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Executive BriefIntroductionNational SnapshotFindingsHealth OutcomesSocial and Economic FactorsClinical CareBehaviorsState RankingsAppendixMeasures TableData Source DescriptionsMethodologyReferencesState Summaries
US Summary
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US SummaryAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingThe United Health Foundation is proud to release the America’s Health Rankings® 2025 Senior Report, which provides a portrait of the health and well-being of older adults across the United States.
This report highlights improvements in early deaths, social support and engagement measures, and the number of geriatric clinicians. Despite these successes, drug deaths, suicide and poverty increased, and flu vaccinations declined.
The 2025 Senior Report found that the early death rate decreased for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the number of geriatric clinicians continued to improve nationwide, as did high-speed internet access. Volunteerism among older adults increased.
Despite these positive developments, rates of suicide, firearm deaths and drug deaths all continued to increase, with striking health differences by gender and race/ethnicity. Furthermore, older adults faced rising rates of poverty, and flu vaccinations decreased. These challenges pose significant obstacles to achieving optimal health and well-being for older Americans.
Between 2022 and 2023, the population of adults age 65 and older in the United States increased by almost 1.5 million individuals. In 2023, there were more than 59 million adults age 65 and older in the U.S., making up 17.7% of the population. The proportion of older adults will continue to rise as the last baby boomers turn 65 years old, approaching 2030.1 As the older American population grows, it remains important to strengthen and expand initiatives that promote their health and well-being while working collaboratively to address the complex challenges they face.
This year’s report further explores the health and resilience of older adults by introducing new measures tracking RSV vaccinations, state emergency management plans and direct care worker wage competitiveness. In 2024, 33.0% of older adults in the U.S. received an RSV vaccination. In 2023, nine states had a FEMA-approved enhanced state hazard mitigation plan for natural disasters, and direct care workers made $2.89 less per hour on average than other entry-level workers.
Finally, the report analyzed the health of older adults on a state-by-state basis. Older adults comprise a much larger share of the population in some states than others. In 2023, Maine had the largest proportion of residents age 65 and older (23.0%), followed by Vermont (22.1%) and Florida (21.7%). Utah had the smallest proportion (12.2%), followed by the District of Columbia (13.1%), Texas (13.7%) and Alaska (14.4%). Strengths and challenges were present in every state, no matter the size of the older adult population.
In 2023, there were more than 59 million adults age 65 and older in the U.S., making up 17.7% of the population.
The data in this report show meaningful progress in recent years, including decreases in the early death rate and strengthened social support and engagement among older adults. We encourage communities and leaders nationwide to leverage these insights — and detailed state-level and demographic group data available across the America’s Health Rankings platform — to amplify progress, confront ongoing challenges, and promote the health and well-being of all older adults.
Objective
America’s Health Rankings informs and drives action to build healthier communities by offering credible, trusted data that can guide efforts to improve population health and health care. The report is developed in collaboration with an advisory committee to determine the selection of a comprehensive set of measures. The 2025 Senior Report is based on:
- Fifty-five measures. These include 36 ranking and 19 unweighted measures (not included in a state’s overall rank). For a complete list of measures, definitions and source details, see the Measures Table.
- Five categories of health. These are comprised of Health Outcomes and four categories of health determinants: Social and Economic Factors, Physical Environment, Behaviors and Clinical Care.
- Twenty-four sources. Data are from many sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
The America’s Health Rankings Senior Report aims to improve population health by:
- Presenting a holistic view of health. This report goes beyond measures of clinical care and health behaviors by considering social, economic and physical environment measures, reflecting the impact of social determinants of health.
- Providing a benchmark for states. Since 2013, the report has presented strengths, challenges and key findings for every state and the District of Columbia. Public health advocates can monitor health trends over time and compare their state with other states and the nation. State Summaries are available on the America’s Health Rankings website as separate downloads.
- Highlighting differences. The report shows differences in health between states and among demographic groups at state and national levels, with groupings based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, education, income, metropolitan status, disability status, sexual orientation and veteran status where data are available.
- Stimulating action. The report aims to drive change and improve health by drawing attention to trends and promoting data-driven discussions among individuals, community leaders, public health workers, policymakers and the media. States can incorporate population insights into their annual review of programs, and many organizations use the report as a reference when assigning goals for health improvement plans.
Please refer to the Appendix for methodology details on demographic group definitions and limitations and data sources.
Model for Measuring America’s Health
America’s Health Rankings is built upon the World Health Organization’s definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The model was developed under the guidance of the America’s Health Rankings Advisory Council and Committees, with insights from other rankings and health models, particularly County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and Healthy People. The model serves as a framework across all America’s Health Rankings reports for identifying and quantifying the drivers and outcomes that impact state and national population health.
