Boomer Facts • In 1946, when the baby boom began, the U.S. population was 141.5 million. Today, it is more than double that. Boomers represent 28 percent of the U.S. population. ¹
• In 1957, 4.3 million babies were born, more than any year before or since.¹
• There are an estimated 77.4 million boomers. Every 18 seconds, another boomer turns 50, accounting for 10,000 new 50-year-olds daily.¹
• Half of all baby boomers have children under the age of 18 living in their household. More than one-third of boomers care for an older parent.¹
• In the last census, 32 percent of Alaska's residents were boomers.¹
• Forty percent of boomers anticipate that their adult children will move back in with them, and 30 percent anticipate that their parents will move in with them.¹
• Boomers will spend more time taking care of their parents than they did raising their children. U.S. News & World Report estimates that 19 million Americans are unpaid "informal caregivers" for their relatives, providing a staggering 75 to 80 percent of all long-term care in the U.S.¹
•Despite being more health conscious, baby boomers are in worse shape that previous generations were at that age.
1. Denver Post Sunday November 23, 2008. Section D, Colorado Voices. Facts compiled by Barbara Reyman.
