Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Mike Schneider at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.
The oldest baby boomers are turning 80 in 2026, marking a significant demographic shift as America rapidly ages with declining birth rates and longer life expectancies, putting pressure on the economy and social programs.
Some key facts:
• The oldest baby boomers, including Presidents Trump, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, turn 80 in 2026.
• Approximately 76 million births occurred between 1946 and 1964 during the baby boom generation.
• The share of senior citizens in the U.S. population will grow from 18.7% in 2025 to nearly 23% by 2050.
• Without immigration, the U.S. population will start shrinking in five years when deaths surpass births.
• The U.S. fertility rate has dropped from 2.08 during the Great Recession to 1.6 in 2025, well below the 2.1 replacement rate.
• The number of Americans aged 80 and older will double within the next 20 years.
• By 2055, there will be 50 seniors for every 100 working-age people, up from 34 per 100 in 2025.
• The declining birth rate has resulted in 11.8 million fewer births compared to what would have occurred at Great Recession fertility levels.
READ MORE: A look at aging baby boomers in the United States
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
