RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest senior population, US states · 2000

US states home to the most residents aged 65 and over as of 2000. Ranked by number of people, not the senior share. California leads at 3,595,658. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 1,164,582, against an all-states median of 470,183.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS 65 AND OVERVS 1990

USUnited States12.4% of US population281,421,90634,991,753–

01California, CACA39,287,3773,595,658+15%

02Florida, FLFL22,416,0772,807,597+19%

03New York, NYNY19,852,3662,448,352+4%

04Texas, TXTX30,188,4242,072,532+21%

05Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6391,919,165+5%

06Ohio, OHOH11,810,2931,507,757+7%

07Illinois, ILIL12,694,7981,500,025+5%

08Michigan, MIMI10,077,7611,219,018+10%

09New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8091,113,136+8%

10North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404969,048+21%

11Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056860,162+5%

12Virginia, VAVA8,705,170792,333+20%

13Georgia, GAGA10,940,407785,275+20%

14Missouri, MOMO6,191,814755,379+5%

15Indiana, ININ6,851,073752,831+8%

16Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383703,311+14%

17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872702,553+8%

18Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838667,839+40%

19Washington, WAWA7,816,116662,148+15%

20Maryland, MDMD6,206,011599,307+16%

21Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445594,266+9%

22Alabama, ALAL5,086,768579,798+11%

23Louisiana, LALA4,611,961516,929+11%

24Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824504,793+8%

25South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225485,333+23%

26Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508470,183+6%

27Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634455,950+8%

28Oregon, OROR4,254,293438,177+12%

29Iowa, IAIA3,210,507436,213+2%

30Colorado, COCO5,862,189416,073+27%

31Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391374,019+7%

32Kansas, KSKS2,947,197356,229+4%

33Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779343,523+7%

34West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373276,895+3%

35Nebraska, NENE1,978,707232,195+4%

36Nevada, NVNV3,184,612218,929+72%

37New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246212,225+31%

38Utah, UTUT3,392,331190,222+27%

39Maine, MEME1,387,817183,402+12%

40Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235160,601+29%

41Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801152,402+1%

42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868147,970+18%

43Idaho, IDID1,934,262145,916+20%

44Montana, MTMT1,116,875120,949+14%

45South Dakota, SDSD907,428108,131+5%

46Delaware, DEDE1,021,191101,726+26%

47North Dakota, NDND784,84194,478+4%

48Vermont, VTVT647,10677,510+17%

49District of Columbia, DCDC681,29469,898−10%

50Wyoming, WYWY582,39757,693+23%

51Alaska, AKAK735,70635,699+61%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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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 3,595,658 (2000 Decennial Census).

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

California, Florida, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 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, 2000 Decennial Census.