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A Profile of Older Americans: 2002
Poverty
About
3.4 million elderly persons (10.1%) were below the poverty level
in 2001. This poverty rate was not statistically different from
the historic low reached in 1999. Another 2.2 million or 6.5%
of the elderly were classified as "near-poor" (income
between the poverty level and 125% of this level).
One
of every twelve (8.9%) elderly Whites was poor in 2001, compared
to 21.9% of elderly African-Americans and 21.8% of elderly Hispanics.
Higher than average poverty rates for older persons were found
among those who lived in central cities (12.8%), outside metropolitan
areas (i.e. rural areas) (12.2%), and in the South (12.4%).
Older
women had a higher poverty rate (12.4%) than older men (7.0%)
in 2000. Older persons living alone or with nonrelatives were
much more likely to be poor (19.7%) than were older persons living
with families (5.5%). The highest poverty rates (50.5%) were experienced
by older Hispanic women who lived alone or with nonrelatives.
(Based
on data from Current Population Reports, "Poverty in the United
States: 2001," P60-219, Issued September, 2002 and related Internet
releases of the U.S. Bureau of the Census).
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| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 8:30:58 AM |
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