Final answer:
By 2050, nearly 22% of the population in the United States will be composed of people who are 65 or older. The graying of America is a significant demographic shift with implications for healthcare and social security. Life expectancy is increasing, and there is a projected increase in the number of centenarians by 2050.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, it is estimated that by 2050, nearly 22% of the population in the United States will be composed of people who are 65 or older.
The graying of America is a significant demographic shift, with the elderly population tripling over the past century. Factors contributing to this shift include increasing life expectancy and the post-World War II baby boomer generation reaching old age. The aging population poses challenges in terms of healthcare, social security, and the overall burden on the working-age population.
It is important to note that life expectancy is an average, and many people outlive the life expectancy value for their year of birth and gender. By 2050, there is a projected half a million Americans who will be at least 100 years old. This aging population trend is not exclusive to the United States but is a global phenomenon.