Age Differences In America
Birthdays take on different meanings as people grow older. To a young person, a birthday might mean an opportunity to get a driver’s license or to vote for the first time. To an older person, it might mean a retirement party. Many health issues, from childhood diseases to geriatric conditions, are associated with age.
These and many other life experiences are somewhat different for the male population than for the female population. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Population
Estimates Program produces age and sex data for the
United States, states, and counties.
Men and Women
Within the total resident population in 2005, women and girls outnumbered men and boys by 4.4 million—
150.4 million compared with 146.0 million. This difference …show more content…
Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, July 1, 2005.
State Differences
The geographic distribution of the population aged 65 and older illustrates age differences by state. While 12 percent of U.S. residents were aged 65 and older in
2005, the proportions in individual states differed.
Florida had the highest proportion in this age range,
17 percent (Figure 3). West Virginia and Pennsylvania followed, with about 15 percent each. Alaska anchored the other end of the scale, with 6 percent of its population in this age range. The proportion of the population that was 65 and older was also below 10 percent in Utah, Georgia, Colorado, and Texas.
State differences can also be seen when looking at sex ratios—the number of males per 100 females. Because there are more women and girls than men and boys nationwide, the U.S. sex ratio is 96. The states with the lowest sex ratios were Maryland and Rhode Island, where there were 93 males for every 100 females. The
District of Columbia’s sex ratio was even lower (89). In
2005, six states had more men and boys than women and girls and therefore had sex ratios over 100. They were Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska,
These and many other life experiences are somewhat different for the male population than for the female population. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Population
Estimates Program produces age and sex data for the
United States, states, and counties.
Men and Women
Within the total resident population in 2005, women and girls outnumbered men and boys by 4.4 million—
150.4 million compared with 146.0 million. This difference …show more content…
Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, July 1, 2005.
State Differences
The geographic distribution of the population aged 65 and older illustrates age differences by state. While 12 percent of U.S. residents were aged 65 and older in
2005, the proportions in individual states differed.
Florida had the highest proportion in this age range,
17 percent (Figure 3). West Virginia and Pennsylvania followed, with about 15 percent each. Alaska anchored the other end of the scale, with 6 percent of its population in this age range. The proportion of the population that was 65 and older was also below 10 percent in Utah, Georgia, Colorado, and Texas.
State differences can also be seen when looking at sex ratios—the number of males per 100 females. Because there are more women and girls than men and boys nationwide, the U.S. sex ratio is 96. The states with the lowest sex ratios were Maryland and Rhode Island, where there were 93 males for every 100 females. The
District of Columbia’s sex ratio was even lower (89). In
2005, six states had more men and boys than women and girls and therefore had sex ratios over 100. They were Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska,