Demographics
Breaking Down the Veteran Population in the U.S.
![Breaking Down the Veteran Population in the U.S.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.voronoiapp.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fvoronoi-Breaking-Down-the-Veteran-Population-in-the-US-20240510132014.webp&w=3840&q=75)
In 2022, over half of living American veterans, over 8.2 million, served during two Gulf Wars — first between August 1990 and August 2001 (4.26 million), then between September 2001 and today (3.96 million). Over one-third of living veterans, more than 5.4 million, served in Vietnam. The Census also reported 795,600 living veterans who served in the Korean War or World War II.
Dataset
Years | Gulf War (9/2001 or later) veterans | Gulf War (8/1990 to 8/2001) veterans | Vietnam era veterans | Korean War veterans | World War II veterans |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 33.40% | 13.70% | 14.70% | ||
2006 | 33.50% | 13.30% | 13.90% | ||
2007 | 7.80% | 14.90% | 33.70% | 13.10% | 12.80% |
2008 | 8.00% | 15.30% | 34.40% | 12.90% | 11.90% |
2009 | 8.70% | 15.60% | 34.70% | 12.40% | 10.70% |
2010 | 10.50% | 15.80% | 34.90% | 11.80% | 9.50% |
2011 | 11.60% | 16.50% | 35.00% | 11.30% | 8.50% |
2012 | 12.92% | 17.12% | 34.90% | 10.90% | 7.50% |
2013 | 14.02% | 18.22% | 35.60% | 10.70% | 6.70% |
2014 | 15.30% | 18.80% | 36.10% | 10.20% | 5.80% |
2015 | 16.60% | 19.40% | 36.00% | 9.40% | 4.90% |
2016 | 18.00% | 20.10% | 36.10% | 8.90% | 4.20% |
2017 | 19.40% | 20.80% | 35.70% | 8.10% | 3.40% |
2018 | 21.00% | 21.20% | 35.50% | 7.30% | 2.70% |
2019 | 21.70% | 22.00% | 35.60% | 6.60% | 2.20% |
2021 | 24.60% | 23.80% | 34.20% | 4.90% | 1.10% |
2022 | 26.30% | 24.40% | 33.60% | 4.10% | 0.80% |
Data sources
Data for 2020 is unavailable due to pandemic-related survey issues. Periods of service are not mutually exclusive. Some veterans may have served in more than on war and therefore counted more than once. Veteran data for Gulf Wars available beginning in 2007.
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