Centenarians in the United States: 1990
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Centenarians in the United States 1990 Issued July 1999 P23-199RV By Current Population Reports Constance A. Krach, Population Projections Branch and Special Studies Victoria A. Velkoff, International Programs Center U.S. Department of Health and U.S. Department of Commerce Human Services Economics and Statistics Administration National Institutes of Health U.S. CENSUS BUREAU National Institute on Aging Acknowledgments This profile was prepared by Constance A. Krach, Population Projections Branch, and Victoria A. Velkoff, International Programs Center, under the general direction of Signe I. Wetrogan, Assistant Division Chief, Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census. John F. Long, Chief, Population Division, provided overall direction. Addi- tional direction was provided by Gregory Spencer, Chief, Population Projections Branch. Thanks are extended to Cynthia Taeuber, for her earlier work on this project, and to Mary Jane Slagle for her assis- tance with the preparation of this report. Funding for this report was provided by the Office of the Demogra- phy of Aging, Behavioral and Social Research Program, U.S. National Institute on Aging, Richard Suzman, Director. Sampling review was provided by Douglas B. Olson, Decennial Statistical Studies Division. The staff of the Administrative and Customer Services Division, Walter C. Odom, Chief, performed planning, design, composition, editorial review, and printing planning and procurement for publica- tions, Internet products, and report forms. Helen M. Curtis provided publication coordination and editing. Janet Sweeney prepared the graphics and document design. Notes About This Report Findings for this report come primarily from the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. All statistics are subject to sampling variabil- ity, as well as survey design flaws, respondent classification errors, and data processing mistakes. The Census Bureau has taken steps to minimize errors, and analytical statements have been tested and meet statistical standards. Because of methodological differences, however, use caution when comparing these statistics with data from other sources. For further information on the elderly population, contact: Victoria Velkoff, Population Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233 (Phone: 301-457-1371/ E-mail: [email protected]). Centenarians in the United States 1990 Issued July 1999 P23-199RV Current Population Reports Special Studies U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH U.S. Department of Commerce AND HUMAN SERVICES William M. Daley, National Institutes of Health Secretary National Institute on Aging Robert L. Mallett, Deputy Secretary Economics and Statistics Administration Robert J. Shapiro, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Kenneth Prewitt, Director Suggested Citation Krach, Constance A. and Victoria A. Velkoff, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P23-199RV Centenarians in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1999. ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION Robert J. Shapiro, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs U.S. CENSUS BUREAU National Institutes of Health Kenneth Prewitt, National Institute on Aging Director William G. Barron, Deputy Director Paula J. Schneider, Principal Associate Director for Programs For sale by Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Contents Centenarians in the United States Text Figures Why Study Centenarians? .......................................... 1 1. Number of Projected Centenarians by Race, U.S. Centenarians ...................................................... 1 Middle Series: 2000 to 2050 ............................ 3 Centenarians: One Hundred Years of Life Events ....... 4 2. Percent of Elderly With Some High School Education or More by Socioeconomic Characteristics of Centenarians ......... 5 Race and Age: 1990 ......................................... 5 Educational Attainment ............................................. 5 3. Percent of Elderly Currently Married Marital Status ............................................................ 6 by Race and Age: 1990 .................................... 6 Poverty Status ........................................................... 7 4. Percent in Poverty by Age and Sex: 1989 ......... 7 Disability Status and Living Arrangements ................ 9 5. Percent in Poverty by Race and Age: 1989* ...... 8 Nativity Status ........................................................12 6. Percent With No Self-Care or Mobility Geographical Distribution of U.S. Centenarians ....... 13 Limitations by Race and Age: 1990 .................. 9 International Comparisons ......................................14 7. Percent Living Alone by Race and Age: 1990 ..................................10 Data Quality Issues When Measuring Populations at Extreme Ages ..............................14 8. Percent Living in Nursing Homes by Race and Age: 1990 ..................................11 Problems With Past Census Counts ......................... 15 9. Percent Foreign Born How Many Centenarians Were There in 1990? ......... 16 by Race and Age: 1990 ..................................12 Data Sources ........................................................... 17 10. Ten States With the Highest Percentage References ..............................................................17 of the Total U.S. Centenarian Population: 1990 ............................................13 Text Tables 11. Ten States With the Highest Percentage 1. Population Aged 100 and Over in of Total State Population Aged 100 1990 by Sex, Age, Race, or Over: 1990 ............................................... 13 and Hispanic Origin .......................................... 2 12. Counts and Preferred Estimates 2. Projected Number of Centenarians of Centenarians: 1950-1990........................... 15 in the United States by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 2000 to 2050 ......................... 2 3. Cohort Analysis for 1990 Centenarians Aged 100 to 104: Born 1885 to 1890 .............. 3 U.S. Census Bureau P23-199 iii Centenarians in the United States Average life expectancy in the their effects on both the enumera- has social and economic implica- United States has increased dra- tion and estimation of centenar- tions for society as a whole, as we matically over the last century, ians in 1990. First, however, we struggle to find the best way to from just 49 years at the turn of shall examine the characteristics support a growing elderly popula- the century to just over 76 years in of individuals identified as being tion. However, we must first de- 1996, the latest year for which aged 100 or above in the 1990 termine how many people actually such data are available (National census. survive to these extreme old ages. Center for Health Statistics, 1997; 1998). While earlier gains in life Why Study U.S. Centenarians expectancy may be attributed to Centenarians? In 1990, of the 31 million reductions in infant mortality and Centenarians represent a rela- people who were aged 65 and over, the control of infectious diseases, tively small proportion of the total 37,306 were classified as being cen- reductions in mortality at the old- U.S. population, with about one tenarians. This figure most likely est ages are believed to be the ma- out of every 10,000 Americans be- exceeds the true number of cente- jor factor responsible for increased ing aged 100 years or older in narians in 1990, as we will discuss life expectancy in recent decades 1990. Yet, this segment of the extensively in the later section on (Vaupel and Jeune, 1995). This population surviving to extreme data quality. However, comparisons has led to an increasing number of old age draws the attention of re- of various sociodemographic charac- people living to extreme old ages, searchers and the general public teristics with those of other groups including those reaching age 100 alike, as we try to understand and above age 65 reveal that the traits years or above. learn from the experience of indi- of this group follow observed age This report focuses on the viduals who beat the odds of envi- trends. As such, the characteristics characteristics of those people ronmental and biological obstacles for centenarians reported in the identified as centenarians in the to which most humans fall prey. 1990 census reasonably capture the 1990 Census of Population and Observation of centenarians can experiences and characteristics of Housing for the United States. aid those examining the human the true population aged 100 or While its purpose is not to provide life span, mortality at the oldest above. the definitive answer to the num- ages, the issue of racial crossover As with the elderly population ber of people aged 100 or above in mortality at older ages1, and the as a whole, women outnumber in 1990, this report does give a trajectory of mortality (Coale and men in the 100 and above age range of estimates. In 1990, there Kisker, 1986, 1990; Elo and group. In 1990, four in five cente- were 37,306 people identified as Preston, 1994; Horiuchi and narians were women (see Table 1). centenarians in the census which Wilmoth, 1998; Kestenbaum, This disproportionate share of is most likely an overstatement of 1998; Manton and Singer, 1994; women aged 100 and over occurs the “true” number of centenarians. Wilmoth, Skytthe, Friou, and Jeune, because death rates are higher for Estimates of the number of cente- 1996). Increased longevity also