Graying nation
The U.S. population is aging rapidly. The number of people age 65 and older has increased by 33 percent over the past decade, from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016, according to a report from the federal Administration on Aging. Several states have especially large retiree populations, including California (5.3 million), Florida (4.1 million), Texas (3.4 million) and New York (3.0 million), but other states have also experienced a boom in the retirement-age demographic. Here’s a look at where the 65 and older population is growing the fastest.
1. Alaska
Alaska is the most rapidly aging state in the U.S., according to Administration on Aging data. The older population increased by 65.6 percent between 2006 and 2016. There are 77,206 people age 65 and older in Alaska.
2. Nevada
The bright lights and natural beauty draw many people to Nevada, including retirees. The 65 and older population has increased by 57.3 percent over the decade that ended in 2016. There are now 441,142 retirees living in Nevada, and they make up 15 percent of the population.
3. Colorado
Colorado’s senior citizen population has increased by 55 percent over the past 10 years to 743,524 people age 65 and older. Retirees now make up 13 percent of Colorado’s state residents.
4. Arizona
Arizona has 1.17 million people who are age 65 and older, a number that has increased by 50 percent over the 10-year period that ended in 2016. Some 17 percent of the state’s population is made up of retirees.
5. South Carolina
The ranks of South Carolina’s senior citizens have swelled by 49.5 percent over the past decade to 830,232 people age 65 and older. Retirees now make up 16.7 percent of South Carolina’s citizens.
6. Georgia
The Georgia retiree population has increased by 49.4 percent over the past 10 years. The state now has 1.35 million people age 65 and older. However, retirees only make up 13 percent of the state’s population.
7. Idaho
The state of Idaho has 254,989 people age 65 and older, a number that has increased 48.7 percent over the past decade. Retirees make up 15 percent of Idaho’s population.
8. Washington
Washington has over 1 million retirees, and the older population continues to grow. The number of people age 65 and older increased by 47.2 percent over the 10-year period that ended in 2016.
9. Utah
The senior citizen population in Utah has increased by 44.8 percent over the past decade. However, people age 65 and older only make up 10.5 percent of the population. There were 321,164 people age 65 and older in Utah in 2016.
10. Delaware
In Delaware, the 166,950 retirees make up 17.5 percent of the state’s population. The number of senior citizens has increased by 44.2 percent over the past decade, the Administration on Aging found.
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The 10 Most Rapidly Aging States originally appeared on usnews.com
