This table provides state-level estimates of the percentage of Veterans who were VA pension recipients at the end of the fiscal years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. Percents are rounded to the nearest tenth. Percents for fiscal year (FY) 2022 are not available by state. Prepared by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Sources: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Enterprise Integration, Veteran Population Projection Model (VetPop) 2020, Veteran Object FY 2023 data, United States Veterans Eligibility Trends & Statistics (USVETS) 2019, 2020, and 2021 data; Veterans Benefits Administration, VETSNET FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2021, and FY 2023 pension data.

For Veterans Day 2023, the US Department of Veterans Affairs explore trends of the Veteran population in the U.S. (1) by branch of military service for fiscal years (FY) 2000 to 2023. Overall, the Veteran population in the U.S. has declined during this period, from 26.3 million in FY 2000 to 18.1 million in FY 2023 (2).

In 2023, about 4.86 million veterans in the United States served in the Vietnam Era only. A further 485,765 American veterans served during the Korean War as of that year.

In 2023, 42.14 percent of U.S. men aged 75 years and over were veterans - the highest share of any age group or gender. In comparison, less than one percent of women aged 75 and over were veterans at that time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides official estimates and projections of the Veteran population using the Veteran Population Projection Model (VetPop). Based on the available information through September 30, 2023, the latest model VetPop2023 estimated the Veteran population for the period from 2000 to 2023. The “Number of Estimated Veterans by Sex and 15 Age Groups, 9/30/2000 to 9/30/2023” data table shows the number of living Veterans at the end of each fiscal year from 2000 to 2023.

Percent distribution of VetPop2020 estimates and projections by branch of service for fiscal years 2000 through 2023. “All Others” includes U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Reserves

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides official estimates and projections of the Veteran population using the Veteran Population Projection Model (VetPop). Based on the latest model VetPop2023 and the most recent national survey estimates from the 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year (ACS) data, the projected number of Veterans living in the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico for fiscal years, 2023 to 2025, are allocated to Urban and Rural areas. As defined by the Census Bureau, Rural encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an Urban area (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html).

This table contains the Veteran estimates by urban/rural, age group, poverty, and disability. The poverty level and disability are determined by ACS based on responses on total income and functional difficulties. Refer to the sections on Poverty and Disability Status in the document, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/subject_definitions/2023_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf

Note: rounding to the nearest 1,000 is always appropriate for VetPop estimates.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Veteran town population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Veteran town across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Veteran town was 3,235, a 0.61% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Veteran town population was 3,255, a decline of 1.30% compared to a population of 3,298 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Veteran town decreased by 41. In this period, the peak population was 3,352 in the year 2011. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Veteran town is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Veteran town population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Veteran town Population by Year. You can refer the same here

In 2023, in the United States, almost 2.3 million veterans had a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher. About 10.9 million veterans had no service-connected disability rating at that time.

In 2023, there were almost *********** Black or African American veterans in the United States, representing around ** percent of the total veteran population.

These data are based on the latest Veteran Population Projection Model, VetPop2020, provided by the National Center for Veterans Statistics and Analysis, published in 2023.

As of 2023, nearly 30 percent of U.S. veterans aged younger than 45 years who were enrolled in the VA health care system lacked public or private health insurance coverage. This statistic displays the share of U.S. veterans enrolled in the VA health care system who were uninsured in 2023, by age.

Almost 83 percent of veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001 and who responded to the annual Wounded Warrior Project Survey in 2023 stated they experienced sleep problems, while 76.5 percent had PTSD. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a U.S. charity and veteran organization for veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001.

VetPop2020 projections of the Veteran population by sex and period of service for fiscal years 2020 to 2050.

VetPop2020 projections of the Veteran population by sex and race/ethnicity for fiscal years 2020 to 2050.

These data are based on the latest Veteran Population Projection Model, VetPop2020, provided by the National Center for Veterans Statistics and Analysis, published in 2023.

In 2023, about **** percent of the estimated number of homeless veterans in the United States were male, compared to **** percent who were female.

This statistic shows the unemployment rate of veterans in the United States in 2023, by state. In that year, New Mexico had the highest unemployment rate of veterans, at 7.1 percent. Connecticut had the lowest unemployment rate of veterans at 0.4 percent.

These data are based on the latest Veteran Population Projection Model, VetPop2020, provided by the National Center for Veterans Statistics and Analysis, published in 2023.

In 2023, around 25 percent of veterans enrolled in the VA health care system had an income of 75,000 U.S. dollars or more, a further 17 percent had an income between 50,000 to 74,999 U.S. dollars. This statistic shows the distribution of U.S. veterans enrolled in the VA health care system in 2023, by income group.