This report presents a statistical portrait of the demographic aspects of aging and the older population in the Unites States. Most of the estimates are based on data from decennial censuses, the program of nonsurvey population estimates and projections carried out by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the Current Population Survey, and other census and government statistics. The sample population is divided into four age groups: 55 years and over, 65 years and over, 75 years and over, and 85 years and over. Chapter one presents a brief introduction on the nature of demographic aging. Chapter two examines the numbers and proportions of older persons in the United States. Chapter three breaks the groups down by sex and race composition. Chapter four provides data on geographic distribution and internal migration. Chapter five surveys various factors of mortality and survival including quantity vs. quality of life, life expectancy, sex differences, race differences, causes of death, geographic variation, and prospects for mortality reduction. Chapter six considers the major social and economic characteristics of the older population including marital status and living arrangement, educational attainment, labor force participation, and income level. Appendices include reliability tables of the estimates. (DE)