Americans aged 50 and older generate enough economic activity annually to rank as the world’s third-largest economy, behind only the U.S. and China, according to a new AARP study.
Why it matters: “The Longevity Economy Outlook 2026” found that older adults produced an estimated $12.5 trillion in economic activity in 2024, a contribution that indirectly sustained 98 million U.S. jobs for workers of all ages. Older adults also provided the equivalent of $1.2 trillion in unpaid care and volunteering in 2024.
The big picture: Countering the perception that an aging population strains the nation’s finances, the report shows that older adults’ contributions are a major driver of the U.S. economy and are becoming more so.
That impact will continue to grow. By 2060, as adults 50 and older come to represent 41 percent of the population, up from about 36 percent now, their economic contribution is expected to nearly double to $24 trillion, says the report.
