FACTS for FEATURES from the Census Bureau CB07-FF.06 March 1, 2007

Photos http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/photos/census_bureau/004312.html...

Older Americans Month: May 2007 http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features... or http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2007/cb07ff-06.pdf [full-text, 5 pages]

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.

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006808.html

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html

495 million Current world population 65 and older. Projections indicate the number will increase to 997 million by 2030. <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbagg.htmlhttp://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbagg.html%3E

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/007419.html

39% Percentage of total annual personal income of people 65 and older in 2001 that came from Social Security payments. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/aging_population/006544.html

$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. <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ (2007 edition, Table No. 702)

Serving Our Nation

9 million Estimated number of people 65 and older who are military veterans. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Jobs

5.3 million Number of people 65 and older who were in the labor force in 2005. Projections indicate that by 2014, the number will reach 8.7 million. <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/, (2007 edition, Table No. 574)

**************************************** Stuart Basefsky Director, IWS News Bureau Institute for Workplace Studies Cornell/ILR School 16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10016

Telephone: (607) 255-2703 Fax: (607) 255-9641 E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu ****************************************