Of the U.S. population age 55 and over in 1999, 55 percent were women, 61 percent were married and living with their spouse and 73 percent were high school graduates, according to a profile of the older population released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau.

     The report, The Older Population in the United States: March 1999, is based on data collected in the March 1999 Current Population Survey, which uses the 1990 census as the base for its sample. The estimates should not be confused with Census 2000 results to be released starting in December.

     The report and accompanying tables cover topics that include geographic distribution, age and sex distribution, family type and size, educational attainment, labor force participation and employment, occupational characteristics, family income and poverty status.

    Statistics from surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.