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Aging in the United States – Past, Present, and Future

The progressive growth of the elderly (age 65 and over) population and the future influence of the Baby-Boom generation (persons born between 1946 and 1964) can be seen by examining age-sex population pyramids for 1960 to 2020. The 1960 pyramid shows a marked pinch for ages 20-29 years, a result of exceptionally low birth rates during the Depression years. The Baby-Boom bulge appears in the 1960 pyramid in the ages 0 to 14. During periods of fluctuating births and improving survivorship, the elderly grew from 5 percent of the U.S. population in 1930 to nearly 13 percent by 1990. 

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
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