The Older Population in the United States: 2010 to 2050

The US Census Bureau released this report and accompanying statistics to address a major demographic development: the American population is rapidly growing older. As of 2010, approximately 40.2 million Americans were age 65 or over, but by 2050, that number is expected to more than double to 88.5 million. However, the overall population is expected to grow by only 42% in that same time period. The aging of the American population presents major challenging in the realm of sustainability. Healthcare costs associated with old age will likely increase as will the dependence ratio. In 2010, the old-age dependence ratio was 22 retirees per 100 workers. By 2030, that number is expected to hit 35, an historically unprecedented increase. However, after 2030, the dependence ratio is expected to approximately level off, only increasing to 37 by 2050. The United States, like most Western nations, is facing a major demographic shift that will almost certainly tax the country's social and economic structures.