The poverty rate for persons age 50 and older, of all races and ethnicity, decreased by 22.7% from 11.5% in 1980 to 8.9% in 2000.

The poverty rate for nonwhite persons age 50 and older decreased by 40.2% from 27.7% in 1980 to 16.6% in 2000.

The poverty rate for white persons age 50 and older decreased by 19.8% from 9.7% in 1980 to 7.8% in 2000.

AARP. (2002, May). Beyond 50: summary tables and charts. Research report. (Table: Poverty). Washington, DC: Gist, J., Figueiredo, C., & Ng-Baumhackl, M. Retrieved July 15, 2005, from http://www.aarp.org/research/reference/statistics/aresearch-import-298.html

"Through its analysis of both the status quo and developing trends, Beyond 50: A Report to the Nation on Economic Security provides readers with an in-depth look at the well-being of more than one-quarter of Americans - the 76 million people age 50 and older in 2000."