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Fact: Today, there are 70 million grandparents in the nation.

Grandparents represent one-third of the population with 1.7 million new grandparents added to the ranks every year.

Grandparents lead 37% of all U.S. households in this country — that’s 44 million households nationwide. And that number is increasing at twice the average annual rate of U.S. households overall — with the number to hit 50 million by 2015.

Fact: Grandparents love being grandparents.

72% think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life

think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life 63% say they can do a better job caring for grandchildren than they did with their own

say they can do a better job caring for grandchildren than they did with their own 68% think being a grandparent brings them closer to their adult children

think being a grandparent brings them closer to their adult children 90% enjoy talking about their grandkids to just about everyone

Fact: They are younger than ever before.

43% became grandparents in their fifties, 37% in their forties, with the average age of grandparents in this country at 48.

By 2010, more than 50% of the grandparent population will be baby boomers — by 2015, it will increase to nearly 60%.

Fact: Grandparents are active.

43% exercise or play sports

exercise or play sports 28% volunteer on a regular basis

volunteer on a regular basis 18% dance

Fact: They are intellectually curious.

71% say reading is one of their favorite activities

say reading is one of their favorite activities 86% read a newspaper in print or online

Fact: Grandparents are wired.

75% are online

are online 70% use search engines to find information

use search engines to find information 63% shop online

shop online 30% instant message

instant message 56% share photos online

share photos online 46% bank online

bank online 45% are on social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Yahoo! Groups

Fact: Grandparents are in the workforce.

60% still have a full-time or part-time job

still have a full-time or part-time job 23% have started their own business

Fact: They are becoming more modern

33% have been married more than once

have been married more than once 38% report having sex at least twice a week

report having sex at least twice a week 10% have a tattoo

have a tattoo 15% have demonstrated for a cause

have demonstrated for a cause 17% have attended a rally

have attended a rally 7% have used recreational drugs

have used recreational drugs 6% have started a blog

have started a blog 3% have run a marathon

have run a marathon 2% have gone skydiving

Fact: Grandparents have money.

They control 75% of the wealth in this country.

of the wealth in this country. They have the highest average net worth of any other age group ($254,000).

of any other age group ($254,000). By 2010, they will earn the highest average income.

They spend $2 trillion every year on consumer goods and services.

every year on consumer goods and services. 55% no longer carry a mortgage

Fact: They are generous with money and time.

They make 45% of the nation’s cash contributions to nonprofit organizations.

of the nation’s cash contributions to nonprofit organizations. They account for 42% of all consumer spending on gifts.

of all consumer spending on gifts. 15% have volunteered at a shelter

Fact: They support their adult children and grandchildren financially

They spend $52 billion every year on their grandkids alone.

billion every year on their grandkids alone. They spend $32 billion on education-related costs.

billion on education-related costs. 62% have provided financial support to their adult children and grandchildren in the last 12 months: 23% on daycare 40% on housing (mortgage or rent) 21% on education 70% on cash for day-to-day expenses 24% on health care

have provided financial support to their adult children and grandchildren in the last 12 months:

Fact: Grandparents just want to have fun.

They spend $100 billion each year on entertainment.

billion each year on entertainment. They spend $77 billion each year on travel.

Fact: They like to spend time with their grandkids.

60% live close to their grandchildren

live close to their grandchildren 46% wish they could live even closer

wish they could live even closer 70% see the kids at least once a week

see the kids at least once a week 66% travel with their grandkids

travel with their grandkids 81% have their grandkids for part or all of their summer vacation

have their grandkids for part or all of their summer vacation 55% play video games with their grandchildren

Fact: Grandparents take care of their grandkids.

72% take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis

take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis 13% are primary caregivers

are primary caregivers 92% have changed their grandchild’s diaper

have changed their grandchild’s diaper 64% accompany their adult children or grandchildren to the doctor

accompany their adult children or grandchildren to the doctor 86% bake cookies for their family

Fact: Many grandparents live under the same roof as their grandkids

6.2 million — or 5.3% of all U.S. households — are now multigenerational — up from 5 million in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey.

Fact: 66% of grandparents have never celebrated grandparents day.

Sources: Grandparents.com internal survey, 2103; Metlife survey “Grandparents Investing in Grandchildren“; Pew Research Center report