Residents aged 65 and over
16.5%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Households receiving Social Security
28.8%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Households with retirement income
22.0%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Mean Social Security income per receiving household
$24,531
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Poverty rate, ages 65+
11.8%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Residents 65+
5,920,000
15.2% of population
Social Security beneficiaries
6,200,000
Avg. retirement benefit
$1,850 /mo
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population 65+
1950–202315.2%
Share of residents aged 65 and older.
Senior Population
California's older population is large in absolute terms but a smaller share than nationally.
Residents aged 65 and over
16.5%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Population aged 65 and over
6,524,861
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Residents age 65+
6,804,000
17.5%, ACS 2020–2024
Share of population
17.5%
U.S. share
18.0%
Residents aged 65 and over
2006–202416.5%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of total population, B01001 (2020 not released).
Population aged 65 and over
2006–20246,524,861▲ 66%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B01001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Population age 65+Census QuickFacts, 2020–2024 | 17.5% | 18.0% |
- •California has the largest number of Social Security beneficiaries of any state, while its senior share remains below the U.S. average (SSA and Census).
- •Women age 65 and older receiving Social Security in California outnumbered men by more than 470,000 in December 2023 (SSA).
- •Alpine County, California's least populous county, had only about 250 OASDI beneficiaries in December 2023 (SSA).
Retired Workers
Retired workers form the largest Social Security beneficiary group in California.
Households with retirement income
22.0%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Retired workers
4,935,826
December 2023
Men receiving benefits age 65+
2,423,854
Women receiving benefits age 65+
2,894,483
Households with retirement income
2006–202422%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, pensions and retirement accounts, B19059 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Retired workersSSA, December 2023 | 4,935,826 | 50,148,000 |
- •California has the largest number of Social Security beneficiaries of any state, while its senior share remains below the U.S. average (SSA and Census).
- •Women age 65 and older receiving Social Security in California outnumbered men by more than 470,000 in December 2023 (SSA).
- •Alpine County, California's least populous county, had only about 250 OASDI beneficiaries in December 2023 (SSA).
Benefit Payments
Social Security payments bring more than eleven billion dollars into California each month.
Mean Social Security income per receiving household
$24,531
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
All monthly OASDI benefits
$11,133.8 million
December 2023
Retired-worker benefits
$9,209.5 million per month
Annualized total
$133,605.8 million
Mean Social Security income per receiving household
2006–2024$24,531▲ 79%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, aggregate income B19065 ÷ receiving households B19055 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly OASDI benefitsApproximate U.S. total, December 2023 | $11,133.8 million | $118,900 million |
- •California has the largest number of Social Security beneficiaries of any state, while its senior share remains below the U.S. average (SSA and Census).
- •Women age 65 and older receiving Social Security in California outnumbered men by more than 470,000 in December 2023 (SSA).
- •Alpine County, California's least populous county, had only about 250 OASDI beneficiaries in December 2023 (SSA).
Senior Poverty
Older Californians face a high cost of living, especially for housing and healthcare.
Poverty rate, ages 65+
11.8%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Seniors in poverty
11.4%
Recent ACS estimate
Residents age 85+
780,000
Approximate
Senior share
17.5%
Poverty rate, ages 65+
2006–202411.8%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B17001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Senior poverty rateACS estimate | 11.4% | 10.2% |
- •California has the largest number of Social Security beneficiaries of any state, while its senior share remains below the U.S. average (SSA and Census).
- •Women age 65 and older receiving Social Security in California outnumbered men by more than 470,000 in December 2023 (SSA).
- •Alpine County, California's least populous county, had only about 250 OASDI beneficiaries in December 2023 (SSA).
More figures
Residents 85+
780,000
Seniors in poverty
11.4%
Social Security
More than six million Californians received an OASDI benefit in December 2023.
Households receiving Social Security
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B19055 (2020 not released).