Racial and Ethnic Composition

People aged 55–64 have become somewhat more diverse with respect to race and ethnicity reflecting the demographic changes in the U.S. population as a whole over the last several decades.

Chart 2a. Population aged 55–64, by race and Hispanic origin, 1984, 1994, and 2004

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates.

• In 2004, the percentage of non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics aged 55–64 was greater than in 1984. In 1984, 85 percent of people aged 55–64 were non-Hispanic whites in contrast to 78 percent in 2004. The percentage of Hispanics aged 55–64 increased from 4 percent to 8 percent while the percentage of non-Hispanic blacks increased from 9 to 10 percent.