Staying Fit
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Sixty-five years ago American life was surprisingly different, but in many regards the same. As AARP celebrates its 65th birthday, we look back on key facts and figures then and now.
There are a whole lot more of us …
- In 1958, 9 percent of Americans were 65 and older; together, we totaled about 15 million.
- In 2023, 17 percent of Americans are 65 and older, totaling almost 55 million.
Graphics by Valerio Pellegrini, Nicolas Rapp
… and we’ve come a long way, baby.
- Well-known people who turned 65 in 1958 included Mae West, Jimmy Durante, General Omar Bradley and Mao Zedong.
- Celebs turning 65 this year include Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ice-T.
Median income for an individual 65-plus:
- 1958: $966 (adjusted for inflation, $10,200 now)
- 2023: $27,398
AARP The Magazine Special Edition
AARP takes a look at how aging has evolved and improved over the decades — and how it likely will change in the years ahead.
... and where we live has evolved. States with the highest percentage of 65-plus residents:
- 1958: Vermont, followed by Iowa
- 2023: Maine, followed by Florida
We may not be warriors like we used to be …
- In 1958, about 42 percent of American men were veterans.
- About 13 percent are today.
Graphics by Valerio Pellegrini, Nicolas Rapp
… but we might think we are.
- About half of Americans in 1958 answered “yes” to the question “Do you have a gun in your home?”
- That number has changed little: Some 45 percent answered “yes” in 2022.
We’re flying high ...
- According to a 1959 report on airline traffic, 49 million passengers took to the skies the prior year.
- In 2022, airlines flew 853 million American passengers, even with pandemic-related drops in business travel and tourism.
... but less so spiritually ...
- In 1958, roughly 98 percent of Americans answered “yes” when asked if they believed in God, according to Gallup. By 2023, that number has fallen to 74 percent.
- Likewise, 92 percent of Americans said Christianity was their religion of choice in 1958. Today, it’s 68 percent.
... and our laws and attitudes about personal rights have changed.
- In 1958, the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual listed homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance, and gays and lesbians were banned from employment in the federal government. Gay marriage was banned everywhere. Today the Supreme Court has affirmed gay marriage as a basic right.
- According to a Gallup poll, just 4 percent of Americans said they “approved” of interracial marriage in 1958. The most recent numbers today (from 2021) put that approval number at 94 percent.
Alexander Spatari/Getty
Our trust in government has plunged.
- In 1958, Pew held its first poll asking Americans if they “trust the government to do what is right just about always/most of the time.” 73 percent said “yes.”
- Today, that poll showed the number is at 20 percent.
We smoke a lot less …
- 1958: More than 40 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes. (Cigarette companies produced a record 442 billion smokes in 1957.)
- 2023: Less than 20 percent still smoke.
Graphics by Valerio Pellegrini, Nicolas Rapp
… but we’re dying of similar causes.
Top causes of death, 1958:
- Heart disease (39 percent of deaths)
- Cancers (27 percent)
- Accidents (6 percent)
Graphics by Valerio Pellegrini, Nicolas Rapp
Top causes of death today:
- Heart disease (21 percent)
- Cancers (19 percent)
- Accidents (7 percent)
More From The Age Issue
Timeline: AARP at 65
In celebration of our 65th birthday, here’s a look back at our history and a sneak peek of what’s to come
Is Age Obsolete?
Given our increased longevity, the very concept may be losing its meaning