Detailed information and statistics on population aging and the older population are critical for understanding their impact on society and the economy and to inform policies and programs.

Population aging refers to the relatively faster growth of the older population compared to the younger population and the resulting shifts in the age distribution of the population toward older ages. Population aging is commonly measured as an increasing median age or a rising share of the population above a certain age, such as 65 years.

All Census Bureau demographic surveys and the decennial census collect information about the U.S. older population.

Data on population aging and the older population of the United States are available from a variety of Census Bureau sources. Listed below are just a few of the surveys, censuses, and programs that have age data and other content related to the U.S. older population.

Population Estimates Program produces estimates of the population for the United States, its states, counties, cities, and towns, as well as for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its municipios.

American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual, nationwide survey of more than 3.5 million households in the U.S. The survey produces statistics on demographic, social, economic, and other characteristics about our nation's population and housing.

Other sources for data on the older population include the Decennial Census, Survey of Income and Program Participation, Current Population Survey (CPS). For more information on data sources, go to the Census Survey Explorer.

Visit the Older Population and Aging page to find publications and visualizations focusing on the older population. For data such as single years of age and age ranges on the population, go to data.census.gov. You can also refer to our Data Tools and Apps.