Disability as a Function of Age
July 2001
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Report on Americans with Disabilities:
1994-95, P70-61 (August 1997)
Based on Survey of Income and Program Participation, Oct. 1994-Jan. 1995
US Prevalence of Selected Impairments within Age Groups
The following data highlight the prevalence of selected impairments within four different age groups. Data categories are not exclusive. A linear version of the prevalence of impairments table is also available.
| Impairment |
Under 45
|
45-69
|
70-84
|
85+
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arthritis and Bursitis
|
4.2%
|
35.6%
|
52.9%
|
53%
|
|
Back and Spine
|
4.8%
|
9.1%
|
8.6%
|
9%
|
|
Other Physical Impairments
|
5.6%
|
12.5%
|
17.4%
|
21.3%
|
|
Speech Impairments
|
1.1%
|
0.9%
|
1.1%
|
0.7%
|
|
Visual Impairments
|
2.6%
|
9.8%
|
33.8%
|
63.1%
|
|
Hearing Impairments
|
3.9%
|
16.7%
|
31.5%
|
48.4%
|
|
Mental Retardation
|
0.6%
|
0.2%
|
0.1%
|
0%
|
|
Diabetes
|
0.6%
|
6.1%
|
10.1%
|
7.9%
|
Based on data From LaPlante (1988)
Survey: National Health Interview Surveys, 1983-1985: tabulations from public
use tapes
The Graying of the United States
The following data show the percentage of the U.S. population over age 55 as a function of time. A linear version of the graying of the US table is also available.
|
Year
|
55 to 64
|
65 to 74
|
75 to 84
|
85 and up
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 |
5.3
|
2.9
|
1
|
0.2
|
| 1910 |
5.5
|
3
|
1.1
|
0.2
|
| 1920 |
6.2
|
3.3
|
1.2
|
0.2
|
| 1930 |
6.8
|
3.8
|
1.3
|
0.2
|
| 1940 |
8
|
4.8
|
1.7
|
0.3
|
| 1950 |
8.8
|
5.6
|
2.2
|
0.4
|
| 1960 |
8.7
|
6.1
|
2.6
|
0.5
|
| 1970 |
9.2
|
6.1
|
3
|
0.7
|
| 1980 |
9.6
|
6.9
|
3.4
|
1
|
| 1990 |
8.4
|
7.2
|
4.1
|
1.3
|
| 2000 |
8.7
|
6.6
|
4.5
|
1.6
|
| 2010 |
11.8
|
7
|
4.3
|
1.9
|
| 2020 |
13
|
9.7
|
4.8
|
2.1
|
| 2030 |
10.6
|
10.7
|
6.7
|
2.5
|
| 2040 |
10.4
|
9
|
7.7
|
3.8
|
| 2050 |
10.8
|
8.9
|
6.6
|
4.8
|
Sources: 1900-1980: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Decennial Censuses of Population. 1990: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Projections of the Population of the United States, by Age, Sex, and Race: 1983 to 2080. Current Population Reports, Series P-25, No. 952, May 1984. Projections are middle Series. 2000-2050: U.S. Census Bureau, Projections of the Total Resident Population by 5-Year Age Groups, and Sex with Special Age Categories, Middle Series, 1999 to 2100, (NP-T3), January 2000.
© copyright 2001 Trace R&D
Center, University of Wisconsin