The U.S. centenarian population grew significantly between 2010 and 2020, according to a special report released by the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2020, people aged 100 or older made up about 2 out of every 10,000 residents nationwide.
Between 2010 and 2020, the number of centenarians in the United States increased from 53,364 to 80,139—a growth rate of 50%. This was a faster increase than seen in other older adult age groups over the same period.
The Census Bureau’s “Centenarians: 2020” report provides updated information on this age group’s demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, living arrangements, and geographic distribution. It also compares centenarians to other older adults to highlight unique features of this population.
Among key findings:
– In 2020, women accounted for nearly four out of five centenarians (78.8%), though this share declined slightly from a decade earlier (82.8% in 2010).
– The male centenarian population saw an increase of 85.3%, compared with a rise of 42.9% among female centenarians.
– While most centenarians were White and female, there was a slight uptick in both racial diversity and the proportion of males within this group in 2020. The percentage identifying as White alone dropped by about eight points since 2010—similar to changes among other older adults but less than that observed for those under age 65.
– Black or African American alone centenarians made up a smaller share in 2020 (10.3%) compared to 2010 (12.2%).
– Regional differences were evident: the Northeast had the highest concentration at just over three centenarians per 10,000 people; Hawaii stood out with more than four per 10,000 (4.44), joined by Puerto Rico (4.14). No state had fewer than one centenarian per 10,000 people.
– Patterns for where centenarians lived resembled those for adults aged 85–99—mainly concentrated in Midwest and Northeast states—but differed from trends seen among those aged 65–84.
Regarding living arrangements:
– Female centenarians were much more likely than their male counterparts to live alone without family members.
– About half (49.7%) of male centenarians lived with others in a household versus only about one-third (33.8%) of female centenarians.
– Living in nursing homes was more common among female centenarians: roughly one in four women aged at least one hundred lived in such facilities compared with about one in seven men.
– Overall, two-thirds of female centenarians either lived alone or in group quarters like nursing homes; about half of male centenarians did so.
The report also found that “living with others in a household” was associated with greater racial and ethnic diversity among centenarians. More than sixty percent of Hispanic or Latino, Asian alone, and “All Other Races” centenarians lived with others; for White non-Hispanic individuals it was less than thirty-five percent; Black or African American alone individuals fell around fifty percent.
No accompanying news release was issued alongside this tip sheet from the U.S. Census Bureau.
