Every day, more than 6,000 Americans celebrate their 65th birthday. -- Alliance for Aging Research. Independence for Older Americans: An investment for our nation's future. Washington, D.C.: Alliance for Aging Research. 1999. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:39:14 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/146 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/146 In 2004, there were an estimated 60,800 centenarians (those age 100 and older) in the United States. -- Hing, Esther and Kimberly Middleton. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2002 outpatient department summary. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 23-Jun-2004. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:39:46 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/147 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/147 Since 1900, the 65 and older population has doubled 3 times. -- Friedland, Robert B. and Laura Summer. Demography Is Not Destiny, Revisited. Washington, D.C.: Center on an Aging Society, Georgetown University. 2005. Fri, 18 May 2007 14:38:10 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/148 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/148 During the twentieth century, the population of oldest-old Americans (those age 85 and older) grew from just over 100,000 to 4.2 million. -- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "New Stroke Treatment Likely to Decrease Health Care Costs and Increase Quality of Life". 21-Apr-1998. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:40:48 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/149 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/149 There were 36.3 million Americans age 65 and older in 2004, an increase of 3.1 million (9.3%) since 1994. -- Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:51:14 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1248 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1248 About 1 in 8 (12.4%) of the population is an older American. -- Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:52:02 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1249 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1249 From 1950 to 2004, the total U.S. resident population grew from 150 million to 294 million--an annual growth rate of 1%. During that same time, the 65 and older population grew twice as rapidly--increasing from 12 million to 36 million. The 75 and older population grew close to 3% faster than the total population, increasing from 4 million to 18 million. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2005: With chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. Mon, 01 May 2006 16:59:01 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/367 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/367 Between 1950 and 2004, the U.S. population got older. During that time, the under 18 population fell from 31% to 25% of the total population; while the 55-64 population grew from 9% to 10%, the 65-74 population stayed at about 6%, and the 75 and older population grew from 3% to 6% of the total population. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2005: With chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. Mon, 01 May 2006 17:01:36 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/368 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/368 In 2004, those age 65-74 made up 6.3% of the population and those age 75 and older made up 6.1% of the population. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2005: With chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. Wed, 03 May 2006 16:47:13 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/385 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/385 Percent of population in five age groups: United States, 1950, 2004, and 2050 -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2005: With chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. Wed, 10 May 2006 15:33:32 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/425 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/425