January 4, 2006

Number of Americans receiving benefits on Dec. 31, 1970-2005

1970 25,700,924

1971 26,817,466

1972 28,075,659

1973 29,513,677

1974 30,575,739

1975 31,861,668

1976 32,835,497

1977 33,923,098

1978 34,453,027

1979 35,012,958

1980 35,526,086

1981 35,930,048

1982 35,777,795

1983 36,033,976

1984 36,438,574

1985 37,026,698

1986 37,683,434

1987 38,171,185

1988 38,612,903

1989 39,141,080

1990 39,824,692

1991 40,586,874

1992 41,503,506

1993 42,243,262

1994 42,881,850

1995 43,386,232

1996 43,736,183

1997 43,970,692

1998 44,245,506

1999 44,595,481

2000 45,414,705

2001 45,877,465

2002 46,444,296

2003 47,038,475

2004 47,687,713

2005 48,434,436

SOURCE: Social Security Administration

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