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A Profile of Older Americans: 2005
Future Growth
The older population will continue to grow significantly in the future (see Figure 1). This growth slowed somewhat during the 1990's because of the relatively small number of babies born during the Great Depression of the 1930's. But the older population will burgeon between the years 2010 and 2030 when the "baby boom" generation reaches age 65.
The population 65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and then to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, almost twice their number in 2004. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2004 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2010 (40%) and then to 7.3 million in 2020 (44% for that decade).
Minority populations are projected to increase from 5.7 million in 2000 (16.4% of the elderly population) to 8.1 million in 2010 (20.1% of the elderly) and then to 12.9 million in 2020 (23.6% of the elderly). Between 2004 and 2030, the white** population 65+ is projected to increase by 74% compared with 183% for older minorities, including Hispanics (254%), African-Americans** (147%), American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts** (143%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders** (208%).
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| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 8:31:05 AM |
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