From the aging heroes of World War II to the younger generation serving in the post-9/11 conflicts, America's 18 million veterans are a vast and diverse population whose service, sacrifices, and current needs are defined by more than just a uniform.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, there were 18.0 million Veterans living in the United States, representing 8.6% of the adult civilian population.
- Veterans make up 7.0% of the U.S. population aged 18 and older as of 2023.
- About 92% of Veterans are male, while 8% are female according to 2022 data.
- In 2022, 13% of Veterans reported having a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher.
- PTSD affects 11-20% of Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
- 30% of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.
- Veteran unemployment rate was 3.1% in 2023, below national 3.8%.
- 5.9 million Veterans in labor force, 29% of total in 2023.
- Veteran labor force participation rate: 57.8% vs 62.5% non-Vets in 2023.
- 9.4 million VA disability compensation recipients in 2023.
- Average annual VA disability payment: $18,000 for 100% rating in 2023.
- 1.2 million Veterans enrolled in CHAMPVA in 2022.
- 40,000 homeless Veterans in HUD-VASH program.
- 37,000 homeless Veterans on a single night in 2023.
- 11% of homeless adults are Veterans vs 7% population.
Veterans are a diverse and aging group who often face significant health and economic challenges.
Benefits
- 9.4 million VA disability compensation recipients in 2023.
- Average annual VA disability payment: $18,000 for 100% rating in 2023.
- 1.2 million Veterans enrolled in CHAMPVA in 2022.
- GI Bill users: 800,000 active in FY2022.
- $10 billion paid in GI Bill benefits in FY2022.
- 500,000 pensions paid to wartime Veterans in 2022.
- VA home loan guarantees: 400,000 in FY2022.
- $100 billion in VA health care spending for 9 million enrolled in 2023.
- 1.3 million caregiver program participants in 2023.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: $5 billion to 400,000 survivors.
- 70% of post-9/11 GI Bill transferred to dependents.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: 100,000 participants annually.
- Burial benefits: 150,000 claims processed yearly.
- Adaptive housing grants: 2,000 awarded in 2022.
- 4 million life insurance policies managed by VBA.
- $2.5 billion in education benefits for 700,000 in FY2021.
- Commissary/exchange savings: $1.5 billion for Veterans annually.
- 25 million prescriptions filled monthly via VA.
- Dental care for 1.5 million priority group Veterans.
- Prosthetics provided to 250,000 Veterans yearly.
- Telehealth visits: 6 million for Veterans in 2022.
- 300,000 automobiles adapted via grants annually.
- Clothing allowance: 50,000 Veterans receive yearly.
- 1 million headstones/markers provided since 1973.
- Pre-need eligibility: 1.2 million Veterans enrolled.
- State cemetery grants: $50 million in 2022.
Benefits Interpretation
The immense scale of these numbers—from disability payments and health care to education and burials—painstakingly quantifies a solemn, ongoing national promise to care for those who served and for the families they leave behind.
Demographics
- In 2021, there were 18.0 million Veterans living in the United States, representing 8.6% of the adult civilian population.
- Veterans make up 7.0% of the U.S. population aged 18 and older as of 2023.
- About 92% of Veterans are male, while 8% are female according to 2022 data.
- The median age of Veterans in 2021 was 65 years old.
- 6.4 million Veterans served during the Gulf War era (1990-2001), comprising 35% of all living Veterans in 2021.
- 5.3 million post-9/11 Veterans are alive as of 2023, making up 29% of the Veteran population.
- 16.2 million Veterans served in wartime, representing 90% of all Veterans in 2021.
- Veterans aged 75 and older number 4.8 million, or 27% of all Veterans in 2021.
- 1.8 million female Veterans live in the U.S., accounting for 10% of the total Veteran population in 2022.
- 9.1 million Veterans served only during peacetime, 51% of living Veterans as of 2021.
- Hispanic or Latino Veterans number 1.4 million, or 8% of all Veterans in 2021.
- Black or African American Veterans total 2.0 million, comprising 11% of Veterans in 2021.
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander Veterans are 0.7 million, 4% of total in 2021.
- American Indian or Alaska Native Veterans number 0.2 million, 1% of Veterans in 2021.
- 54% of Veterans are married, compared to 49% of non-Veterans in 2022.
- Veterans in rural areas represent 22% of the rural population but only 13% of urban in 2021.
- 7.2 million Vietnam-era Veterans are alive, 40% of all Veterans in 2021.
- Korean War Veterans number 0.5 million, 3% of living Veterans as of 2021.
- World War II Veterans total 66,000 living in 2021, less than 1%.
- Veterans with service-connected disabilities: 4.8 million, 27% in 2022.
- 35% of Veterans live in the South, highest regional concentration in 2021.
- California has the largest Veteran population at 1.5 million in 2021.
- Texas Veterans number 1.4 million, second highest in 2021.
- Florida has 1.3 million Veterans in 2021.
- Veterans with college degrees: 34%, higher than non-Veterans at 32% in 2022.
- 24% of Veterans served in the Army, largest branch representation in 2021.
- Navy Veterans: 19%, Air Force: 18%, Marines: 10% in 2021.
- Coast Guard Veterans: 1% of total living Veterans in 2021.
- Multiple branch service Veterans: 2% in 2021.
- Veterans living alone: 22%, compared to 15% non-Veterans in 2022.
- 25% of U.S. adults aged 75+ are Veterans in 2021.
Demographics Interpretation
While our veterans are a diverse and aging mosaic of service, from Gulf War to peacetime, their collective portrait reveals a stoic and decorated pillar of American society, still standing tall but increasingly shouldering the burdens of age and isolation.
Employment
- Veteran unemployment rate was 3.1% in 2023, below national 3.8%.
- 5.9 million Veterans in labor force, 29% of total in 2023.
- Veteran labor force participation rate: 57.8% vs 62.5% non-Vets in 2023.
- Gulf War-era II Veterans unemployment: 3.4% in 2023.
- 26% of Veterans employed in management/professional occupations.
- Veteran median weekly earnings: $1,233 vs $1,118 non-Vets in 2023.
- Disability employment gap: 7.5% employed vs 47.2% non-disabled Vets.
- 12% of Veterans self-employed in 2022.
- Post-9/11 Vets underemployed: 15% in 2023.
- 3.2 million Veteran-owned businesses employ 5.8 million in 2022.
- Apprenticeship completion rate for Vets: 70% vs 55% civilians.
- 41% of Vets aged 25-64 have bachelor's degree or higher.
- STEM employment among Vets: 20% vs 10% non-Vets.
- Transition unemployment peak: 12.1% within first year post-service.
- Female Veteran unemployment: 3.5% in 2023.
- Black Veteran unemployment: 6.2% vs 5.5% white Vets in 2023.
- 1.1 million Vets participated in VA vocational rehab in 2022.
- 65% employment success rate from VA VR&E program.
- Veteran hiring preference used by 80% federal agencies.
- 25% of DoD civilian workforce are Veterans.
- Gig economy participation: 28% of post-9/11 Vets.
- Median income for Vet households: $78,000 vs $65,000 non-Vet in 2022.
- 14% of Vets in service occupations, lower than non-Vets at 18%.
- Construction employment: 10% of Vets.
- 8th consecutive year of record low Vet unemployment at 3.1% in 2023.
- 2.4 million Vets aged 55+ in labor force in 2023.
Employment Interpretation
While veterans collectively outperform their civilian counterparts in areas like lower unemployment, higher earnings, and leadership roles, this headline success masks a more complex battlefield at home, where significant gaps in participation, underemployment, and disparities for disabled, Black, and newly-transitioned veterans reveal the war for economic security is far from over for all who served.
Health
- In 2022, 13% of Veterans reported having a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher.
- PTSD affects 11-20% of Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
- 30% of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.
- Gulf War Veterans experience chronic fatigue syndrome at rates 2-3 times higher than non-deployed.
- 20% of post-9/11 Veterans have a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Diabetes prevalence among Veterans is 24.4%, higher than general population at 13.2% in 2021.
- 40% of Veterans aged 65+ have three or more chronic conditions in 2022.
- Agent Orange exposure linked to 15% higher prostate cancer risk in Vietnam Veterans.
- 12% of Veterans screen positive for depression annually.
- Suicide rate among Veterans is 1.5 times higher than non-Veterans, 17.8 per 100,000 in 2021.
- Opioid use disorder affects 10% of Veterans in VA care in 2022.
- 18% of female Veterans report military sexual trauma.
- Hearing loss in Veterans: 30% compared to 17% general population.
- Tinnitus affects 25% of Veterans seeking VA hearing care.
- 37% of Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans have musculoskeletal disorders.
- COPD prevalence in Veterans: 12.5%, vs 6.4% civilians in 2021.
- 50% of homeless Veterans have mental illness.
- Polytrauma cases in post-9/11 Veterans: over 50,000 treated since 2001.
- 23% of Veterans with SCI/D rated 70%+ disability.
- Blindness/visual impairment in Veterans: 10 times higher than civilians.
- 15% of Veterans have sleep disorders like apnea.
- Gulf War illness symptoms in 25-30% of 1990-1991 deployers.
- 8% of Veterans have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Cancer incidence in Veterans 10% higher due to exposures.
- 27% of older Veterans have dementia risk factors.
- Substance use disorder in 20% of Veterans with PTSD.
- 35% of Veterans use VA for primary care in 2022.
Health Interpretation
These sobering statistics paint a portrait of service's long shadow, where the physical and psychological tolls of duty—from deafening tinnitus and traumatic brain injuries to pervasive PTSD and heightened chronic diseases—compound into a lifetime of challenges far exceeding those of the civilians they swore to protect.
Homelessness
- 40,000 homeless Veterans in HUD-VASH program.
- 37,000 homeless Veterans on a single night in 2023.
- 11% of homeless adults are Veterans vs 7% population.
- Chronic homelessness among Vets: 40% of total Vet homeless.
- VA housed 43,000 homeless Vets in FY2022.
- 60% reduction in Vet homelessness since 2009.
- 13% of unsheltered homeless are Veterans.
- Los Angeles has 4,000 homeless Veterans.
- 70% of homeless Vets are severe mental illness or substance use.
- HUD-VASH vouchers: 100,000 issued since 2008.
- 90% success rate in SSVF rapid re-housing.
- 20,000 Vets in GPD transitional housing.
- Female homeless Vets: 10% of total, up from 4%.
- 50% of homeless Vets have PTSD.
- 65% of homeless Vets separated from military involuntarily.
- Per diem contracts: 10,000 beds funded by VA.
- 8th year VA exceeded homelessness reduction goals.
- 35 states saw Vet homelessness decrease in 2023.
- 25% of homeless Vets are aged 55+.
- Grant Per Diem program served 50,000 Vets in 2022.
- 15% of homeless Vets are families with children.
- Seattle/Tacoma: 1,200 homeless Vets.
- 80% of housed Vets stay housed after 1 year.
- Substance abuse treatment for 20,000 homeless Vets yearly.
- 40% of Vet homelessness prevented via prevention programs.
- New York City: 2,500 homeless Veterans.
- 12% increase in female Vet homelessness since 2018.
- 70,000 total permanent supportive housing placements since 2010.
Homelessness Interpretation
Behind the encouraging 60% overall reduction since 2009 lies a stark, stubborn core: we are still failing those Veterans most in need, as evidenced by the disproportionate rates of chronic homelessness, mental health struggles, and involuntary separation that persist.
Sources & References
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- Reference 2CENSUScensus.govVisit source
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- Reference 6PUBLICHEALTHpublichealth.va.govVisit source
- Reference 7NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 8MENTALHEALTHmentalhealth.va.govVisit source
- Reference 9AUDIOLOGYaudiology.orgVisit source
- Reference 10RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 11HUDhud.govVisit source
- Reference 12POLYTRAUMApolytrauma.va.govVisit source
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- Reference 14SLEEPFOUNDATIONsleepfoundation.orgVisit source
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- Reference 18IVMFivmf.syracuse.eduVisit source
- Reference 19ADVOCACYadvocacy.sba.govVisit source
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- Reference 21BENEFITSbenefits.va.govVisit source
- Reference 22OPMopm.govVisit source
- Reference 23DIVERSITYdiversity.defense.govVisit source
- Reference 24CAREGIVERcaregiver.va.govVisit source
- Reference 25MILITARYONESOURCEmilitaryonesource.milVisit source