Mar 20, 2025 By Karen Mansfield 3 min read

Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard

West Greene’s Caleb Rice throws a bounce pass during Monday afternoon’s game at Avella. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)

The U.S. population of centenarians – folks at least 100 years old – is expected to quadruple in the U.S. over the next 30 years, according to the Pew Research Center.

The center, citing Census Bureau projections, said the number of centenarians is expected to grow from an estimated 101,000 in 2024 to about 422,000 by 2054.

According to the center, the number of centenarians in the country has steadily gone up since 1950, when there were an estimated 2,300 Americans aged 100 or older.

Dr. Matthew Koperwas, a geriatrics specialist at Allegheny Health Network, said those statistics are not surprising, as medical advances are expanding that population every year.

“And, you have baby boomers that make up a large swath of the population who are aging,” said Koperwas.

While illnesses and disabilities can be major barriers to joining the 100-plus club, having a purpose to continue on with life might be one of the most important factors in longevity, he said.

“A common thread we see (for living longer) is what you hear from your doctor: eat right, exercise, stay active – and as examples, we have these Blue Zones in places like Okinawa, Italy, and California based on Mediterranean or plant-based diets and regular physical activity and lifestyle, but something people don’t talk about as much is avoiding social isolation,” said Koperwas. “It’s hard for older people to keep a sense of connection as they age, and having a sense of purpose helps them age better.”

Currently, adults aged 65 or older make up about 18% of the population, Pew said, and that share is projected to jump to 23% by 2054.

But loneliness is prevalent. In 2020, 25 to 30% of people 65 or older reported feeling lonely frequently, and nearly one-quarter of adults over 65 are considered socially isolated.

Additionally, chronic loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 50%, the risk of heart disease by 29%, and the risk of stroke by 52%.

Women account for 78% of today’s centenarians, according to Pew, and women are still projected to make up the vast majority of centenarians – 68% – by 2054. The percentage of men 100 or older is expected to increase from 22% today to 32% in 30 years.

Over three-quarters of centenarians in the U.S. are white.

Globally, there are about 722,000 centenarians, according to the United Nations population projections for 2024. The agency sees that number growing more than five-fold by 2054 to about 3.98 million.

Japan is the only country with more centenarians today, with an estimated 146,000.

China, which has the third-most centenarians, is projected to take the top spot in the next 30 years.

Koperwas said that medicine continues to develop new medical solutions to help people live beyond the average lifespan, but what’s important is to make life – at any age – fulfilling.

“With advances in modern medicine, we find treatments for more obscure diseases, for different types of cancer and illnesses,” he said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment to turn 100. But it’s just a number, and you can have a full life and live to be 75 or 90 or 100. There’s a lot of life: You have to live it.”