February 18, 2025
Looking at ourselves: Expect an unprecedented demographic era
SOUTHLAND – (INT) - Demographers have put together a Master Plan on Aging (MPA). It projects a dramatic increase in the older adult population by 2040.

It projects that by 2040, 22 percent of Californians will be 65 or older. This older population will increase by 59 percent, while the working-age population (aged 20–64) will remain largely unchanged. The child population (aged 0–17) will decrease by 24 percent.

No single racial or ethnic group will constitute a majority. Growth rates will be highest among Latino and Asian older adults, the California Department of Finance projects.

Seven in ten older adults are projected to be homeowners by 2040. Some will be “housing rich, income poor.”

The share of older adults with incomes less than twice the federal poverty level is expected to decline but remain substantial at 22 percent in 2040.

59 percent of older adults living with a spouse and the share living alone will decrease from 22 percent to 18 percent. However, challenges in independent living will persist.

Expect an increased demand for Medi-Cal and home and community-based services. The vast majority of older Californians are expected to remain in their own homes.

Story Date: February 5, 2025
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