Presents, for the Nation as a whole, characteristics for persons 85 years and older (in four age groups to 105 years and over) by sex, race, social, and economic characteristics. These characteristics include living arrangements, household relationships, marital status, income in 1979, those living in poverty by sex and race, highest school grade attended, place of birth (whether United States or other country), U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization; language spoken at home, ability to speak English, and ancestry.

Tables cover the United States and each State for persons 100 years and over (in three age groups to 110 years and over): by sex, marital status, institutionalization, educational attainment, and income in 1979.

This report was prepared by the Census Bureau for the National Institute on Aging.