Final answer:
In the United States, among the elderly population, a larger share consists of women due to their longer life expectancies. Despite a narrowing gap over time, women still outnumber men, especially as age increases. The growth of the elderly population is influencing various societal aspects.
Step-by-step explanation:
As we look at older people in the United States, we find a larger share of women. This is primarily because women have longer life expectancies than men. For instance, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, there were ninety sixty-five-year-old men per one hundred sixty-five-year-old women in 2010. However, this ratio dropped with age, as there were only eighty seventy-five-year-old men per one hundred seventy-five-year-old women, and even fewer, sixty eighty-five-year-old men per one hundred eighty-five-year-old women. It's important to note that the gap in life expectancy between men and women is narrowing over time, but women still make up a larger percentage of the elderly population.
The aging population is increasing due to factors such as higher life expectancy and the aging of the baby boomer generation. This demographic shift is affecting various aspects of society including demands for housing in warmer climates, elder care, and impacts on the labor market and financial systems due to retirement.