According to a new report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau , by 2035 there will be more people aged over 65 than there will be under the age of 18 for the first time . The 2017 National Population Projections reveals that in 2035 there will be an expected 78.0 million people over 65 , as opposed to 76.4 million individuals under 18 . The report reveals a range of statistics concerning the demographic future of the US , with all baby boomers becoming at least 65 by 2030 ; the result of this change will see one fifth of US residents reaching retirement age . Furthermore , the 2030s will see the population grow at a slower rate , become more diverse and age significantly . An illustration of that is the expected shift of the ratio between older adults and working - age adults , known as the dependency ratio . By 2020 the dependency ratio will be around three - and - a - half working - age adults for every retirement - age individual but , by 2060 , this could drop to just two - and - a - half working - age adults for every retirement - age person . Although births are projected to be nearly four times larger than the level of net international migration in coming decades, a rising number of deaths will increasingly offset how much births are able to contribute to population growth. There will also be a significant demographic change as international migration is set to overtake natural increase as the main driver of population growth in the US for the first time . Accompanying this will be an increase in the US death rate as the baby boomer generation ages which will offset the expected quadrupling of the birth rate . By 2060 , the US population is expected to reach 404 million people , with the average age growing from 38 to 43 alongside an increased life expectancy .
According to a new report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau , by 2035 there will be more people aged over 65 than there will be under the age of 18 for the first time . The 2017 National Population Projections reveals that in 2035 there will be an expected 78.0 million people over 65 , as opposed to 76.4 million individuals under 18 . The report reveals a range of statistics concerning the demographic future of the US , with all baby boomers becoming at least 65 by 2030 ; the result of this change will see one fifth of US residents reaching retirement age . Furthermore , the 2030s will see the population grow at a slower rate , become more diverse and age significantly . An illustration of that is the expected shift of the ratio between older adults and working - age adults , known as the dependency ratio . By 2020 the dependency ratio will be around three - and - a - half working - age adults for every retirement - age individual but , by 2060 , this could drop to just two - and - a - half working - age adults for every retirement - age person . There will also be a significant demographic change as international migration is set to overtake natural increase as the main driver of population growth in the US for the first time . Accompanying this will be an increase in the US death rate as the baby boomer generation ages which will offset the expected quadrupling of the birth rate . By 2060 , the US population is expected to reach 404 million people , with the average age growing from 38 to 43 alongside an increased life expectancy .