VETERANS PRESS: Who are the nation’s veterans? Some facts

Today’s veterans reflect America's evolving demographics. The number of living veterans is declining while the veteran population is getting more diverse. Here’s the data about who's served and how demographics have shifted.  

• As of 2023, 15.8 million Americans (6.1% of adults) were veterans. That number has fallen by more than 25% — about 5.9 million people — since 2010. 

• Veterans are aging: nearly half (49.0%) are 65 or older, up from 47.3% in 2013. 

• Approximately 74.1% of veterans identify as white, 12.6% as Black, 8.6% as Hispanic or Latino, and 2% as Asian American. Combined, white and Black Americans are 74.7% of the US population but 86.7% of the veteran population.  

• Women represented 10.9% of veterans, up from 7.2% in 2010. Veterans have also gained more formal education: 69.1% had attended some college or earned a degree, up from 62.0% in 2010. 

What is the share of veterans by gender? 

More than one in 10 living veterans are women. Women veterans have steadily increased over the past decade … In 2010, 7.2% of veterans were women, compared to 10.9% in 2023. (The Census Bureau does not provide data on the number or transgender or nonbinary veterans.) 

How has the education status of Veteran population changed? 

Veterans’ education levels have also shifted 69.1 of veterans in 2023 had at least some college experience, and associate’s degree or higher. In 2010, the rate of veterans with some college was 62.0%, up 7.1 percentage points.

Veterans are aging: nearly half (49.0%) are 65 or older, up from 47.3% in 2013. 

Approximately 74.1% of veterans identify as white, 12.6% as Black, 8.6% as Hispanic or Latino, and 2% as Asian American. Combined, white and Black Americans are 74.7% of the U.S. population but 86.7% of the veteran population.  

Women represented 10.9% of veterans, up from 7.2% in 2010. Veterans have also gained more formal education: 69.1% had attended some college or earned a degree, up from 62.0% in 2010. 

What is the share of veterans by gender? 

More than one in 10 living veterans are women.  Women veterans have steadily increased over the past decade…In 2010, 7.2% of veterans were women, compared to 10.9%om 2023. ( The Census Bureau does not provide data on the number or transgender or nonbinary veterans.) 

How has the education status of Veteran population changed? 

Veterans’ education levels have also shifted 69.1 of veterans in 2023 had at least some college experience, and associate’s degree or higher.  In 2010, the rate of veterans with some college was 62.0%, up 7.1 percentage points.

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Information from U.S. Census and presented by USA Facts. USAFacts is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic initiative making government data easy for all.