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Show Population by Age: Utah and United States Compiled by Dan Bergantz 2000 Utah Median Age: 27.0 years An important component in the analysis of population is the examination of age cohorts. Both the health and healthcare utilization of populations vary by age cohort. Generally, individuals comprising the younger and older age cohorts tend to utilize more healthcare services than individuals in the middle cohorts. In addition, healthcare costs for elderly individuals tend to be higher due to factors such as longer hospital stays and long-term use of Pharmaceuticals. For the past twenty years, Utah's population has remained younger than the overall U.S. population (Table 4). As of 2000, the median age of Utahans was the youngest of any state and a full eight years younger than the median age of the U.S. population. However, in examining the changes of cohorts over the past twenty years (Figure 3), Utah's elderly population has increased by a greater percentage than the elderly population of the U.S. Since elderly populations are predicted to continue to grow, both Utah and the nation face the challenge of caring for aging populations. Table 4. Population Distribution by Age Cohort, Percent of Total, Utah and U.S., 1980-2000. Age (years) Year Utah U.S. <5 1980 13.0% 7.2% 1990 10.0% 7.5% 2000s 9.4% 6.8% 5-17 1980 24.0% 22.7% 1990 26.5% 19.6% 20008 22.8% 18.9% 18-64 1980 55.5% 60.8% 1990 54.8% 61.8% 2000a 59.3% 61.9% >65 1980 7.5% 11.3% 1990 8.7% 12.6% 2000a 8.5% 12.4% Median Age 1980 24.0 30.0 (years) 1990 26.0 32.8 2000 27.0 35.3 aRevised from preliminary data presented in 2001 Utah's Health: An Annual Review. 100% - 90% - 80% - it Change 70% -60% -50% - cer 40% - Per 30% -20% - 10% - 0% - DUtah I U.S. 75.2% 64.1% Figure 3. Percent Increase in Population by Age Cohort, Utah and US, 1980-2000. Sources: Utah Governors Office of Planning and Budget (2002). 2002 Economic Report to the Governor. Salt Lake City: Government Printing Office. U. S. Census Bureau (2002). 2001 Statistical Abstract of the United States. [Online] http://www.census.gov/statab/www/. Retrieved 3/5/02. Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume VIII 51 |