VETERANS BY THE NUMBERS
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18.8 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2015. Source: 2015 American Community Survey 1.6 million The number of female veterans in the United States in 2015. Source: 2015 American Community Survey Veteran-Owned Businesses in the U.S. (November 2016) Sectors With at Least 10,000 Businesses Honoring Those Who Served November 10, 2016 Percentage of veterans among the adult population. |
Race of Veteran Community
78.3% non-Hispanic white
6.4% Hispanic
11.6% Black
1.5% Asian,
0.7% American Indian or Alaska Native
0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1.3% Other Race.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Age
9.3 million
The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2015. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
When They Served
6.8 million
The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2015. Moreover, there were 5.6 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 930,000 who served in World War II; 1.8 million who served in the Korean War; and 4.3 million who served in peacetime only.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during three wartime periods:
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during two wartime periods:
Where They Live
There are 3 states with 1.0 million or more veterans in 2015. These states were California (1.6 million), Texas (1.5 million) and Florida (1.5 million).
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Education
27.7%
The percentage of veterans 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015. In comparison, 30.8 percent of nonveterans had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Income
$38,978
The annual median income of male veterans in 2015, compared with $34,168 for male nonveterans.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
$32,446
The annual median income of female veterans in 2015, compared with $22,505 for female nonveterans.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Employment
7.2 million
The number of veterans 18 to 64 years old in the labor force in 2015. Of those veterans, 6.8 million were employed.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Service-Connected Disabilities
3.9 million
The number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2015. Of this number, 1.2 million had a rating of 70.0 percent or higher. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0.0 to 100.0 percent, and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Voting
11.5 million
The number of veterans who voted in the 2014 congressional election. In that election, 54.0 percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 41.0 percent of nonveterans. These rates reflect the citizen population.
Source: Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2014, Table 13
Business Owners
405,235
The number of all U.S. employer firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised 7.5 percent of the nation's 5.4 million employer businesses.
Source: 2014 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs
78.3% non-Hispanic white
6.4% Hispanic
11.6% Black
1.5% Asian,
0.7% American Indian or Alaska Native
0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1.3% Other Race.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Age
9.3 million
The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2015. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
When They Served
6.8 million
The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2015. Moreover, there were 5.6 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 930,000 who served in World War II; 1.8 million who served in the Korean War; and 4.3 million who served in peacetime only.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during three wartime periods:
- 61,997 served during the Vietnam Era and both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
- 29,331 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during two wartime periods:
- 1,085,142 served during both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later)
- 288,341 served during the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and the Vietnam Era.
- 152,416 served during the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
- 65,704 served during World War II and the Korean War.
Where They Live
There are 3 states with 1.0 million or more veterans in 2015. These states were California (1.6 million), Texas (1.5 million) and Florida (1.5 million).
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Education
27.7%
The percentage of veterans 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015. In comparison, 30.8 percent of nonveterans had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Income
$38,978
The annual median income of male veterans in 2015, compared with $34,168 for male nonveterans.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
$32,446
The annual median income of female veterans in 2015, compared with $22,505 for female nonveterans.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Employment
7.2 million
The number of veterans 18 to 64 years old in the labor force in 2015. Of those veterans, 6.8 million were employed.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Service-Connected Disabilities
3.9 million
The number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2015. Of this number, 1.2 million had a rating of 70.0 percent or higher. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0.0 to 100.0 percent, and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey
Voting
11.5 million
The number of veterans who voted in the 2014 congressional election. In that election, 54.0 percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 41.0 percent of nonveterans. These rates reflect the citizen population.
Source: Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2014, Table 13
Business Owners
405,235
The number of all U.S. employer firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised 7.5 percent of the nation's 5.4 million employer businesses.
Source: 2014 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs