From the Population Reference Bureau
Two decades of research on health, disability, and care in the United States
Date published: July 22, 2026
Authors: Mark Mather, Paola Scommegna, Cathryn Streifel
"The United States is aging at an unprecedented pace. The number of Americans ages 65 and older has nearly doubled since 2000—reaching 61 million in 2024, or more than 1 in 6 Americans—and is projected to climb to 82 million by 2050. The oldest Americans, those ages 85 and older, are the fastest-growing age group and most likely to need extensive support and care.
"Living longer is a profound achievement. But longer lives do not automatically mean healthier, more secure, or more equal ones. Across two decades of research, a consistent picture has emerged: The experience of aging in the United States differs enormously—and those differences are not random. They are shaped by education, income, geography, racial disparities, and early-life experiences long before people reach older adulthood.
