A Profile of Older Americans: 2011- Administration on Aging

AoA Releases Profile of Older Americans: 2011

"Each year, AoA compiles a summary of the latest statistics on individuals 65 years or older across 15 topical areas including income, poverty, employment, health, disability, and caregiving. This report has now been updated to reflect the most recent year for which data is available, 2010. Highlights from the 2011 report include:

• The older population (65+) numbered 40.4 million in 2010, an increase of 5.4 million or 15.3% since 2000.
• The number of Americans aged 45-64 ? who will reach 65 over the next two decades - increased by 31% during this decade.
• Over one in every eight, or 13.1%, of the population is an older American.
• About 29% (11.3 million) of non-institutionalized older persons live alone (8.1 million women, 3.2 million men).
• Almost half of older women (47%) age 75+ live alone.
• The median income of older persons in 2010 was $25,704 for males and $15,072 for females. Median money income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people fell 1.5% (not statistically significant) from 2009 to 2010. Households containing families headed by persons 65+ reported a median income in 2010 of $45,763.
• The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2009 were Social Security (reported by 87% of older persons), income from assets (reported by 53%), private pensions (reported by 28%), government employee pensions (reported by 14%), and earnings (reported by 26%)."

To view this new report, please visit AoA's web page:

(http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/Profile/index.aspx).