The U.S. Census Bureau released a special report showing that the number of centenarians in the United States increased by 50% from 2010 to 2020, rising from 53,364 to 80,139 individuals aged 100 or older. This growth rate outpaced other age groups among older adults during the same period.
According to the “Centenarians: 2020” report, centenarians represented a small fraction of the population—2 out of every 10,000 people in 2020. The report analyzed data on age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, living arrangements, and geographic distribution using information from the 2020 Census.
In terms of gender distribution, women made up most centenarians at nearly 79% in 2020—a slight decrease from almost 83% in 2010. The male centenarian population grew more rapidly than females between these years: an increase of over 85% for men compared with about a 43% rise for women.
The racial makeup of centenarians also shifted slightly. While they remained predominantly White and female, there was an increase in racial diversity similar to trends seen among other older age groups but less pronounced than among those under age 65. One exception was Black or African American alone centenarians; their share declined from just over 12% in 2010 to just above 10% in 2020.
Geographically, regional differences were observed. The Northeast had the highest proportion of centenarians relative to its population at over three per ten thousand people. Hawaii led all states with more than four centenarians per ten thousand residents (4.44), followed by Puerto Rico (4.14). No state had fewer than one centenarian per ten thousand people; Utah and Alaska had some of the lowest proportions.
Living arrangements varied notably by gender and race or ethnicity. Female centenarians were much more likely than males to live alone or reside in group quarters such as nursing homes—about two-thirds did so compared with half of male centenarians. Nearly half of male centenarians lived with others in a household versus about one-third for females.
Racial and ethnic diversity was most evident among those living with others in households rather than alone or in nursing homes. Hispanic or Latino and Asian alone centenarians—as well as those classified as “All Other Races”—were especially likely to live with others (over sixty percent for each group). In contrast, White non-Hispanic centenarians were much less likely (under thirty-five percent) to do so; Black or African American alone fell between these figures.
The pattern for states with high proportions of centenarians resembled that seen among Americans aged eighty-five to ninety-nine—with concentrations mainly in Midwest and Northeast states—but differed from patterns found among those aged sixty-five to eighty-four.
