The chart illustrates the proportion of the total US population of three age groups (65-74, 75-84, and 85+) over the period from 1900 to 2000.
Overall, it is clear that the general population rose moderately, with a predominantly dominant age category 65-74. Individuals from 75 to 84 years experienced an substantial upward trend among a century, while the oldest people 85+ demonstrated a slight increase, making the lowest share of the total population.
Looking at the first half of the 20th century, US citizens made up about 4% of the total population. People from 65 to 74 took the leading position, standing at 2.9% in 1900, than they began to climb slowly over two decades, and eldery people started to rise for about 1% per next three decades, finalizing at 5.6% in 1950. Meanwhile, the age group from 75 to 84 accounted for 1% at the firsly and went up slightly to 1/3% in 1930, however it began to grow for approximately 0.4%, making up 2.2% in 1950. In contrast, the percentage of people 85+ remained steady for 30 years, then it slightly grew to 0.4% in 1950.
Regarding the second half of the century, citizens from 65 to 74 stayed stable at 6.1% in 1960 and 1970 respectively, afterwards they slowly rose to 6.9% in 1980, then citizens climbed to 7.3% in the next decade, and people declined slightly to 6.5% at the end. Additionally, individuals, who represent 75-84 age group stood at 2.6% in 1960, then they exprerienced a slow upward trend over decades for abot 0.4% per ten years, finishing at 4.4% in 2000. However, figures for the category 85+ doubled from 0.5% in 1960 to 1% in 1980 and experienced an increase for approximately 0.2% over next two decades, illustrating 1.5% in 2000. The proportion of eldery people finished at about 12% of the total US population.