So, just how many older adults are online? It's a good question, but the answer depends on who you ask.
The following table is an overview of the demographic studies reviewed that describe Internet use among older adults:
The rest of this article summarizes the various reports available online related to the older adult online demographic.
See also: The 2003 version of this article.
Harris Interactive
The
Harris Poll® #40
Reported May 12, 2005
Data collected by phone during February and April 2005; 2,022
interviews
Number of adults (18+) online -- 163 million (74% of all adults 18+)
Percent of adults online by age:
- age 50-64 — 29% (47 million)
- age 65+ — 8% (13 million)
USC Internet Report
Surveying the
Digital Future: Year 5
Reported December 2005
Data collected by phone January to March, 2005; 2072 interviews
Percent of adults a given age who use Internet:
- age 46-55 — 86%
- age 56-65 — 75%
- age 66+ — 41%
Pew Internet & American Life Project
Digital Divisions
Reported October 5, 2005
Data collected by phone from May thru June 2005; 2,001
interviews, adults 18+
"As of May-June 2005, 68% of American adults, or about 137 million people, use the internet, up from 63% one year ago."
Percent of a given age with Internet access:
- age 50-64 — 67%
- age 65+ — 26%
US Census
Computer and Internet
Use in the United States: 2003 (PDF)
Reported October 2005
Data collected October 2003; 50,000+ households
Percent of a given age using the Internet anywhere:
- age 45-54 — 65.7%
- age 55-64 — 55.7%
- age 65+ — 25.1%