In 1900, the average life expectancy for Americans was 47 years. By 1935, thanks to advances in health and medical technology, that figure had jumped to nearly 62 years of age. Average life expectancy (1) increased to 71 years in 1970, and has continued to rise steadily in the past 35 years. The average American born in 2004 can expect to live 77.9 years (2) (75.2 for males and 80.4 for females). And the percentage of older persons (those age 65 and over) in our country’s general population has risen even more remarkably – from 4 percent in 1900 to 12.7 percent today (and, as the baby-boom generation ages, a projected 20 percent by the year 2030).
(1) U.S. Bureau of the Census: Homepage: (www.census.gov)
& (www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html)
(2) 2007 CIA Factobook: (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html)