GITNUXREPORT 2025

Ageism Statistics

Ageism affects nearly every aspect of older adults' lives and well-being.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Ageism costs the U.S. economy approximately $63 billion annually in lost productivity

Statistic 2

Older workers have nearly twice the unemployment rate of younger workers

Statistic 3

The economic cost of ageism in the workplace includes higher turnover rates among older employees, estimated at $12 billion annually

Statistic 4

Older adults in the U.S. are three times more likely to experience discrimination in healthcare settings

Statistic 5

About 70% of people aged 60+ feel that ageism impacts their mental health negatively

Statistic 6

68% of seniors experience ageism sometimes or often in healthcare

Statistic 7

The likelihood of receiving adequate healthcare diminishes notably for patients over 75 due to ageist assumptions

Statistic 8

Age-related stereotypes are often internalized, affecting self-esteem and mental health in older individuals

Statistic 9

Ageism contributes to poor mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety, among older adults, with 35% reporting increased symptoms

Statistic 10

Only 9% of clinical trials include sufficient participants over age 75, leading to gaps in healthcare for seniors

Statistic 11

Ageist attitudes are prevalent in media, with less than 10% of characters in top movies being over 60 years old

Statistic 12

Only 15% of media advertisements feature older adults, reflecting negative stereotypes

Statistic 13

Ageist advertising influences consumer behavior, with 30% of older consumers reporting they feel invisible or ignored by brands

Statistic 14

In a survey, 54% of respondents aged 50+ reported experiencing negative stereotypes about aging in media

Statistic 15

Nearly 50% of adults aged 45 and older have experienced age discrimination in at least one area of life

Statistic 16

61% of Americans believe that older workers are less productive than younger ones

Statistic 17

Nearly 85% of older adults have experienced some form of ageism in their lifetime

Statistic 18

Only 14% of people aged 50 and above feel they are regarded as valuable in society

Statistic 19

In a survey, 70% of older adults reported feeling invisible or ignored

Statistic 20

Only 20% of older adults feel they are treated with dignity and respect by healthcare providers

Statistic 21

45% of Americans believe that society favors youth over age

Statistic 22

Retirement age is often delayed due to ageist assumptions about an older person’s capability

Statistic 23

78% of seniors report experiencing age-related bias in their daily lives

Statistic 24

80% of older adults believe they are perceived negatively because of their age

Statistic 25

Research shows that ageist attitudes can be corrected through intergenerational contact

Statistic 26

56% of people aged 45+ report encountering stereotypes about aging and productivity

Statistic 27

Ageism can lead to social isolation, with over 30% of seniors reporting loneliness due to societal bias

Statistic 28

Younger generations (18-29 years) are more likely to hold ageist attitudes than older generations

Statistic 29

Over 70% of older adults say they experience age discrimination on a weekly basis

Statistic 30

Nearly 40% of older adults in nursing homes have reported experiencing neglect or abuse linked to societal biases

Statistic 31

Cultural stereotypes can influence perceptions of aging, with some cultures venerating elders while others marginalize them

Statistic 32

65% of older adults feel that societal messages about aging are generally negative, impacting their outlook on life

Statistic 33

Approximately 45 million people worldwide are over age 60, with aging populations contributing to increased societal ageism

Statistic 34

Ageism can influence policy decisions, often leading to inadequate social and health services for older populations

Statistic 35

Older adults with higher educational levels report fewer experiences of age discrimination, indicating education's protective effect

Statistic 36

About 60% of workers aged 55+ have seen or experienced age discrimination at work

Statistic 37

Age discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased by 8% from 2020 to 2022

Statistic 38

The median age of first-time job applicants reports age 50+ reduces drastically due to discrimination

Statistic 39

25% of employers admit to having a bias against hiring older workers

Statistic 40

Age discrimination is the second most common form of workplace discrimination in the US, after race

Statistic 41

Nearly 74% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they would consider delaying retirement due to economic uncertainty linked to age discrimination

Statistic 42

Only 28% of the workforce feels fully valued and respected regardless of age

Statistic 43

The prevalence of age-based hiring discrimination is 10-15%, according to recent studies

Statistic 44

The rate of employment among seniors over age 65 has increased by 25% over the last decade, partially due to ageism deterring early retirement

Statistic 45

Women over 50 face higher levels of age discrimination than men, particularly in employment

Slide 1 of 45

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Nearly 50% of adults aged 45 and older have experienced age discrimination in at least one area of life
About 60% of workers aged 55+ have seen or experienced age discrimination at work
Older adults in the U.S. are three times more likely to experience discrimination in healthcare settings
61% of Americans believe that older workers are less productive than younger ones
Age discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased by 8% from 2020 to 2022
Nearly 85% of older adults have experienced some form of ageism in their lifetime
Only 14% of people aged 50 and above feel they are regarded as valuable in society
Ageism costs the U.S. economy approximately $63 billion annually in lost productivity
In a survey, 70% of older adults reported feeling invisible or ignored
Only 20% of older adults feel they are treated with dignity and respect by healthcare providers
The median age of first-time job applicants reports age 50+ reduces drastically due to discrimination
45% of Americans believe that society favors youth over age
Ageist attitudes are prevalent in media, with less than 10% of characters in top movies being over 60 years old

Despite nearly half of adults aged 45 and older experiencing age discrimination in various facets of life, ageism remains an insidious and pervasive problem in the United States—impacting everything from employment and healthcare to societal perceptions and mental health.

Economic Impact and Policy Implications

Ageism costs the U.S. economy approximately $63 billion annually in lost productivity
Older workers have nearly twice the unemployment rate of younger workers
The economic cost of ageism in the workplace includes higher turnover rates among older employees, estimated at $12 billion annually

Economic Impact and Policy Implications Interpretation

Ageism in the workplace isn’t just a moral failing; it's a $75 billion productivity sinkhole, with older workers facing nearly double the unemployment rate and driving up costs through higher turnover—proof that dismissing experience is bad for business.

Health, Well-being, and Mental Health

Older adults in the U.S. are three times more likely to experience discrimination in healthcare settings
About 70% of people aged 60+ feel that ageism impacts their mental health negatively
68% of seniors experience ageism sometimes or often in healthcare
The likelihood of receiving adequate healthcare diminishes notably for patients over 75 due to ageist assumptions
Age-related stereotypes are often internalized, affecting self-esteem and mental health in older individuals
Ageism contributes to poor mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety, among older adults, with 35% reporting increased symptoms
Only 9% of clinical trials include sufficient participants over age 75, leading to gaps in healthcare for seniors

Health, Well-being, and Mental Health Interpretation

Despite constituting a vital segment of our society, older adults face a staggering threefold increase in healthcare discrimination and internalized stereotypes that erode their mental health, all while being systematically underrepresented in clinical research—highlighting a profound ageist paradox that jeopardizes their well-being and perpetuates neglect.

Media Representation and Stereotypes

Ageist attitudes are prevalent in media, with less than 10% of characters in top movies being over 60 years old
Only 15% of media advertisements feature older adults, reflecting negative stereotypes
Ageist advertising influences consumer behavior, with 30% of older consumers reporting they feel invisible or ignored by brands
In a survey, 54% of respondents aged 50+ reported experiencing negative stereotypes about aging in media

Media Representation and Stereotypes Interpretation

Despite comprising a significant portion of the population, older adults remain largely invisible and stereotyped in media and advertising, revealing that ageism persists as a deeply ingrained bias that still needs challenging and changing.

Societal Attitudes and Cultural Perceptions

Nearly 50% of adults aged 45 and older have experienced age discrimination in at least one area of life
61% of Americans believe that older workers are less productive than younger ones
Nearly 85% of older adults have experienced some form of ageism in their lifetime
Only 14% of people aged 50 and above feel they are regarded as valuable in society
In a survey, 70% of older adults reported feeling invisible or ignored
Only 20% of older adults feel they are treated with dignity and respect by healthcare providers
45% of Americans believe that society favors youth over age
Retirement age is often delayed due to ageist assumptions about an older person’s capability
78% of seniors report experiencing age-related bias in their daily lives
80% of older adults believe they are perceived negatively because of their age
Research shows that ageist attitudes can be corrected through intergenerational contact
56% of people aged 45+ report encountering stereotypes about aging and productivity
Ageism can lead to social isolation, with over 30% of seniors reporting loneliness due to societal bias
Younger generations (18-29 years) are more likely to hold ageist attitudes than older generations
Over 70% of older adults say they experience age discrimination on a weekly basis
Nearly 40% of older adults in nursing homes have reported experiencing neglect or abuse linked to societal biases
Cultural stereotypes can influence perceptions of aging, with some cultures venerating elders while others marginalize them
65% of older adults feel that societal messages about aging are generally negative, impacting their outlook on life
Approximately 45 million people worldwide are over age 60, with aging populations contributing to increased societal ageism
Ageism can influence policy decisions, often leading to inadequate social and health services for older populations
Older adults with higher educational levels report fewer experiences of age discrimination, indicating education's protective effect

Societal Attitudes and Cultural Perceptions Interpretation

Despite representing nearly a tenth of the global population, older adults—whose voices are dismissed, their contributions undervalued, and their dignity compromised—continue to face pervasive ageism, revealing that societal bias against aging remains one of our most stubborn and systemic prejudices needing urgent correction through awareness, intergenerational contact, and policy reform.

Workplace Discrimination and Employment Opportunities

About 60% of workers aged 55+ have seen or experienced age discrimination at work
Age discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased by 8% from 2020 to 2022
The median age of first-time job applicants reports age 50+ reduces drastically due to discrimination
25% of employers admit to having a bias against hiring older workers
Age discrimination is the second most common form of workplace discrimination in the US, after race
Nearly 74% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they would consider delaying retirement due to economic uncertainty linked to age discrimination
Only 28% of the workforce feels fully valued and respected regardless of age
The prevalence of age-based hiring discrimination is 10-15%, according to recent studies
The rate of employment among seniors over age 65 has increased by 25% over the last decade, partially due to ageism deterring early retirement
Women over 50 face higher levels of age discrimination than men, particularly in employment

Workplace Discrimination and Employment Opportunities Interpretation

Despite a rising senior workforce and increasing complaints, ageism persists as a covert career barrier—highlighting a paradox where experience is undervalued, economic fears fuel delay in retirement, and bias disproportionately affects women over 50, making it clear that in the workplace, age remains both a statistic and a stereotype in need of urgent reform.