Many policy analysts take a narrow view toward assessing demographic change of state elderly populations by focusing only on the migration component. This article examines how 1990 state elderly populations have been affected by "new elderly births" (a state's population ages 55-59 in 1985 who survive to ages 60-64 in 1990) as well as by migration components, over the 1985-90 period. It utilizes 1990 Census migration tabulations of the residence 5-years-ago question, along with demographic decomposition analysis. During this period, elderly births exerted a greater impact than migration on elderly gains and demographic compositions for all states. Migration from abroad is also important for state Latino and Asian elderly populations.

Data used: Census: U.S., 1990.