In 2000, there were 252,895 adults 65 years old and older in Harris County, accounting for 7.4% of the total population. By 2036, Houston's 200th birthday, adults over 65 will number 865,000 and make up 16% of the population. By 2040, the number will climb to 985,000, almost three times the current number.

Harris County is a diverse community, with its percentages of African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians larger than those of the nation and its percentage of whites lower than that of the nation. Growth among minority populations in Harris County since the 1990 census has been dramatic. The number of Hispanic elders has increased by 91.5%. The number of Asian adults over 65 grew by 140.3%.

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