The U.S. Census Bureau has reported a striking increase in Americans aged 100 and older, with the total exceeding 80,000, a 50% rise in just one decade. However, the data show that centenarians are not evenly distributed across states, with certain regions standing out for their high concentration.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico at the Top
Hawaii leads the list with 44.4 centenarians per 100,000 residents, nearly double the national average. Puerto Rico follows with 41.4 per 100,000.
This prominence is attributed to multiple factors, including tropical climates, deep-rooted cultural practices, and diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and seafood—all long associated with healthy aging and longevity.
Other smaller states also show high centenarian densities, such as Rhode Island (39.7 per 100,000), South Dakota (38.7), and Connecticut (36). In contrast, Alaska (12.8), Texas (15.2), and Utah (10.4) rank lowest.
Absolute Numbers: California Leads
When considering absolute numbers, larger states top the list. California has the most centenarians at 10,623, followed by New York (6,921) and Florida (6,580). Yet, relative density remains lower than smaller states like Hawaii or Rhode Island.
Connection to “Blue Zones”
Researchers note that states with higher centenarian densities share traits with the world’s “Blue Zones”—regions known for exceptionally high numbers of people living past 90 and 100.
Dan Buettner identified five main Blue Zones: Ikaria in Greece, Loma Linda in California, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan, and Sardinia in Italy. Common features include plant-based diets, daily physical activity, strong social and family ties, and low stress levels. Experts suggest that Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and some parts of California reflect many of these characteristics, explaining the concentration of centenarians.
Future Demographic Shifts
Although centenarians represent a small share of the U.S. population, their rapid growth poses challenges for healthcare systems, retirement planning, and social services in the coming decades.
Data also show that women continue to dominate the centenarian population, accounting for roughly 79%, though the proportion of men has slightly increased since 2010.