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POPULATION

Nation

• 72 - The number of men 65 and older on July 1, 2005, for every 100 women in this age group. For those 85 and older, it drops to 46 men per 100 women.

• 5.1 million - The number of people 85 and older in the United States on July 1, 2005.

• 79,682 - Estimated number of centenarians in the United States on Nov. 1, 2006.

• 580,605 - Projected number of centenarians in the United States in 2040.

States

• 3.9 million - Number of people 65 and older living in California on July 1, 2005, the highest total of any state. Florida, with 3 million, was the runner-up.

• 20% - Projection of the percentage of Florida’s population age 65 and older in 2015, which would lead all states. In that year, Florida would have nearly as many residents 65 and older as younger than 18.

EDUCATION

• 72% - Proportion of people 65 and older in 2005 with at least a high school diploma.

• 18% - Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2005 who had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

• 7.3 million - Number of people 66 and older taking adult education courses. About 8 percent of all lifelong learners are in this age group.

• 69,000 - Number of people 65 and older enrolled in regular school (specifically, high school or college) in October 2005.

Marital Status

• 54% - Percentage of people 65 and older who were married with spouse present in 2005.

• 30% - Percentage of widowed people 65 and older in 2005.

Homeownership

• 81% - Proportion of householders 65 and older in 2006 who owned their homes. This compares with 43 percent for householders at the other end of the age spectrum — younger than 35.

STATISTICS:

A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President Kennedy designating May 1963 as “Senior Citizens Month,” asking the nation to pay tribute in some way to older people across the country. In 1980, President Carter’s proclamation changed the name to “Older Americans Month,” a time to celebrate those age 65 and older through ceremonies, events and fairs. (The information below is from the United States Census [2007] and the 2005 American Community Survey)

• 36.8 million - The number of people 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2005. This age group accounted for 12 percent of the total population. Between 2004 and 2005, this age group increased by 457,000 people.

• 86.7 million - Projected population of people 65 and older in 2050. People in this age group would comprise 21 percent of the total population at that time.

• 147% - Projected percentage increase in the 65-and-older population between 2000 and 2050. By comparison, the population as a whole would have increased by only 49 percent over the same period.

• 495 million - Current world population 65 and older. Projections indicate the number will increase to 997 million by 2030.

Income and Wealth

• $26,036 - Median 2005 income of households with householders 65 and older, up 2.8 percent, in real terms, from the previous year.

• 10.1% - Poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2005, statistically unchanged from the previous year. There were 3.6 million seniors in poverty.

• 39% - Percentage of total annual personal income of people 65 and older in 2001 that came from Social Security payments.

• $190,100 - Median net worth for families in 2004 whose head was between 65 and 74. For those whose head was 75 or older, the corresponding figure was $163,100.

Businesses

• 11% - Percentage of the nation’s business owners who are 65 and older.

Cars

• 75% - Percentage of households with a householder 65 and older who owns a motor vehicle. About 3 percent of these households have three or more cars.