Veteran Demographics
from USA Today

A statistical snapshot of a changing veteran populace –
by Janet Loehrke – USA Today, Weekend Extra – May 26, 2023

The Median age of the nation’s 18 million veteran’s is 65, about 73% are at least 50.
The youngest post-911 combat veterans are about 37 years old.
Woman comprise about 11% of the veteran population.
As we approach Memorial Day, May 29, 2023 it’s interesting to view the veteran population through a series of snapshots.

[Some of the data below are interpretations from maps and graphics, not exact.]

       Where veteran’s call home
The sunbelt states of California, Texas and Florida were each home to more than 1.6 million veterans in 2020, according to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.  Not far behind are Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.  The least amount (< 30,000) of veterans in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Mississippi, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico.  All the remaining states have amounts between the highs and lows.

Two and a half Million estimated reduction in veteran’s population over the next decade.

       Female veterans on the Rise
More than 2 million female veterans live in the U.S. today – the fastest-growing in the veteran’s population.
Historic and projected trends of female veteran’s:
1971 = 964, 1980 = 1,000+, 1990 = 1,100, 2000 = 1,600, 2010 = 1,550, 2018 = 1,700 and estimated for 2030 = 2,050, 2040 = 2,190.

      Evolving population
Gulf War-era veterans make up the greatest portion of all veterans.  Categories included are veterans in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Post-Gulf War and Peace-time.  A look at several other key demographic figures, as well as projections for 2046:

Era of Service (2021) & (2046)     

2%      in WWII          0%                             
5%      Korea             0%                             
31%    Vietnam          4%     
41%    Gulf War        61%
0%      Post-Gulf War 24%
22%    Peace-time    11%

Age by year  (<50 yrs.        & 50 to 69 yrs. & >70 yrs.)

2021               27%            &         33%         &         37%   
2046               36%           &         33%          &         34%

Race / Ethnicity by year (Non-Hispanic – Hispanic – Black – Asian)

                        2021               74%                8%          13%        2%
                        2046               62%                16%        15%        4%

Gender by year (Women & Men)

                        2021   11%    &    89%
                        2046   18%    &    82%

Unemployment rate improving
Veteran unemployment was 2.2% in April (2023), down from 3.0% in April (2022). 
For most of the last year, the veteran jobless rate has been below 3% - the best period for veterans’ employment in more than 20 years.         

                        2021 – January           6.7%
                        2020 – April               12.1% (Covid-19 pandemic emergency)
                        2023 – April               2.2%