Senior Demographic Information

• The number of older Marylanders is increasing. Of the 5.3 million people in Maryland in 2000, 15 % (801,036) were over the age of 60. The percentage is expected to increase to 25% of Maryland's projected population of 6.7 million by the year 2030. See Table 1 for further informationon the growth of the 60+ population.
• The number of individuals over the age of 85 continues to grow rapidly. This cohort will grow in number, statewide, from 66,902 in 2000 to 164,695 by the year 2030.
• In 2000, 67.4% of those 60+ resided in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties and Baltimore City. By 2030 this percentage is projected to decline to 61.5%, while the 60+ population in the "newer" suburban jurisdictions of Carroll, Harford, Howard, etc. is projected to increase.
• Marylanders aged 60 and over, with functional disabilities related to mobility or personal care, who are living in the community, accounted for 237,004, over 19% of the total number of elderly Marylanders, in 2000.
• Low income older individuals are concentrated in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, with smaller numbers of older, poorer individuals residing in western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore. In 2000, 63,978 older Marylanders lived in poverty as defined by the federal poverty guidelines.
• Of the State's aged 60+ minority population in 2000, 32.3% lived in Baltimore City, with 15.7% in Montgomery County and 24.4% in Prince George's County. Of the population of older minority Marylanders who are 85+, 35% lived in Baltimore City in 2000. See Table 2 for further information.

Sources: U.S. Census, 2000; MD Department of Planning, Population Projections - revised 9/2005.