According to an analysis of Current Population Survey data, in 2005, Americans aged 55 to 64 formed small businesses at the highest rate of any age group; 0.34 percent of adults ages 55-64 started a new business per month. Rates of entrepreneurial activity were lowest for the youngest (ages 20-34) at 0.26% and oldest (ages 65 and older) at 0.21%. Rates for adults ages 35-44 and 45-54 were 0.30% and 0.29% respectively. (Table 4, p. 6)

Fairlie, R. W. (2006). Kauffman index of entrepreneurial activity: National report 1996-2005. Kansas City, MO: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.kauffman.org/pdf/KIEA_national_052206.pdf

The Kaufman Index presents the percent of the population of adult non-business owners who start a business each month, using matched data from the 1996-2005 Current Population Survey (CPS) to examine changes in the rate of entrepreneurial activity in the United States over the last decade.

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