Reference Page
Older Americans and Family Story Statistics
Six cited U.S. figures for writers, family historians, caregivers, and anyone preserving the stories a family carries forward.
Updated August 2026. Each figure keeps the reporting year used by its source.
Why It Matters
A growing generation holds a lifetime of stories.
Family history is not only found in formal records. It lives in remembered places, hard-won lessons, ordinary rituals, and the people who can still tell us why they mattered. These figures put that work in a wider American context.
57.8 million
Americans were age 65 or older in 2022.
That was 17.3% of the U.S. population, or more than one in every six Americans.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans78.3 million
Americans are projected to be age 65 or older in 2040.
The group is projected to make up 22% of the country by then.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans13.7 million
Americans are projected to be age 85 or older in 2040.
That would be more than double the 6.5 million people age 85 or older in 2022.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans28%
Of adults age 65 or older living in the community lived alone in 2023.
A personal story can be one practical way families stay connected across distance.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans34%
Was the growth of the U.S. population age 65 or older from 2012 to 2022.
Over the same period, the population under age 65 increased by 2%.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans59%
Of adults age 65 or older living in the community lived with a spouse or partner in 2023.
Stories can give those everyday relationships a record that lasts beyond the moment.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older AmericansSources and Method
How these figures are presented
All figures are for the United States. Counts, percentages, and projections are shown as reported by the original source, with the relevant source year included beside each statistic. This page is reviewed regularly so outdated figures can be replaced without changing the links to each statistic.
Cite this page
My Best Stories. “Older Americans and Family Story Statistics.” Updated August 2026. https://mybeststories.com/family-story-statistics
One remembered moment is a place to begin.
Choose a scene you can still see clearly, write down what happened, and give it a home your family can return to.
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