Americans 50 and over control 70% of all US wealth, bring in $2 trillion in annual income, own more homes than any other age group, account for 50% of all discretionary spending, and purchase 41% of all new cars.
16 million over-50s exercise at least three times a week.
People over 50 spend more per capita on groceries, over the counter and other health products, and travel and leisure than any other age group.
Adults 50+ spend an average of $7 billion online annually (Source: SeniorNet).
People over 50 represent 27% of the US population, and more than 50% of them live in the following nine states: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey. (Source: US Census Bureau)
Population of Americans over 50 using internet in 2006: 58.2 million. Estimated population of Americans over 50 using internet in 2011: 68.3 million (Source: Tech Crunch)
Adults 50+ account for 80% of all luxury travel spending (Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project).
Japan has the highest rate of middle-age suicides (44% of Japanese suicides are middle aged) while the Philippines has the lowest at 12%. The US comes in tied with China at 27%. However, middle-age suicides in the US are currently at the highest rate in the past 25 years. (Source: US Centers for Disease Control)
There are expected to be 57.8 million baby boomers living in the year 2030, 54.9% of whom will be female. (source: US Census Bureau)
40 percent of people between 45 and 60 anticipate that their adult children will move back in with them. 30 percent anticipate that their parents will move in with them. (Source: Met Life)
14.2% of boomers are divorced. 12.6% of boomers never married. (Source: US Census Bureau)
20% of single men over 50 say sex on the first date is fine. 2% of single women over 50 are OK with sex on a first date. (source: AARP)
Four out of five boomers see work as playing a role in their retirement years, with only 20% anticipating retiring and not working at all (Source: AARP)
And the most encouraging statistic of all: There are now 70,000 people over 100 years old. By 2050, demographers estimate there will be 834,000. (Source: University of Nevada)
