Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in United States
United States: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 62,898 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
62,898 thousands
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
3rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
62,898 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
19,949 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in United States, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 65 years or older in United States stood at 62,898 thousands. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in United States peaked at 62,898 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 19,949 thousands, in 1970.
That places United States 3rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in United States, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 19,949 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 20,440 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 20,850 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 21,284 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 21,740 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 22,229 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 22,786 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 23,322 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 23,927 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 24,518 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 25,168 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 25,752 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 26,296 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 26,864 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 27,451 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 28,040 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 28,612 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 29,220 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 29,810 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 30,346 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 30,908 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 31,447 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 31,911 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 32,402 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 32,765 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 33,113 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 33,431 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 33,679 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 33,891 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 34,042 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 34,209 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 34,393 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 34,636 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 34,915 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 35,261 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 35,658 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 36,087 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 36,707 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 37,608 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 38,554 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 39,506 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 40,404 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 41,680 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 43,159 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 44,559 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 45,971 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 47,368 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 48,849 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 50,408 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 52,063 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 53,820 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 55,288 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 56,787 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 60,963 thousands | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 62,898 thousands | +3.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 62,898 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 291.46 thousands, 215.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22,105 thousands | 19,949 thousands | 24,518 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 27,756 thousands | 25,168 thousands | 30,346 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,759 thousands | 30,908 thousands | 34,042 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 35,803 thousands | 34,209 thousands | 38,554 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,397 thousands | 39,506 thousands | 52,063 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 57,951 thousands | 53,820 thousands | 62,898 thousands | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in United States?
- Population aged 65 years or older in United States was 62,898 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 62,898 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,949 thousands in 1970.
- How does United States rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release