The age distribution of veterans in the United States is an important factor in understanding the needs of the veteran population. As veterans age, their healthcare, economic, and social needs often change. Understanding when large cohorts of veterans served and their current age brackets provides insight into planning for VA benefits and services.
When did most veterans serve?
The majority of living U.S. veterans served during defined wartime periods. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), here is the percentage of living veterans who served during these periods:
- Gulf War (August 1990 to present): 19%
- Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975): 33%
- Korean War (June 1950 to January 1955): 12%
- World War II (December 1941 to December 1946): 3%
This indicates that the largest groups of veterans served during the Vietnam War era and in the recent Gulf War era. Only a small percentage of World War II veterans are still living.
What are the age demographics of veterans?
The VA categorizes veterans into age groups to analyze demographic trends. As of September 2021, here is the percentage breakdown of living veterans by age group:
- Under 35 years old: 4.4%
- 35 to 54 years old: 27.2%
- 55 to 64 years old: 20.9%
- 65 to 74 years old: 22.8%
- 75 and older: 24.7%
This shows that while veterans span all ages, nearly half are above age 65. The largest single group is veterans aged 75 and older.
How does veteran age align with periods of service?
Looking at both when veterans served and their current age groups shows how periods of conflict align with the age brackets of living veterans:
| Period of Service | Current Age of Veterans |
|---|---|
| Gulf War (1990 to present) | Mostly under 55 years old |
| Vietnam era (1964 to 1975) | 55 to 75 years old range |
| Korean War (1950 to 1955) | Over 75 years old |
| World War II (1941 to 1946) | 75 and older |
This demonstrates that more recent veterans from the Gulf War era tend to be in their 30s to 50s, while Vietnam veterans are approaching or already elderly. The older groups like Korean and World War II veterans are advanced in age, many in their 80s and 90s.
How many veterans are 65 or older?
Currently, 47.5% of U.S. veterans are aged 65 or older. This equates to approximately 9.5 million veterans in this age bracket. The VA categorizes these veterans as “elderly.”
Here is a breakdown of the number of veterans 65 years and older by period of service, according to 2021 VA statistics:
- World War II: 220,000 veterans
- Korean War: 1.2 million veterans
- Vietnam era: 5.5 million veterans
- Gulf War: 430,000 veterans
- Peacetime: 2.2 million veterans
This shows that the majority of elderly veterans served during either the Vietnam War or in peacetime periods. However, Korean War veterans also represent a sizable group of over age 65 veterans.
How many veterans are 75 or older?
The VA projects around 4.2 million living veterans, or 24.7% of all U.S. veterans, are aged 75 years or older as of 2021. This group is considered the oldest age bracket of the veteran population.
Within this demographic, around 3 in 4 are war-time veterans according to their service era:
- World War II: 220,000
- Korean War era: nearly 1 million
- Vietnam era: nearly 2 million
The remaining veterans aged 75 and above served during peacetime periods. The very elderly World War II veteran population is declining each year due to age.
What percentage of elderly veterans are Vietnam veterans?
As of 2021, around 5.5 million Vietnam era veterans were aged 65 or older. This represents approximately 58% of all living U.S. veterans 65 and over.
Within the oldest age group of veterans aged 75 years and older, there were nearly 2 million Vietnam veterans. This equates to around 48% of veterans 75 and older.
This highlights that Vietnam veterans comprise a significant proportion of elderly veterans. Over the next 10 to 20 years, this group will require increased medical, financial, and community support as they continue to age.
How many living veterans served in World War II?
As of 2021, the VA estimated there were around 220,000 living World War II veterans remaining in the United States. This reflects less than 1% of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II.
Due to the advanced age of World War II veterans, the number still living declines sharply each year. For example:
- In 2000, there were around 3.4 million living World War II veterans
- In 2010, there were approximately 2 million World War II veterans
- In 2020, there were around 325,000 World War II veterans
Therefore, the remaining World War II veterans are well into their 90s or older than 100 years of age. They represent the very elderly end of the veteran age spectrum.
How does veteran age distribution affect VA planning?
The large population of elderly veterans impacts VA administration in several key ways:
- Increased demand for geriatric healthcare services and long-term care support for service-connected disabilities
- Ongoing needs for financial assistance and pension programs as veterans retire
- Expansion of end-of-life and burial benefits for an aging veteran population
- Need for senior centers, transportation, and in-home assistance tailored to veterans
The VA must strategically plan to meet the needs of aging veterans while also serving the younger veteran cohort returning from recent conflicts. Understanding current and projected veteran demographics by age is crucial for allocation of resources.
Conclusion
In summary, veterans in the United States span a wide range of ages, but the largest proportions are Vietnam War era veterans in their late 60s to 70s and very elderly World War II and Korean War veterans over 75 years old. Nearly half of living U.S. veterans are presently aged 65 or older. The distribution of veteran ages aligns closely with periods of conflict and enlistment cycles throughout the 20th century. The large elderly veteran population impacts the VA healthcare system and benefits planning significantly. As veterans continue to age in the coming decades, understanding the demographics will be key to serving this group.