A Profile of Older Americans: 2003
Poverty
About 3.6 million elderly persons (10.4%)
were below the poverty level in 2002. This poverty rate was
not statistically different
from the poverty rate in 2001. The historic lowest level of 9.7%
reached in 1999. Another 2.2 million or 6.4% of the elderly were
classified as "near-poor" (income between the poverty
level and 125% of this level).
One of every twelve (8.3%) elderly Whites was poor in 2002,
compared to 23.8% of elderly African-Americans and 21.4% of elderly
Hispanics. Higher than average poverty rates for older persons
were found among those who lived in central cities (12.2%), outside
metropolitan areas (i.e. rural areas) (11.9%), and in the South
(12.7%).
Older women had a higher poverty rate (12.4%) than older men
(7.7%) in 2002. Older persons living alone were much more likely
to be poor (19.2%) than were older persons living with families
(6.0%). The highest poverty rates (47.1%) were experienced by
older Hispanic women who lived alone.
(Based on data from Current Population
Reports, "Poverty
in the United States: 2002," P60-229, Issued September,
2003 and related Internet releases of the U.S. Bureau of the
Census).
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