Age

• Age Distribution Over Time
• Age Distribution by race and ethnicity
• Age Distribution by Subregion
• Gender and Age Distribution
• Age Dependency Ratio

Longitudinal Trends (2000, 2008, 2013):

• Between 2000 and 2008 age categories from 0-44 are all declining as percentages of the total age distribution, age 75-84 is the single older age group showing a decrease as a percentage

Read a caution on interpreting this data

Key Data

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2008 Update (Census Tract Level)

Ages 0-6

• This age category was showing declining numbers in the middle of this decade but is currently showing an increase.  In the last eight years this population has increased by 9,122.
• This age group has decreased as a percent of the total age distribution 

Age 21-24

• This population experienced the second largest decrease with 6,878 fewer people, a decrease of 7.3%.
• This age group represented 5.4% of the population in 2000, 4.7% in 2008
• Estimated to be down to 4.6% in 2013.

Age 25-34

• This population saw the biggest decrease in age distribution with a loss of 42,177 (14.3%) between 2000 and 2008.
• This age group made up 17.0% of the population in 2000 and is down to 13.5% in 2008.
• It is estimated to decline to 11.7% of the population by 2013.

Age 55-59

• Age 55-59 grew as the largest percentage of the total King County population increasing from 4.8% to 7.0% between 2000 and 2008, an increase of 47,155.
• In 2013 this population is estimated to represent 7.5% of the population.
• The 2000-2008 growth rate is 56.5%.

Age 60-64

• Edging out the 55-59 age group, the 60-64 age group witnessed the largest percentage increase with 67.9% between 2000 and 2008.
• In 2000 this population represented 3.3% of the age distribution; in 2008 it was 5.2%; and
• In 2013 this age demographic is estimated to be 6.6%.

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Age Distribution By Race and Ethnicity

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2008 Update (Census Tract Level)

Ages 0-6

• The Race Category White has the lowest percentage of its age distribution in the category 0-6.
• The Hispanic/Latino ethnicity shows 14.4% of its population in this age range.  The Race categories "Other" and "Two or More" are both above 14%

Ages 7-17

• The Race Category White has the lowest percentage of its age distribution in this age category at 12.0%.
• The Asian population shows the second lowest proportion of its population in this age group at 13.5%
• Most racial categories and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity range between 17.2%-18.6% in this age range
• The population group "Two or More races" shows the highest percentage of its age group in this range showing 21.4%.

Ages 18-64

• All races but the group "Two or More Races" record between 63%-68% of their populations in this age grouping
• Two or More Races record 55.4% of its age distribution in this range
• Two percent of the White Race category is age 85+.  No other race is above 1.0%. 

Ages 65-74

This age group varies quite a bit by race

• White population records 10.4% of its population are in this age distribution
• This is followed closely by 9.0%
• The racial group "Other" records 2.5% of its population in this age group making it the lowest proportion

Age 85+

• Two percent of the White Race category is age 85+.  No other race is above 1.0%. 

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Age Distribution By Subregion

A look at age distributions allows assessment of the concentrations of people moving through various life stages. First is the 0-6 age grouping showing the population where childcare, early development and early elementary school are seen as major issues. This is followed by the school age 7–17, where academic achievement, maturing and transition towards adult life are taking place. Next is the 18-64 age range, representing the traditional working and parenting group. Age 65+ is the life stage where people are finishing careers, planning for, entering and living in retirement. Further analysis of these life stages can be found under the heading Age Dependency Ratio.

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2008 Update (Census Tract Level)

Age 0-6

• There are 158,908 0-6 year olds representing 8.5% of the population.
• Population ranges from 6.4% in Seattle to 10.1% of the South King County population.

Age 7-17

• Age 7-17 includes 246,198 youth representing 13.2% of King County.
• South King County has the highest percentage with 15.4% while Seattle has the lowest rate with 9.5% of its regional population falling in this age group.

Age 18-64

• This age distribution is traditionally referred to as the working years.
• The distribution includes 1,250,376 persons.
• This age group makes up 67.2% of the population.
• Seattle has the highest concentration with 72.2% of the population. The balance of the county was all within 3% of the average. 

Age 65-84

• This age distribution currently includes 175,121 persons.
• This age group makes up 9.4% of the population.
• North King County has the highest population representing 9.9% with South King County with a low rate of 8.9%

Age 85+

Age 85+ is sometimes lumped in with the 65-84 age range but planners are taking note that the health, mobility and financial realties of this age group are distinct from the younger retirees

• This age group includes 31,188 persons.
• This group represents 1.7% of the population.
• South King County reports the lowest percentage at 1.3% and Seattle having the highest population at 2.2%.

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Gender and Age Distribution

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2008 Update (Census Tract Level)

• The female population currently represents 50.0% of the King County population behind the male population by 1,702 persons.

• Beginning with the distribution from age 65-84, women become the majority, outnumbering males by 16,195. Females make up 54.6% of this population.

• In the population age 85 and older, females outnumber males by 11,030. Females make up 67.7% of the total population for this age distribution.

Source:  Public Health - Seattle & King County

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Age Dependency Ratio

One method of anticipating the potential impact of the distribution of ages of the population is to examine the Age Dependency Ratio (ADR). The ADR formula assumes that the greater the number of people less than age 18 and over 64 the greater the economic load traditional working age people age 18 to 64 will have to carry. The ADR calculation divides the sum of youth (0-17) and old adults (65+) by the population age 18 to 64 multiplying the result by 100.

Key Facts

• ADR appears fairly steady over time, beginning in 2000 with an ADR of 49.2 then dipping slightly to 48.9 in 2008 before increasing to 52.6 in 2013.
• Because the ADR combines both the youth population and older adult population as a single ratio, the changes in these sub-populations is understated when rolled up.

Youth ADR (0-18)

• Population is increasing at a slow rate going from 390,646 in 2000 to an estimated 405,107 in 2013.
• In turn, the Youth ADR has dropped from 33.5 to 32.7 in this time frame.

Older Adult ADR (65+)

• Over the same period the first wave of baby boomers is beginning to turn 65 and is starting to register in the Older Adult ADR.
• In 2000 the population was 181,772 and by 2013 it is expected to be 206,309 changing the Older Adult ADR from 15.6 to 19.9.

 Download Data |Source: Claritas 2008 Update (Census Tract Level)

The adjustments in these two populations mean the traditional working population continues to support approximately the same ratio of dependents, but the mix and resulting long-term ramifications call for a vastly different set of services and supports. Over time, the dual affects of the baby boomers exit from the workforce and the vast improvement in life expectancy rates will also continue to impact the growing size of the older adult ADR population.

• Overall Washington State ADR was ranked # 48 in the nation with an ADR of 55.1% while the national average is 60.0% in 2005.

• The overall ADR has decreased from 2000 to 2008 but is expected to increase by 2013.

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