Gaining in both economic and political influence, persons 65 and older have become the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to the Census' report, The Older Population: 2010, results of Census 2010 showed that the 65 and older age group grew to 40.3 million people, a 15.1% increase from 35.0 million counted in Census 2000, easily outpacing the 9.7% growth of the total U.S.

population since 2000.

The 40.3 million persons in the 65 and older age group comprised about 13.0% of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million counted in Census 2010. While persons in the 25 to 44 age group still made up the largest percentage of the total population (26.6%), their numbers actually decreased by 2.9 million people (-3.4%) from 2000 to 2010.

According to Census 2010, the number of people 65 and older more than doubled in 21 counties in the United States.

Among those over 65, persons 85- to 94-years-old experienced the fastest growth between 2000 and 2010. This group grew by 29.9%, increasing from 3.9 million to 5.1 million.

The Centenarians: Census 2010 revealed that the number of U.S. centenarians - persons 100 and older - had increased by 5.8% to 53,364 since Census 2000.

Census 2010 also showed that approximately 1.3 million people 65 and older - or 3.1% of this population - lived in skilled-nursing facilities in 2010.

Clearly, the rapid growth of the U.S. population 65 and older will place an ever-growing strain on the government's mainline social services programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, to provide quality services within severe budgetary constraints.

Also See:
The Future of Social Security 2011
Top Government Benefit and Assistance Programs

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