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FACTS ON POLICY: Profile of Veterans
November 6, 2007
8 percent of the U.S. population are veterans.
In 2006, there were 23.9 million veterans in the United States.
Of that number,
• 33 percent served in Vietnam;
–18 percent served in the Gulf War;
–14 percent served in World War II;
–13 percent served in the Korean War.
• the largest group—38 percent—are over 65.
–Another 25 percent are ages 55 to 64;
–16 percent are ages 45 to 54;
–12 percent are ages 35 to 44.
–The smallest group is the under-35 age group: 8 percent of veterans are under 35.
• one-quarter (6.1 million) are disabled.
• roughly 7 percent (1.7 million) are female.
–Most female veterans—40 percent—served in the Gulf War.
–Another 15 percent served during the Vietnam War.
–9 percent of female veterans served in World War II.
–The fewest—4 percent—served in the Korean War.
–The rest—32 percent of female veterans—served during times of peace.
• 85 percent are white; 10 percent are black; slightly under 5 percent are Hispanic. (The rest are Asian, Pacific Islander, or other races.)
–Of the different racial/ethnic groups, Pacific Islanders have the largest proportion of female veterans: 12 percent, while whites have the smallest proportion of female veterans: 6 percent.
• 2.2 million live in California, home to the greatest number of veterans.
–Other states with large veteran populations (in descending order) include Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
–Maine and Montana had the largest proportion of veterans in their population: 11 percent.
Figure 1
Total number of veterans, by period of service
Sources:
Quiz Source Information:
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