Exploring Senior Demographics of Alabama

Introduction:

As the United States experiences a demographic shift, the population of seniors, aged 65 and over, is growing. Within this demographic group, the state of Alabama stands out with its unique characteristics. In this comprehensive analysis, we explore various aspects of the senior population in Alabama, comparing them with the national statistics. From sex and age distribution to educational attainment, veteran status, disability, and more, we’ll examine the demographic portrait of Alabama’s seniors in 2022.

Sex And Age:

In Alabama, the senior population comprises 17.9% of the total population. Among seniors in Alabama, there is a slightly higher percentage of males (43.8%) than females (56.2%). The median age for this demographic is approximately 73 years. Comparatively, on a national scale, seniors represent a significant portion of the population (20.7%), with a similar gender distribution (44.8% male and 55.2% female).

SEX AND AGE	United States 65 years and over	Alabama 65 years and over
Male	44.8%	43.8%
Female	55.2%	56.2%
Median age (years)	73.3	73.0

Race And Hispanic or Latino Origin:

The senior population in Alabama is primarily composed of individuals of one race (97.3%), with 75.5% being White, 20.3% Black or African American, and smaller percentages belonging to other racial groups. In comparison, the U.S. senior population consists of 93.4% of one race, with 75.4% White. Notably, the senior population in Alabama has a higher percentage of White seniors than the national average.

Relationship:

Among seniors in Alabama, the majority (91.7%) are either householders or spouses. Additionally, 3.3% are parents, 3.2% are other relatives, and 1.8% are nonrelatives. In contrast, at the national level, senior citizens are predominantly householders or spouses (89.6%). The senior population in Alabama has a higher percentage of householders or spouses.

Households By Type:

In Alabama, 55.0% of senior citizens live in family households, with 42.9% being married-couple families. In nonfamily households, 45.0% of seniors reside. Comparatively, the U.S. senior population exhibits similar trends, with 54.7% in family households, of which 43.8% are married-couple families. The structure of senior households in Alabama closely resembles the national pattern.

Marital Status:

In Alabama, among those aged 60 and over, 55.5% are currently married, 23.4% are widowed, 15.2% are divorced, and 4.9% have never married. In the U.S., 56.1% of seniors are currently married, 20.9% are widowed, 15.1% are divorced, and 6.6% have never married. Alabama’s senior population closely mirrors the national distribution in terms of marital status.

Educational Attainment:

Among those aged 25 and over in Alabama, 25.9% have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 13.5% have less than a high school diploma. In contrast, the national data shows that 30.8% of the senior population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 12.2% have less than a high school diploma. When comparing senior data to the total population of Alabama, we observe that a higher percentage of the general population holds a bachelor’s degree or higher (28.8%) while a slightly higher percentage have less than a high school diploma (11.2%).

Responsibility For Grandchildren Under 18 Years:

Among seniors in Alabama, 4.0% live with their grandchildren, and 1.6% are responsible for their grandchildren. On a national scale, 4.7% of senior citizens live with their grandchildren, with 1.1% being responsible for them. Alabama’s senior population has a slightly lower incidence of living with and being responsible for grandchildren compared to the national figures.

Veteran Status:

In Alabama, 15.1% of civilians aged 18 and over are veterans. At the national level, 13.8% of civilians in this age group are veterans. Thus, Alabama’s senior population has a higher percentage of veterans compared to the United States as a whole.

Disability Status:

Among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in Alabama, 38.4% have a disability, while 61.6% do not. In the United States, 33.1% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population have a disability, while 66.9% do not. Alabama’s senior population reports a higher incidence of disabilities compared to the national figures.

Residence 1 Year Ago:

In Alabama, 94.3% of the population aged 1 year and over resided in the same house, while 5.5% lived in a different house in the United States. Nationally, 94.1% stayed in the same house, while 5.6% moved to a different house in the U.S. Alabama’s senior population exhibits a similar pattern of residence as the United States.

Place Of Birth, Nativity and Citizenship Status, And Year Of Entry:

The majority of Alabama’s senior population (73.8%) consists of naturalized U.S. citizens, while 26.2% are not U.S. citizens. In the U.S. senior population, 77.6% are naturalized U.S. citizens, and 22.4% are not U.S. citizens. Alabama’s senior population has a higher percentage of non-U.S. citizens compared to the national data.

Language Spoken at Home And Ability To Speak English:

In Alabama, 97.5% of the population aged 5 and over speak English only at home, while 2.5% speak a language other than English. In the United States, 84.5% speak English only at home, and 15.5% speak a language other than English. Alabama’s senior population exhibits a higher percentage of English-only speakers at home compared to the national statistics.

Employment Status:

In Alabama, 16.2% of the civilian population aged 16 and over is in the labor force, with 16.0% employed and 0.2% unemployed. On a national scale, 18.7% of civilians in this age group are in the labor force, with 18.1% employed and 0.6% unemployed. The employment status of Alabama’s senior population aligns closely with the national data.

Income In the Past 12 Months (In 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):

Among households in Alabama, 34.2% have earnings, with a mean earnings of $60,188. In comparison, at the national level, 37.9% of households have earnings, with a mean earnings of $73,402. Alabama’s senior population demonstrates a lower mean earnings per household compared to the national statistics.

Poverty Status in The Past 12 Months:

In Alabama, 12.0% of the population falls below 100 percent of the poverty level, 10.2% are within 100 to 149 percent of the poverty level, and 77.8% are at or above 150 percent of the poverty level. In the United States, 10.9% are below 100 percent of the poverty level, 8.5% are within 100 to 149 percent of the poverty level, and 80.6% are at or above 150 percent of the poverty level. Alabama’s senior population has a slightly higher percentage of individuals below the poverty level than the national figures.

Housing Tenure:

Alabama’s senior population resides in owner-occupied housing units (83.2%) and renter-occupied housing units (16.8%). The average household size for owner-occupied units is 1.95, while for renter-occupied units, it is 1.52. Nationally, 78.4% of seniors live in owner-occupied housing units, and 21.6% reside in renter-occupied housing units. The average household size for owner-occupied units is 1.95, and for renter-occupied units, it is 2.54. When comparing senior data to the total population of Alabama, a higher percentage of the general population (70.2%) resides in owner-occupied housing units, while a lower percentage (29.8%) dwells in renter-occupied housing units. Furthermore, the average household size for owner-occupied units (2.54) is higher than the national and senior population averages.

Selected Monthly Owner Costs as A Percentage Of Household Income In The Past 12 Months:

In Alabama, the majority of owner-occupied housing units (79.6%) spend less than 30 percent of their household income on selected monthly owner costs. Conversely, 20.4% allocate 30 percent or more of their household income. Nationally, 73.4% of owner-occupied units spend less than 30 percent of their household income on selected monthly owner costs, and 26.6% allocate 30 percent or more. Alabama’s senior population tends to allocate a slightly higher percentage of their income to owner costs compared to the national data.

Gross Rent:

The median gross rent for renter-occupied housing units in Alabama is $741, with 54.8% of these units spending less than 30 percent of their household income on rent. On a national level, the median gross rent is $1,022, with 43.4% of renter-occupied units allocating less than 30 percent of their household income to rent. Alabama’s senior population experiences lower median gross rent costs and a higher percentage of units spending less on rent than the national figures.

Conclusion:

The senior population in Alabama displays distinct demographic characteristics compared to the national data. While it aligns closely with national trends in many aspects, such as marital status and employment, it deviates in areas like educational attainment, poverty status, housing tenure, and selected monthly owner costs. These insights provide valuable information for policymakers and organizations aiming to support the specific needs of seniors in Alabama, considering factors like income, housing, and educational resources. Additionally, understanding the differences and similarities between Alabama’s senior population and the national data is vital for addressing the diverse and evolving needs of senior citizens across the state.