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Senior Citizen Statistics
Senior Citizens Now 12.1 Percent of
Population; New Census Report Highlights Cities Since 2000
San Francisco has highest percent of seniors and
highest median age, Phoenix the lowest
August 21, 2006 – Cities with the highest and
lowest percentage of senior citizens were identified by the U.S. Census
Bureau last week in a report released last week that the agency says is
the first time it has released key demographic and social data for areas
with populations of 65,000 or more. It is an updated look at how the
population has changed since Census 2000. The report says over 12
percent of Americans are now senior citizens and the median age has
reached 36.4 years.
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Facts about Senior Citizens
Packaged by Census
Bureau
May is Older Americans Month and
here are facts seniors may not know
April 26, 2006 - Older Americans Month originated
with a presidential proclamation in May 1963 and has been proclaimed by
presidents each year since. Last year, President Bush stated, “Older
Americans teach us the timeless lessons of courage, sacrifice and love.
By sharing their wisdom and experience, they serve as role models for
future generations. During Older Americans Month, we pay tribute to our
senior citizens and their contributions to our nation.”
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Americans Living Longer, Men Gain on Women
in 2004
CDC releases report
shows death rate at record low for 2004
April
20, 2006 – A report released yesterday shows life expectancy continues
to increase and the gap between women, who live the longest, and men has
narrowed for the second year in a row. Life expectancy for those born in
2004, says the analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics
of the Centers for Disease Control, was 77.9 years. For females,
however, it was 80.4 to 75.2 for men.
Read
more...
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Statistics on Senior Citizens |
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The Census Bureau says the new American Community
Survey (ACS) provides more timely and updated information about the
nation’s changing and diverse population every year. Without the ACS,
this type of information — historically gathered just once a decade —
would not be available for communities until 2012.
San Francisco certainly stands out in several
categories, including the highest percentage of senior citizens, highest
media age and most citizens with a bachelor’s degree. More than 1-in-2
of its residents reporting they had completed at least undergraduate
studies.
Percent 65 Years of Age and Older
Nationally, about 12.1 percent of the household
population was 65 years and older.
Some of the highest percentages for large cities
were found in
● San Francisco (14.6 percent),
● Philadelphia (12.7) and
● New York (11.9).
At the other end of the spectrum, these cities had
some of the lowest percentage of seniors
● Phoenix, (7.5),
● Houston (8.4),
● Dallas (8.7) and
● Columbus, Ohio, (8.7).
Among the 15 smallest cities, those with high
concentrations of senior citizens, included
● Boynton Beach, Fla. (21.5 percent),
● Lynchburg, Va. (16.7) and
● Muncie, Ind. (14.2).
Lower percentages were found in
● Bryan, Texas, (7.2 percent),
● Missouri City, Texas (7.5) and both
● Fayetteville, Ark., and
● Greenville, N.C. (7.8).
Median Age
According to the 2005 ACS, the median age for the
U.S. household population was 36.4 years.
● Among the nation’s 15 largest cities, some of
the populations with the highest median ages were found in San Francisco
(39.4 years of age), New York (35.8) and Philadelphia (35.3).
● Phoenix (30.9), Dallas (31.9) and Columbus,
Ohio (32.1) had some of the lowest median ages.
Data available for the first time since Census 2000
for some of smallest cities with a total population of 65,000 or more
show that Boynton Beach, Fla. (44.1 years) had the highest median age,
while Bloomington, Ind. (26.9 years), Greenville, N.C. (27.3) and Bryan,
Texas (27.7) had some of the lowest median ages.
“The nationwide implementation of the American
Community Survey signals a dramatic improvement in the availability of
local data used by government, communities and businesses,” said Census
Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. “The data are vital for the planning,
implementation and evaluation of policies ranging from building new
schools and roads to establishing initiatives that drive economic
development.”
The 2005 ACS data include demographic and social
information such as race, Hispanic origin, age, education, marital
status, grandparents as caregivers, veterans, disability status and U.S.
citizenship. The data is available for nearly 7,000 areas, including all
congressional districts and counties, cities and American Indian/Alaska
native areas of 65,000 population or more.
Additionally, the data represent the first update
of key population characteristics from 2000 to 2005 for 75 of the top
100 fastest-growing cities in the nation – including Irvine, Calif.;
Brownsville, Texas; Charleston, S.C.; and Norman, Okla.
Other Selected Data Highlights for Largest and
Smallest U.S. Cities:
Percent Bachelor’s Degree or More
The national average of those who have completed
college continues to rise. In 2005, approximately 27.2 percent of the
population 25 years and over had received a bachelor’s degree or more.
San Francisco led all large cities with more than
1-in-2 of its residents reporting they had completed at least
undergraduate studies. Other highly educated cities included San Diego
(40.4 percent), San Jose (36.1) and New York (32.2). Of the smallest 15
cities for which 2005 ACS data are available, Bloomington, Ind. (53.7
percent); Redondo Beach, Calif. (52.9); and Fayetteville, Ark. (44.9)
had high rates of populations that had attained a bachelor’s degree or
more.
Percent Foreign Born
The percent of the nation that was foreign born in
2005 was 12.4 percent. According to the ACS, more than 1-in-3 residents
living in Los Angeles (40.3 percent), San Jose (37.9) and New York
(36.6) were not U.S. citizens at birth.
Conversely, Detroit (6.3 percent) and Indianapolis
(6.7) were large cities where the percent of foreign born was half that
of the national average.
Among smaller cities, East Orange, N.J. (25.9
percent); Missouri City, Texas (22.2); and Boynton Beach, Fla. (20.5),
had some of the higher percentages of residents who were foreign born.
Some of the lowest percentages for smaller cities were found in
Lynchburg, Va. (2 percent); Muncie, Ind. (2.8); and Greenville, N.C.
(3.5).
For more information on how your community compares
with the nation, a state or another city, county or congressional
district, visit American FactFinder at www.census.gov.
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