All The Single (Old) Ladies

According to a recent New York Times blog, if you’re a single woman complaining about the disproportionately low number of single men, just wait until you reach age 90. A new U.S. Census Bureau report found that the number of Americans aged 90 and older tripled over the last twenty years and is expected to quadruple over the next 40 years. Women aged 90 and older outnumber men of the same age nearly three to one. Moreover, over 80% of these women are widowed, while more than 40% of these men are married. The report notes that the growth of this population group has a significant impact on societal and family resources such as pension and retirement income, healthcare costs, and intergenerational relationships.