Greatest Generation

When we have the data to study groups of similarly aged people over time, we won’t always default to using the standard generational definitions and labels, like Gen Z, Millennials or Baby Boomers.

It can be useful to talk about generations, but generational categories are not scientifically defined and labels can lead to stereotypes and oversimplification.

Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.

World War II service members’ numbers have dwindled from around 939,000 veterans in 2015 to about 300,000 in 2020.

The majority of Baby Boomers are still in the labor force: In 2018, 53% of adults ages 54 to 72 were still working or looking for work.

As of November 2016, an estimated 62 million Millennials were voting-age U.S. citizens – moving closer in number to the 70 million Baby Boomers.

The U.S. has more foreign students enrolled in its colleges and universities than any other country in the world. Explore data about foreign students in the U.S. higher education system.

Generation Zers, Millennials and Generation Xers cast 69.6 million votes in 2016, a slight majority of the 137.5 million total votes cast.

Some trends in presidential elections either reversed or stalled: White turnout increased and the nonwhite share of the U.S. electorate remained flat from 2012.

The Pew Research Center survey, conducted in association with A+E Networks' HISTORY, asked everyone from Millennials to members of the Greatest Generation to list the events that most profoundly affected America.