CB06-FFSE.01-2
January 3, 2006
i Special Edition i
Oldest Baby Boomers Turn 60!
In 2006, the oldest of the baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, will turn
60 years old. Among the Americans celebrating their 60th will be our two most recent presidents,
George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Other well-known celebrities reaching this milestone include
Cher, Donald Trump, Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton. To commemorate this occasion, the
Census Bureau has compiled a collection of facts relating to, perhaps, our most celebrated
generation.
78.2 million
Estimated number of baby boomers, as of July 1, 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/popest/national/>
7,918
Number of people turning 60 each day in 2006, according to projections. That amounts to 330
every hour. <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterimproj/>
James & Mary
The most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively, in 1946. Today, the names Jacob
and Emily lead the list; James ranks 17th among boys and Mary is 63rd among girls. (Source:
Social Security Administration, at <http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html>)
50.8%
Percentage of women baby boomers in 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/popest/national/>
9.1 million
Estimated number of baby boomers in 2004 who were black. Also, 8.0 million boomers were
Hispanic (of any race). <http://www.census.gov/popest/national/>
32%
Proportion of Alaska’s population that was part of the baby boom generation, as of the last
census. Baby boomers also comprised 30 percent or more of the population in New Hampshire,
Vermont and Maine. In contrast, Utah (23 percent) was the only state where baby boomers
constituted less than 25 percent. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-12.pdf>
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Then and Now
141million
Estimated U.S. population in 1946. Today, the nation’s population stands at about 298 million.
<http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s/popclockest.txt> and <www.census.gov>
33% and 5%
The proportions of adults age 25 and older with at least a high school diploma and at least a
bachelor’s