The Development of Social Security in America
by Larry DeWitt
Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2010
Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2010
Year | Number of persons aged 65 or older |
---|---|
1870 | 1,153,649 |
1880 | 1,723,459 |
1890 | 2,417,288 |
1900 | 3,080,498 |
1910 | 3,949,524 |
1920 | 4,933,215 |
1930 | 6,633,805 |
1940 | 9,019,314 |
Year | Percent of civilian workers covered by Social Security |
---|---|
1935 | 45.00 |
1939 | 55.10 |
1940 | 55.00 |
1944 | 60.20 |
1945 | 60.00 |
1949 | 60.50 |
1950 | 60.00 |
1955 | 83.00 |
1960 | 86.20 |
1965 | 87.60 |
1970 | 89.90 |
1975 | 90.60 |
1980 | 90.00 |
1985 | 92.90 |
1990 | 94.80 |
1995 | 94.50 |
2000 | 94.40 |
2007 | 93.60 |
Year | Trust fund reserves (dollars in billions) |
---|---|
1983 | 25 |
1985 | 42 |
1990 | 225 |
1995 | 496 |
2000 | 1049 |
2005 | 1,858 |
2010 | 2650 |
2015 | 3,049 |
2020 | 3,146 |
2025 | 2,757 |
2030 | 1,833 |
2035 | 429 |
2037 | 0 |
Year | Percent of the elderly who are in poverty |
---|---|
1935 | 50.0 |
1959 | 35.2 |
1966 | 28.5 |
1967 | 29.5 |
1968 | 25.0 |
1969 | 25.3 |
1970 | 24.6 |
1971 | 21.6 |
1972 | 18.6 |
1973 | 16.3 |
1974 | 14.6 |
1975 | 15.3 |
1976 | 15.0 |
1977 | 14.1 |
1978 | 14.0 |
1979 | 15.2 |
1980 | 15.7 |
1981 | 15.3 |
1982 | 14.6 |
1983 | 13.8 |
1984 | 12.4 |
1985 | 12.6 |
1986 | 12.4 |
1987 | 12.5 |
1988 | 12.0 |
1989 | 11.4 |
1990 | 12.2 |
1991 | 12.4 |
1992 | 12.9 |
1993 | 12.2 |
1994 | 11.7 |
1995 | 10.5 |
1996 | 10.8 |
1997 | 10.5 |
1998 | 10.5 |
1999 | 9.7 |
2000 | 9.9 |
2001 | 10.1 |
2002 | 10.4 |
2003 | 10.2 |
2004 | 9.8 |
2005 | 10.1 |
2006 | 9.4 |
2007 | 9.7 |
2008 | 9.7 |