More Baby Boomers and Fewer Young People: More Dependents Among the U.S. Population

The first baby Boomers turned 65 in 2011, and now the population of the United States has a growing number of residents over the age of 65. The country also has fewer people under the age of 14.

1 minute read

July 5, 2020, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Climate Change protest

Takver / Flickr

"The U.S. Census Bureau today released estimates showing the nation’s 65-and-older population has grown rapidly since 2010, driven by the aging of Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964," according to a press release from the U.S. Census Bureau.

"The 65-and-older population grew by over a third (34.2% or 13,787,044) during the past decade, and by 3.2% (1,688,924) from 2018 to 2019."

Also writing for the Census Bureau, Luke Rogers and Kristie Wilder follow up on the data with more insight about the implications of the aging of the U.S. population. Related to the increase in older Americans comes a decrease in Americans under the age of 14. "Over the last decade, the growth of the non-working-age (dependent) population – those aged 0 to 14 and 65 and older – has outpaced the growth of the working-age population," according to Rogers and Wilder. 

Those statistics, when combined, mean a higher dependency ratio—more people at dependent ages than the number of people at working ages.


Thursday, June 25, 2020 in U.S. Census Bureau

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Farm workers in long sleeves and hats working in a green field in Nipomo, California with small hills in background.

Without International Immigrants, the Rural US Population Would Be Falling 58%

Census data shows that population growth in rural areas is due in large part to international migrants.

4 hours ago - The Daily Yonder

Aerial view of Lake Shore Drive, eight-lane highway adjacent to lakeshore in Chicago, Illinois with city skyline in background at sunset.

Dead End: Nine Highways Ready for Retirement

The Freeways Without Futures report describes the nation’s most promising highway removal proposals.

6 hours ago - Congress For New Urbanism

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2 - The Hill

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.