Here are eight statistics on the aging population in the United States:
1. There are around 40.2 million Americans who are 65 years old or older; by 2050 there will be 88.5 million people 65 years old or older. By contrast, the United States population is expected to grow from 318.9 million in 2014 to 439 million in 2050.
2. Senior dependents will likely increase 68 percent from 2010 to 2050. The number of youth dependents is only expected to increase 6.7 percent during that time. By 2020, senior dependents are expected to grow 28 percent; by 2030 growth will be 35 percent.
3. The over 65 year old population made up 13 percent of the total U.S. population in 2010; by 2030, that percentage is expected to grow to 19.3 percent.
4. There will be 19 million people who are 85 years old or older in 2050; that number is expected to grow 328 percent from 2010.
5. The oldest age group will account for 4.3 percent of the population by 2050, up from 1.9 percent in 2010.
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