51 Surprising Statistics on Aging in America (2025 Edition)

 
This overview provides key insights and statistics on senior citizens, offering valuable context for families navigating the complexities of senior care.

Demographic Trends

• 1. America’s senior population is larger than ever. There were 57.8 million people age 65 or older in the U.S. in 2022 – about 17.3% of the population, or roughly one in every six Americans. This share is up from 13% in 2010 and is on a steep rise as the Baby Boom generation ages.
• 2. The 65+ age group is growing much faster than the rest of the population. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of Americans age 65+ increased by 34%, whereas the under-65 population grew by only 2%. In other words, the senior population grew about 17 times faster than the non-senior population over the past decade.
• 3. Every day, thousands more Americans become seniors. In 2022 alone, about 4 million people celebrated their 65th birthday – averaging roughly 11,000 new seniors per day joining the 65+ ranks. This influx contributed to an annual net increase of approximately 1.6 million older adults in the population.
• 4. Older adults will make up a growing share of Americans in coming years. By 2040, it’s projected that there will be over 78 million Americans age 65+ – about 22% of the total population. (For perspective, seniors were only ~13% of the population in 2010.) Within about a decade, older adults are expected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history.
• 5. The ranks of the very old are swelling. There were nearly 88,988 centenarians (people age 100 or older) in the U.S. in 2022 – more than double the number back in 1980 (32,194). Americans who reach age 65 today can expect to live, on average, an additional 18.9 years (to about age 84), reflecting the ongoing improvements in longevity.
• 6. Women dominate the older age brackets. In 2022, there were 31.9 million women age 65+ vs. 25.9 million men – meaning women accounted for 55% of seniors (about 123 women for every 100 men in this age group). The gender gap widens with advanced age – among those 85 and over, there were 184 women for every 100 men, due to women’s longer life expectancy.
• 7. Older men are far more likely to be married than older women. As of 2023, about 68% of men age 65+ were married, compared to only 47% of women in that age range. This reflects patterns in longevity and widowhood – many women outlive their spouses, contributing to a higher proportion of single older women.
• 8. Many Americans are working into their later years. In 2023, 11.2 million Americans age 65+ were in the labor force (either working or actively seeking work). In fact, the labor force participation rate for seniors has been gradually rising – about 1 in 6 people age 65+ are currently part of the workforce, often due to better health, insufficient retirement savings, or a desire to stay active.
• 9. The senior population is concentrated in a handful of states. One-quarter of all older Americans live in just three states – California, Florida, and Texas – which together are home to about 25% of the 65+ population.
• 10. Half of America’s seniors live in 10 states. The three states above plus New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia collectively account for roughly 50% of the entire U.S. 65+ population. (By contrast, sparsely populated states like Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and North Dakota each have well under 150,000 seniors.)
• 11. Some states age faster than others. Maine has the highest proportion of older residents – about 23% of Maine’s population is 65+ (as of 2023) – making it the “oldest” state. Florida and Vermont also have around 22% of their populations age 65+. At the other end of the spectrum, Utah is the youngest state with only 12.2% of residents 65 or older (reflecting its high birth rates and younger demographics).
• 12. States with rapid senior growth. The population of older adults is skyrocketing in some states. Between 2012 and 2022, the 65+ population grew by 63% in Alaska, 55% in Idaho, and 51% in Delaware – the fastest growth rates in the nation. (Nationally, the 65+ population grew about 34% over that decade.) This rapid growth is straining healthcare and senior services in those states.

Living Arrangements & Housing (older adults living alone statistics)

• 13. Most community-dwelling seniors live with a spouse or partner. About 59% of Americans age 65+ who live in the community (i.e. not in institutions) were living with their spouse or domestic partner in 2023. Living with a spouse is the most common household arrangement for older adults, especially for men.
• 14. What percentage of the population live alone? The answer is: Over a quarter of older Americans live alone. Approximately 28% of seniors (16.2 million people) live by themselves in the community. The likelihood of living alone increases with age and is much higher for women than men. While many seniors living solo maintain active social lives, those who live alone can be at higher risk of social isolation and financial insecurity.
• 15. Older women are more likely to live alone than older men. About 33% (one in three) of women age 65+ live alone, compared to 22% (about one in five) of men age 65+. This gap is largely due to women’s longer lifespan and the fact that women often marry older men – leaving more women widowed and living solo in old age.
• 16. Very old women especially often live by themselves. Among women age 75 and above, 42% live alone. Many of these women are widows, as spouse loss becomes increasingly common at older ages. By contrast, the majority of men 75+ live with a spouse or other family – only about 20% of men 75+ live alone.
• 17. Relatively few seniors live in nursing homes or care facilities. In 2022, about 1.3 million Americans 65+ resided in nursing homes. That’s only roughly 2% of the senior population. The vast majority of older adults are living in the community, not in institutional care at any given time. However, many will spend at least some time in a nursing facility at the very end of life or during recovery periods. To further understand different care settings, it’s helpful to learn the differences in home care types.
• 18. The chance of nursing home residence rises at very advanced ages. Only about 1% of adults 65–74 live in nursing homes, but around 8% of those 85 and older do. In other words, roughly one out of every twelve Americans over 85 is in a nursing facility. Advanced age often comes with frailty or dementia that can necessitate around-the-clock care.
• 19. Single-person households have become much more common. Nearly 30% of all U.S. households in 2022 were one-person households (people living alone). By comparison, only about 17% of households were single-person in 1970. This trend is partly driven by aging – more seniors (especially women) are living solo – as well as higher divorce rates and individuals delaying or forgoing marriage.
• 20. Housing costs burden many older adults, especially renters. 45% of households headed by someone 65+ spend over one-third of their income on housing costs (a common affordability benchmark). Older renters are particularly strained – about 76% of senior renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, often living on fixed incomes that struggle to keep up with rising housing costs. (By contrast, many older homeowners have paid off mortgages, easing their cost burden.)
• 21. Older renters have much lower incomes than homeowners. Reflecting different financial circumstances, the median household income of older renters (age 75+) was just $20,000 in 2021, compared to $38,640 for older homeowners of the same age. Lower income and little home equity make older renters a particularly vulnerable group, as they have less cushion to absorb cost increases or unexpected expenses. For those considering extensive support, understanding 24/7 care costs can be crucial.

Health & Safety

• 22. Falls are alarmingly common among seniors. Approximately 1 in 4 Americans age 65+ reports falling at least once each year – that’s over 14 million older adults who experience a fall annually. Falls are a leading cause of injury among seniors and can often be a tipping point for a loss of independence.
• 23. Many falls result in injuries. About 37% of older adults who fall suffer an injury that requires medical treatment or restricts their activity for at least a day. This works out to roughly 9 million fall-related injuries among seniors each year. Common injuries include fractures (hip fractures in particular can be devastating), head traumas, and lacerations.
• 24. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries for older Americans. In 2021, falls led to over 38,000 deaths among adults 65 and older, making falls the #1 cause of injury-related death in this age group. An elderly person who falls has a significant risk of serious complications – for example, falls cause about 95% of hip fractures, which are often life-threatening for seniors. The right types of shoes for seniors have been proven to reduce the risks of falls and injuries.

• 25. Fatal falls are on the rise. The age-adjusted death rate from falls for Americans 65+ jumped by 41% from 2012 to 2021. In 2012, there were about 55 fall-related deaths per 100,000 older adults; by 2021, that rate had risen to 78 per 100,000. This sharp increase may reflect both the growing number of seniors and increasing average frailty or fall risk (though it’s an active area of public health focus to reverse this trend).
• 26. Heart disease remains the top killer of older adults. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for Americans of all ages, but especially for those 75 and older – about 24% of people 75+ die from heart disease. Seniors are also vulnerable to other chronic illnesses; for instance, cancer is the second leading cause of death in older age groups.
• 27. Obesity affects a large share of older Americans. Nearly 42% of U.S. adults age 60 and over were classified as obese in 2022. Obesity rates in older adults have been rising over time, which raises concerns since obesity exacerbates risks for heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and disability in later years.
• 28. Diabetes is widespread among seniors. About 20% of Americans age 65+ have been diagnosed with diabetes (primarily Type 2 diabetes). Proper management is critical, as diabetes can lead to serious complications like cardiovascular disease, vision loss, and neuropathy. Additionally, an even larger share of seniors have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes.
• 29. Arthritis is almost a hallmark of old age. Joint problems are very common – 44% of adults 65–74 have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and this jumps to 53.9% (roughly half) of adults 75 and older. Arthritis is a leading cause of disability for seniors, often limiting mobility and daily activities (and it’s one factor that can increase fall risk due to pain or limited joint function).
• 30. Most older adults have at least one chronic condition. In fact, the vast majority have multiple. As of 2022, an estimated 85% of Americans age 65+ had at least one chronic health condition (like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc.), and 60% had at least two. Managing chronic diseases is a major part of healthcare for the elderly, accounting for a large share of health expenditures. (Source: NCOA analysis of CDC/NCHS data)

Cognitive & Mental Health

• 31. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing challenge. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2023 – roughly 1 in 9 seniors (11%) has Alzheimer’s. This does not count other forms of dementia. As the population ages, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is climbing steadily, highlighting the increasing need for specialized dementia care.
• 32. The number of seniors with dementia will soar in coming years. By the year 2025, the Alzheimer’s Association projects about 7.2 million Americans age 65+ will have Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 that could reach nearly 13 million. (For context, there were around 4 million Alzheimer’s patients in 2000.) Longer lifespans and the large Baby Boomer cohort are driving a surge in age-related cognitive impairment.
• 33. Most people with Alzheimer’s are women. Almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. This is partly because women live longer on average (and age is the top risk factor for Alzheimer’s), but even at a given age, women appear to have a slightly higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s compared to men.
• 34. Millions of seniors struggle with loneliness and isolation. More than one-third (approximately 33%) of older adults age 50–80 reported feeling lonely at least “some of the time” or often in the past year, and 29% of older adults said they felt socially isolated (lacking companionship or regular interaction) in 2024. While these figures are similar to pre-pandemic levels, they highlight that a substantial share of seniors experience social disconnection, which can have negative effects on mental and physical health.
• 35. Older Americans have a disproportionate suicide rate. In 2022, adults 65 and older accounted for 22% of U.S. suicides (10,433 out of ~49,500 suicide deaths), even though seniors are only about 17% of the population. This represented an 8.1% increase in the number of senior suicides compared to 2021, mirroring a troubling rise in suicides nationally.
• 36. Suicide attempts are far more lethal for seniors. Tragically, 1 in 4 older adults who attempt suicide ends up dying – a much higher fatality rate than in younger people (only about 1 in 200 youth suicide attempts is fatal). Older adults tend to use more deadly means and have more fragile health, so they are less likely to survive an attempt. This makes prevention and early intervention for seniors particularly critical.
• 37. Older men have the highest suicide risk. Men age 75 and above have the highest suicide rate of any demographic group in the U.S. Factors like social isolation, loss of loved ones, physical illness, and depression contribute to late-life suicide risk. White men 85+ have especially high rates (on the order of 40+ suicides per 100,000, several times the overall national rate).

Caregiving & Support

• 38. Family and friends provide the bulk of care for older adults. An estimated 76% of seniors who receive help with daily needs rely on informal (unpaid) care from family members or friends, whether alone or in combination with some paid services. Only about 5% of older adults receiving care rely exclusively on paid professional caregivers. In short, the vast majority of long-term care for elders is provided by families rather than institutions or paid help.
• 39. The economic value of unpaid caregiving is enormous. In 2021, family caregivers provided around 36 billion hours of unpaid care to older and disabled adults, services that were valued at approximately $600 billion. This was a sharp increase from an estimated $470 billion in 2017. If the care that families provide for free had to be replaced with paid services, it would rival the entire federal Medicare budget – underscoring how much the healthcare system relies on informal caregiving.
• 40. Tens of millions of Americans are juggling work and caregiving. Approximately 61% of family caregivers of adults are also employed in the workforce. With nearly 48 million Americans serving as family caregivers, that means around 30 million working caregivers are balancing jobs with caring for an aging parent, spouse, or other loved one. These working caregivers often face stress and work-life conflicts as a result. The challenges of caregiving are compounded by the broader issue of the US caregiver shortage.
• 41. Caregiving often impacts careers. About 61% of employed family caregivers report that their caregiving duties have negatively affected their work. They may need to cut back on work hours, turn down promotions, take leaves of absence, or even quit jobs due to caregiving responsibilities. This can harm caregivers’ own financial security and career progression, creating a ripple effect on the economy.
• 42. Caring for dementia patients is particularly demanding. Nearly 12 million Americans are providing unpaid care for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. In 2024, these dementia caregivers provided an estimated 19 billion hours of care, valued at over $413 billion in economic terms. Caregivers for dementia patients often experience high levels of burnout and stress, given the intensive supervision and support these conditions require.

Other Social Indicators

• 43. Many older Americans are military veterans. Almost 8 million Americans age 65 and over are U.S. military veterans – roughly 13% of the senior population. The vast majority (about 95%) of these senior veterans are men, reflecting the historically high percentage of men in the armed forces in the mid-20th century (World War II, Korea, Vietnam eras). As this generation passes, the number of senior veterans is expected to decline in coming decades.
• 44. Today’s seniors are much better educated than past generations. In 1970, only 28% of Americans age 65+ had finished high school. By 2022, 89% of older Americans had a high school diploma, and 34% had a bachelor’s degree or higher (up from just 5% with a bachelor’s in 1970). This dramatic rise in education levels among seniors has positive implications for their income, health literacy, and ability to manage complex health needs.

• 45. The older population is becoming more diverse. About 25% of Americans age 65+ in 2022 were members of racial or ethnic minority groups (including African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and other backgrounds). This represents a steady increase in diversity – for example, in 2000 only ~16% of seniors were non-white. The aging of more diverse younger cohorts will continue to increase racial/ethnic diversity among seniors in the future.
• 46. Many seniors speak languages other than English. Around 16% of older Americans (age 65+) speak a language other than English at home. Common languages include Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog, among others. This has implications for healthcare and social services, which are increasingly challenged to offer multilingual resources for an aging immigrant population.
• 47. Most older adults prefer to “age in place” and tend to move less frequently. Only about 3% of Americans age 65+ changed residence in a given year (2021–2022), compared to around 10% of adults under 65. Seniors are far less likely to move homes than younger people – many have a strong desire to age in place in their long-time homes and communities. When older adults do move, it’s often for reasons of health or to be closer to family, and the majority (53%) who relocated stayed in the same county. To delve deeper into this trend, explore the pros and cons of aging in place.
• 48. Grandparents are raising many grandchildren. In 2022, there were 1.1 million grandparents age 60 or over who were responsible for the basic care of their co-resident grandchildren under 18. Notably, about 394,000 of these older grandparent-caregivers were still in the labor force while raising grandchildren. Grandparents raising grandkids often step in due to parental substance abuse, incarceration, or economic hardship, and they may face financial and health challenges in their caregiving role. For families taking on these responsibilities, a caring for aging parents checklist can provide invaluable guidance.
• 49. Senior income and poverty statistics. The median annual income for Americans age 65+ was about $29,740 in 2022. However, there is wide variation – roughly 10.2% of seniors (about 5.9 million people) lived below the official poverty line in 2022. An even higher share, 14.1%, were in poverty under the Supplemental Poverty Measure (which accounts for out-of-pocket medical costs). Older women and seniors of color have higher poverty rates than the average. (Sources: NCOA and U.S. Census Bureau)
• 50. Older Americans are targets for financial scams. In 2024, adults age 60 and over reported losing nearly $4.9 billion to fraud – a 43% increase in losses compared to the previous year. Older victims not only lost more money in aggregate, but they also tended to lose much larger amounts per incident – the average loss per reported scam for age 60+ victims was about $83,000, far higher than any other age group. Seniors filed over 147,000 fraud complaints in 2024, the most of any age bracket, indicating they are heavily targeted by scammers (often via imposter scams, tech support scams, romance scams, and other schemes).
• 51. Unintentional injuries are a major health threat to seniors. In addition to falls, other accidents disproportionately affect older adults. For example, adults 65+ have higher rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes per mile driven than any age group except teenagers (due to age-related frailty). Seniors are also at risk of burns and choking; in 2020, adults 65+ accounted for 55% of all fire-related deaths in the U.S. Preventative measures and safety adaptations at home can significantly reduce these risks. (Sources: CDC WISQARS and NFPA)

Sources:

The statistics above are drawn from recent official reports and surveys, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Administration for Community Living’s Profile of Older Americans, the Alzheimer’s Association, National Council on Aging, AARP, and other reputable sources.

Each fact is cited to its source. These figures reflect the latest available data as of 2024–2025, providing an up-to-date portrait of America’s rapidly growing older population. For additional information and support, please visit our homepage.

Author Profile

Dr. Ella

Founder and CEO at Global One Home Care | Website

Dr. Ella Njike is the CEO and founder of Global One Home Care Boston, a Boston-based agency providing compassionate in-home support for seniors and individuals with disabilities. With a Doctorate and extensive experience working in the healthcare industry, Dr Ella brings a unique understanding to the challenges families face. He established Global One Home Care to ensure that care extends beyond daily tasks, focusing on building genuine connections and respecting each individual's journey. Dr. Njike is deeply committed to creating an environment where clients feel truly valued and at home.

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