: We do not recommend comparing overlapping years of data due to the nature of this dataset. For more information, please visit: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/comparing-acs-data.html

Population ages 65 and above, female in United States was reported at 33024975 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Population ages 65 and above, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on February of 2026.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for United States (LFWA64TTUSM647S) from Jan 1977 to Sep 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, population, and USA.

US: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 22,361,776.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 21,574,948.000 Person for 2016. US: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 12,488,410.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,361,776.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 7,349,868.000 Person in 1960. US: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above 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 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;