The population of Americans 65 or older increased by 9.5% to 35.9 million in 2003 from 32.8 million in 1993, according to new government data.

By the year 2030, the population aged 65 and older will more than double to 71.5 million, and the population of people 85 and older is projected to increase from 4.7 million in 2003 to 9.6 million in 2030, according to the online version of “A Profile of Older Americans: 2004,” released May 31 by the Administration on Aging.

Currently, nearly one in eight people in the U.S., or 12.4%, of the population is 65 or older, the profile says. The number of Americans aged 45 to 64 years old has jumped 39% during the past decade.