US senior poverty rises 45% since 2019, hitting 10 million

September 26, 2026 at 07:22 PM2 min

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Poverty among Americans 65 and older rose for the fifth consecutive year, reaching 10 million people, according to a US Census Bureau report and AARP Foundation analysis. The rate has jumped roughly 45% since 2019, the highest of any age group. Women over 65 face a poverty rate near 17%, even as overall US poverty fell and household income hit a record high.

Key Facts

Poverty among Americans 65 and older rose for the fifth consecutive year and has jumped roughly 45% since 2019, reaching 10 million seniors, according to AARP Foundation analysis of 2026 CPS ASEC data.
The poverty rate for women 65 and over is close to 17%, which AARP Foundation president Claire Casey called 'really astonishing'.
More than 7 million people in their 50s and early 60s are already living in poverty, Casey said.
Only one in four low-income older adults has access to a workplace retirement savings plan, according to AARP Foundation data.
Nearly half of Americans report having less than $100,000 saved for retirement, including nearly 2 in 10 with no retirement savings.

Senior Poverty Surge

The US Census Bureau's 2025 poverty report shows household income reached a record high and the overall poverty rate fell, but poverty among Americans 65 and older rose for the fifth consecutive year. An AARP Foundation analysis found the senior poverty rate has jumped roughly 45% since 2019, the highest of any age group, translating to 10 million seniors living in poverty, up from 5.1 million seven years ago. AARP Foundation president Claire Casey said no other age group has seen that same pattern, calling it alarming.

Gender Disparity

Last year, poverty rates were higher for women over 50 than for men, and the poverty level for women 65 and over is close to 17%. Casey described the figure as 'really astonishing and something we should all be paying attention to'. Dan Doonan, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security, said women often reach retirement after a lifetime of lower earnings and less opportunity to save. Doonan added that a market downturn, a health problem, or the cost of caring for someone else can drain resources, and because women tend to live longer, they may have to stretch what remains over many years, often on their own.

Retirement Savings Gap

Only one in four low-income older adults has access to a workplace retirement savings plan, and few earn enough to save, according to AARP Foundation data. Nearly half of Americans report having less than $100,000 saved for retirement, including nearly 2 in 10 with no retirement savings, according to recent research. For a single renter, the poverty line starts at just over $19,000 a year, and Casey said it is hard to imagine covering rent, groceries, utilities, and healthcare on that amount.