America's 16 million veterans, by the war they served in
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The United States has 16,185,883 living veterans. The largest group by far served during the Vietnam era, at 5,359,681 people. World War II veterans now number 156,874, fewer than 1 percent of the total.
| Service era | Living veterans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam era | 5,359,681 | 33.1% |
| Post-9/11 (Gulf War, 2001 or later) | 4,266,376 | 26.4% |
| Gulf War (1990s) | 3,931,621 | 24.3% |
| Korean War era | 727,890 | 4.5% |
| World War II | 156,874 | 1.0% |
The categories can overlap, because someone who served across two periods is counted in both, and the shares do not sum to 100 because peacetime-only service falls outside these eras.
The Vietnam vets are aging out
American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, so the youngest Vietnam-era veterans are now in their seventies and most are older. That group still makes up a third of all living veterans, which is why the veteran population overall skews far older than the adult population.
World War II ended 81 years ago. The 156,874 surviving veterans are almost all past 98. A decade ago that number was well over a million. Korean War veterans, at 727,890, are on the same trajectory roughly a decade behind.
The two Gulf War cohorts together number 8.2 million and now outnumber Vietnam-era veterans. Post-9/11 veterans are the group still growing, since anyone serving today joins it.
Where the newest veterans concentrate
Post-9/11 veterans cluster around active-duty installations, because service members frequently settle near their last posting.
| State | Post-9/11 share of veterans | Total veterans |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 39.2% | 57,477 |
| Virginia | 38.5% | 629,500 |
| District of Columbia | 37.3% | 19,465 |
| Texas | 34.5% | 1,402,357 |
| Hawaii | 33.8% | 87,697 |
| Colorado | 33.5% | 342,276 |
Alaska and Hawaii both host large bases relative to their small populations. Virginia holds the Pentagon, Norfolk Naval Station, and Quantico. Texas has more veterans than any state except California, at 1.4 million, and the highest post-9/11 share of any large state.
The Vietnam-era percentage is the other way, highest in states with little active-duty presence and older populations: Minnesota at 37.6 percent, Maine at 37.5 percent, Oregon at 37.3 percent, Delaware at 37.2 percent, and Michigan at 37.2 percent.
A state whose veterans are mostly Vietnam-era faces demand for geriatric care, Agent Orange-related conditions, and survivor benefits. A state whose veterans are mostly post-9/11 faces demand for employment programs, education benefits, and mental health care for people in their thirties and forties. Where veterans live overall is covered in where America's veterans live.
About 2.2 percent of Americans are covered by VA health care, and veterans make up roughly 6 percent of the adult population. That share is falling as the draft-era cohorts age out and an all-volunteer force produces fewer veterans per generation.
Sources
Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B21002 (period of military service for civilian veterans 18 and over). Era categories are the bureau's and overlap for anyone who served across more than one period, so shares do not sum to 100 percent. State totals are summed from state-level estimates. VA health coverage is from table C27009.
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How many veterans are there in the United States?
About 16,185,883 living veterans, according to American Community Survey data. Vietnam-era veterans are the largest group at 5,359,681, followed by post-9/11 veterans at 4,266,376 and 1990s Gulf War veterans at 3,931,621. Veterans make up roughly 6 percent of the adult population.
How many World War II veterans are still alive?
About 156,874, or roughly 1 percent of all living US veterans. The war ended in 1945, so nearly all surviving veterans are past 98 years old. Korean War era veterans number 727,890 and are on a similar trajectory about a decade behind.
Which states have the newest veterans?
Alaska has the highest post-9/11 share at 39.2 percent of its veterans, followed by Virginia at 38.5 percent and the District of Columbia at 37.3 percent. Service members often settle near their last duty station, so these states track active-duty installations. Vietnam-era veterans concentrate instead in Minnesota, Maine, and Oregon.
