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37.1 million people provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–2022

October 02, 2023

Approximately 37.1 million people, or 13.9 percent of the U.S. civilian population age 15 and older, provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–2022. Individuals ages 45 to 54 (20.0 percent) and 55 to 64 (21.2 percent) were the most likely to provide eldercare, followed by those ages 65 and over (14.8 percent). Among people age 15 and older, 16.0 percent of women and 11.7 percent of men were eldercare providers.

Percent of the U.S. population age 15 and older who were eldercare providers, by age and sex, averages for the combined years 2021–22
Age Total, men and women Men Women

Total, all ages

13.9 11.7 16.0

15 to 24 years

8.6 9.3 8.0

25 to 34 years

7.3 6.4 8.1

35 to 44 years

11.9 10.1 13.6

45 to 54 years

20.0 15.1 24.7

55 to 64 years

21.2 18.6 23.7

65 years and older

14.8 11.5 17.6

On an average day, 27.5 percent of eldercare providers engaged in eldercare. Compared with those in other age groups, eldercare providers who were age 65 and older were the most likely to provide care on a given day (38.4 percent).

Percent of eldercare providers who provided care on an average day, by selected characteristics, averages for the combined years 2021–22
Characteristic Percent

Total, 15 years and over

27.5

Age

15 to 24 years

15.4

25 to 34 years

22.2

35 to 44 years

20.6

45 to 54 years

24.2

55 to 64 years

30.9

65 years and older

38.4

Sex

Men

26.9

Women

27.8

Employment status

Employed

22.0

Not employed

36.1

Note: Persons who are not employed include those classified as unemployed as well as those classified as not in the labor force.

Among eldercare providers, there was little difference between the share of men and women who provided eldercare on a given day (26.9 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively). In 2021–2022, eldercare providers who were not employed were more likely to provide care on a given day than eldercare providers who were employed (36.1 percent, compared with 22.0 percent).

These data are from the American Time Use Survey. Eldercare providers are people who provide unpaid care to someone age 65 and older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. For more information, see "Unpaid Eldercare in the United States — 2021–2022." Also see more charts on American Time Use Survey data.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 37.1 million people provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–2022 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/37-1-million-people-provided-unpaid-eldercare-in-2021-2022.htm (visited October 30, 2024).

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