Historical and forecast demographics, along with social and public health trends for the senior populations in the 10-County ARC Region

1. AGING SNAPSHOT
Regional Trends in the Metro Atlanta Older Adult Population
May 2021
Maria Sotnikova
msotnikova@atlantaregional.org
1

2. Key Takeaways
May 2021
Demographics: The Atlanta region is relatively young compared to the rest of
Georgia, but the proportion of people 65 or older has been increasing for decades
Population Projections: The 65+ age cohort in the Atlanta region will increase more
than all other age cohorts combined, growing by over 200% between 2015 & 2050
Life Expectancy: How long people live depends on where they live in the Atlanta
region & this disparity is the focus of the Live Beyond Expectations Strategic Plan
COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic has exacerbated issues like the social isolation of
older adults in the Atlanta region
Metro Atlanta Speaks 2020 Survey: Despite the devastating impacts of the COVID-
19 pandemic, older adults in the Atlanta region remain resilient and optimistic
2

3. May 2021
3
26.3
29.1
31.4
33.0
35.0
36.8
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Median
Age
(Years)
UNITED STATES ATLANTA CHARLOTTE
DALLAS NASHVILLE WASHINGTON
Median Age Over Time
Source: Woods and Poole, CEDDS 2020
Over the last 50 years,
the median age of
residents in the Atlanta
region has increased by
over a decade!
The median age in
Atlanta has also grown
faster than the nation
and all peer metros
except Washington DC.

4. May 2021
4
Older Adult Population Over Time
7.1%
8.1% 8.2% 7.7%
9.0%
13.1%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Percent
of
Population
65
Years
or
Older
UNITED STATES ATLANTA CHARLOTTE
DALLAS NASHVILLE WASHINGTON
Source: Woods and Poole, CEDDS 2020
In addition to the increase
in median age, the Atlanta
region has seen a major
increase in the proportion
of residents that are 65 or
older.
The Atlanta region saw its
greatest increase between
2010-2020, outpacing all
peer metros and even the
national percentage
increase.

5. May 2021
5
Older Adult Population in Georgia
On this map, the dark blue
areas indicate populations
where a greater proportion of
residents are 65 years or older.
Compared to the rest of the
state of Georgia, the Atlanta
region is relatively young.
Source: American Community Survey 2019; http://data.neighborhoodnexus.org/
In the Atlanta region, older adults tend to live in
suburban and exurban areas where accessing
services can be more challenging due to geography.

6. May 2021
6
Projections for Median Age
36.8
37.4
38.3
39.4
34
36
38
40
42
2020 2030 2040 2050
Median
Age
(Years)
UNITED STATES ATLANTA CHARLOTTE
DALLAS NASHVILLE WASHINGTON
By 2050, the median age
in the Atlanta region is
projected to rise even
higher to 39.4 years!
Source: Woods and Poole, CEDDS 2020

7. May 2021
7
Older Adult Population Forecasts
Source: ARC Series 16 Forecast, https://33n.atlantaregional.com/arc-series-16-forecast
The latest population forecasts from
the Atlanta Regional Commission
estimate that the number of older
adults 65 years or older will grow from
being the smallest age cohort to the
second largest, increasing by over 200%
between 2015 and 2050.
This means that nearly 45% of the net
increase in the Atlanta region’s
population by 2050 is expected to be in
the 65+ age cohort.

8. May 2021
8
Life Expectancy Depends on Where You Live
Source: U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project, 2010-2015
In metro Atlanta, ZIP codes tell this
tale of inequity. Someone who lives
in the 30339 ZIP code can expect to
live, on average, 23.8 years longer
than someone just 7 miles away, in
the 30314 ZIP code.

9. May 2021
9
Life Expectancy also Depends on Other Factors
Population Level Factors that Cause, Contribute to, or
Correlate with Changes in Population Level Life Expectancy
• Air pollution
• Aortic aneurysm
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Ethnic inequity
• Gender inequity
• Heart disease
• Infant mortality
• Older adult mortality
• Physical inactivity
• Physical disability
• Pneumonia
• Racial inequity
• Socioeconomic inequity
• Smoking
• Stroke
Reducing these factors
increases life expectancy
• Education
• Government spending
• Immigration
• Per capita income
Increasing these factors
increases life expectancy
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Chronic Liver disease
• COPD
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Institutionalization
• Lung cancer
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Suicide
• Unintentional
poisonings (including
drug and alcohol
poisoning)
• Unintentional injuries
Increasing these factors
decreases life expectancy
Appendix B: Life Expectancy Research
Source: Live Beyond Expectation Strategic Plan Framework 2020-2025
During the next five
years, ARC will begin
implementing the Live
Beyond Expectations
Regional Strategic Plan
2020-2025. This
strategic framework is
designed to identify
and address the
inequities that create
disparities in life
expectancy.

10. May 2021
10
Devastating Impact of COVID-19
23.15%
17.65%
16.53%
18.90%
27.73%
37.55%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
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COVID-19 Cases and Outcomes by Age Cohort
% Cases % Cases Leading to Death % Cases Leading to Hospitalization
As of April 30, 2021, SARS-
CoV-2 has infected over
375,000 people in the Atlanta
region and killed 5,741.
16% of those cases were
attributed to those 60 years or
older, yet this same age cohort
of older adults accounted for
84% of COVID-19 deaths in the
10-county Atlanta region.
Source: Georgia DPH as of April 30, 2021

11. May 2021
11
Social Isolation
According to the CDC, on average women live
about 5 years longer than men in the United
States.
The dark red areas on this map indicate
populations where a greater proportion of
householders 65 years or older are living alone.
Many older adults in the Atlanta region
experience isolation, which has been shown to
have adverse health effects on par with smoking
15 cigarettes per day.
Source: American Community Survey 2019; National Center for Health Statistics, Changes in Life Expectancy at Birth, 2010–2018; AARP; http://data.neighborhoodnexus.org/

12. May 2021
12
Metro Atlanta Speaks 2020: Biggest Problem?
Crime and Public Health are the top concerns for people 65 years or older in the Atlanta region, while the
youngest age cohort of ages 18-34 is evenly concerned about Public Health, Race Relations, Crime, and the
Economy.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey 2020
14.2% 13.5% 13.7% 14.4%
21.6%
17.7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
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18-34 65+ Overall

13. May 2021
13
Metro Atlanta Speaks 2020: The Future?
Despite the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults in the Atlanta region remain
resilient and optimistic. More than 70% of respondents aged 65+ thought that metro Atlanta area living
conditions in the next 3-4 years would be better or the same as today.
Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey 2020

14. QUESTIONS?
May 2021
Maria Sotnikova
msotnikova@atlantaregional.org
14
Source: https://33n.atlantaregional.com/monday-mapday/two-decades-of-changing-senior-cohorts-a-dashboard-dive