Population ages 65 and above in North America
North America: Population ages 65 and above was 18.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 65 and above in North America, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
North America recorded 18.6% for population ages 65 and above in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above in North America peaked at 18.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 1960.
North America ranks 7th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above in North America, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8.7% | — |
| 1961 | 8.8% | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 8.9% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 8.9% | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 9.1% | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 9.3% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 9.4% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 9.4% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 9.5% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 9.6% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 9.7% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 9.8% | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 10.0% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 10.1% | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 10.2% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 10.4% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 10.6% | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 10.9% | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 11.0% | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 11.2% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 11.3% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 11.4% | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 11.6% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 11.7% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 12.0% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 12.1% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 12.2% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 12.3% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 12.3% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 12.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 12.3% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 12.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 12.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 12.3% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 12.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 12.6% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 14.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 14.8% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 15.1% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 15.5% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 15.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 18.1% | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 18.6% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.1% | 8.7% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.1% | 9.5% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.5% | 10.9% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 12.2% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 12.2% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 13.0% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 16.3% | 18.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More health data for North America
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 1.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, male, per capita 0.034 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per capita 0.0301 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above in North America?
- Population ages 65 and above in North America was 18.6% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 1960.
- How does North America rank for population ages 65 and above?
- North America ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.