RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest senior population, US states · 1990

US states home to the most residents aged 65 and over as of 1990. Ranked by number of people, not the senior share. California leads at 3,121,859. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 1,040,274, against an all-states median of 425,849.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS 65 AND OVERVS –

USUnited States12.5% of US population248,709,87331,195,275–

01California, CACA39,287,3773,121,859–

02Florida, FLFL22,416,0772,368,643–

03New York, NYNY19,852,3662,361,893–

04Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6391,829,711–

05Texas, TXTX30,188,4241,708,258–

06Illinois, ILIL12,694,7981,434,380–

07Ohio, OHOH11,810,2931,406,074–

08Michigan, MIMI10,077,7611,107,018–

09New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8091,030,227–

10Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056819,927–

11North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404802,057–

12Missouri, MOMO6,191,814717,851–

13Indiana, ININ6,851,073695,945–

14Virginia, VAVA8,705,170662,604–

15Georgia, GAGA10,940,407652,547–

16Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872650,945–

17Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383618,371–

18Washington, WAWA7,816,116575,573–

19Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445546,562–

20Alabama, ALAL5,086,768522,606–

21Maryland, MDMD6,206,011516,680–

22Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838477,200–

23Louisiana, LALA4,611,961467,433–

24Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824466,816–

25Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508445,664–

26Iowa, IAIA3,210,507425,849–

27Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634423,594–

28South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225396,129–

29Oregon, OROR4,254,293391,131–

30Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391349,816–

31Kansas, KSKS2,947,197342,408–

32Colorado, COCO5,862,189328,366–

33Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779321,245–

34West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373268,804–

35Nebraska, NENE1,978,707223,066–

36Maine, MEME1,387,817163,160–

37New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246162,518–

38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801151,000–

39Utah, UTUT3,392,331149,692–

40Nevada, NVNV3,184,612127,201–

41New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868124,984–

42Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235124,677–

43Idaho, IDID1,934,262121,138–

44Montana, MTMT1,116,875106,419–

45South Dakota, SDSD907,428102,530–

46North Dakota, NDND784,84190,989–

47Delaware, DEDE1,021,19180,670–

48District of Columbia, DCDC681,29477,672–

49Vermont, VTVT647,10666,169–

50Wyoming, WYWY582,39747,045–

51Alaska, AKAK735,70622,159–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

Download CSV (full list, 51 rows)

UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest residents 65 and over?

California ranks #1 with 3,121,859 (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by residents 65 and over?

California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is residents 65 and over measured?

Number of residents aged 65 and over, summed from the harmonized age bands (65-74, 75-84, 85+). Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.