States where people live the longest

A growing number of Americans are living to age 100. Nationwide, the centenarian population has grown 65.8 percent over the past three decades, from 32,194 people who were age 100 or older in 1980 to 53,364 centenarians in 2010, according to new Census Bureau data.

In contrast, the total population has increased 36.3 percent over the same time period.

Here’s a look at the states where people are the most likely to celebrate their 100th birthday:

North Dakota. Although North Dakota is home to only 221 centenarians, they make up 0.032 percent of the population in this sparsely populated state, the biggest proportion of any state. North Dakota is the only state with more than three centenarians for every 10,000 people.

South Dakota. People age 100 and older make up 0.03 percent of the population in neighboring South Dakota. The state had 240 centenarians in 2010, according to new Census Bureau data.

Iowa. In Iowa, 0.028 percent of residents have reached age 100. The state had 846 centenarians, according to the most recent Census.

Nebraska. There were 501 Nebraska centenarians in 2010, which accounts for about 0.027 percent of the state’s population.

Connecticut. In Connecticut, 930 people had reached their 100th birthday in 2010. Some 0.026 percent of the population can claim to have three digits in their age.

New York. New York state has 4,605 centenarians, which is second only to California (5,921 centenarians). But a much larger proportion of New York’s population is age 100 or older (0.024 percent), compared with California (0.016 percent).

Rhode Island. Some 0.024 percent of Rhode Island’s residents are age 100 and older. This small state has 247 centenarians, and could have more in the decades to come. Rhode Island is also among the states with the highest percentages of people in their 80s.

Massachusetts. There are 1,520 people age 100 and older in Massachusetts, which accounts for 0.023 percent of the population. And 50,258 Massachusetts residents are in their 90s.

Minnesota. In 2010, there were 1,211 Minnesota residents who had reached age 100. That’s about 0.023 percent of Minnesota’s over-5.3 million population.

Hawaii. The islands of Hawaii were home to about 1.4 million people in 2010, and 306 of them were age 100 or older.


/U.S.News/