Seniors are fastest growing segment of US population

The US population over age 65 between 2000 and 2010 grew at a faster rate than the country's total population for the first time, according to new figures released on Wednesday by the Census Bureau.

The figures for 2010 show that the number of people over 65 increased during those 10 years by about 15.1 per cent, substantially more than the 9.7 per cent growth experienced by the total US population of 308.7 million.

In 2010, people over age 65 numbered more than 40 million and represented 13 per cent of the total US population, up from 12.4 per cent in 2000 and 10 per cent in 1990.

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The increase in the number of over-65 people between 2000 and 2010 is greater than that which occurred during the previous decade, when that group expanded by 12 per cent, compared with 13.2 per cent for the population as a whole.

Within the older population the rise in the number of people between the ages of 85 and 94 stands out, totaling 29.9 per cent and bringing the number of people in that group to 5.1 million.

Also, the report shows how the number of men of advanced age increased at a faster rate than women.

The southern states are the parts of the country that have greater numbers of elderly people.

The figures for the aging of the world's number one economy show how that process is affecting the country's health and retirement systems, as well as the labour market and economic growth.