As of 2021, there were over 200,000 living United States veterans who served in the Second World War. The Department of Veteran Affairs projects that the number of living veterans will decline rapidly in the fifteen years until 2036, at which point just a few hundred Americans who served in the war will be still alive. The passing of the "Greatest Generation" is seen as symbolic by some, as for many people they represented the era when the United States' power on the world stage was at its greatest. The Second World war is particularly remembered as a "just" war in the U.S., as the United States was seen as fighting for democracy and self-determination, and against the tyrannies of Fascism, Nazism, and Japanese Imperialism.

The United States' involvement in the Second World War

World War II marked the peak in military enlistments in U.S. history, with over 16 million service members serving worldwide during the conflict. The U.S. joined the war in 1941 due to Imperial Japan's attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before joining the European theater of the war in 1944 during the Invasion of Normandy. The U.S. military played a vital role in the defeat of Nazi Germany on the Western Front in May 1945, while the Soviet Red Army defeated the Wehrmacht in the East. The U.S. was also vital in the defeat of Fascist Italy, as they had led an allied invasion force onto the Italian peninsula from Northern Africa in September 1943. The final action of the war took place in the Asian theater of war, as Imperial Japan was the last of the Axis powers to concede defeat to the Allies. The United States effectively ended the war with the dropping of two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to as many as a quarter of a million deaths. It remains to this day the sole use of atomic weapons in an active conflict.

Statistics about America's female vets. https://www.data.va.gov/story/women-veterans-forum

Notes:

"Total Number of Veterans" represents FY 2021 projected Veteran counts from VA's Veteran Population Projection Model 2020 (VetPop20). These projections represent living Veterans as of 9/30/2021 and are made with the assumption that Veterans are not missing information (e.g., sex, age, etc.).

"Veteran VA Users" represents historical Veteran VA user counts from VA's United States Veterans Eligibility Trends and Statistics 2021 (USVETS 2021). These counts represent Veterans who used any VA benefit or service during FY 2021 (includes both living and deceased Veterans as of end of FY 2021).

"Veteran VA Healthcare Users" represents historical Veteran VA healthcare user counts from VA's United States Veterans Eligibility Trends and Statistics 2021 (USVETS 2021). These counts represent Veterans who used VA healthcare during FY 2021 (includes both living and deceased Veterans as of end of FY 2021).

"Veteran VA Users" includes Veteran users of VA healthcare or any other VA benefit or service.

There are 1,458 Veteran VA Users not shown in the table below whose sex is missing. Of these, 1,360 are missing age. There are 1,387 Veteran VA Healthcare Users not shown in the table below whose sex is missing. Of these, 1,360 are missing age.

Sources: USVETS 2021 and VetPop20 Effective Date: 9/30/2021

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Total Veterans, 18 Years and over (LNU04049526) from Jan 2000 to Aug 2025 about 18 years +, veterans, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Note: "Total Number of Veterans" represents FY 2020 projected Veteran counts from VA's Veteran Population Projection Model 2018 (VetPop18). These projections are made with the assumption that Veterans are not missing information (e.g. age, sex, etc.). Note: "Veteran VA Users" and "Veteran VA Healthcare Users" represent historical Veteran counts from VA's United States Veterans Eligibility Trends and Statistics 2020 (USVETS 2020). Note: "Veteran VA Users" includes Veteran users of VA healthcare or any other VA benefit or service. Note: There are 4,214 Veteran VA Users not shown in the table below whose sex is missing. Of these, 4,126 are missing age. There are 4,158 Veteran VA Healthcare Users not shown in the table below whose sex is missing. Of these, 4,125 are missing age. Sources: USVETS 2020 and VetPop18

Veteran data in .csv files. Includes population/demographic data of age distribution, period of service, income, and education. Also includes population projections. Compares Connecticut to national data

This comprehensive report chronicles the history of women in the military and as Veterans, profiles the characteristics of women Veterans in 2009, illustrates how women Veterans in 2009 utilized some of the major benefits and services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and discusses the future of women Veterans in relation to VA. The goal of this report is to gain an understanding of who our women Veterans are, how their military service affects their post-military lives, and how they can be better served based on these insights.

Notes: "Total Number of Veterans" represents FY 2021 projected Veteran counts from VA's Veteran Population Projection Model 2020 (VetPop20). These projections represent living Veterans as of 9/30/2021 and are made with the assumption that Veterans are not missing information (e.g., race, etc.). "Veteran VA Users" represents historical Veteran VA user counts from VA's United States Veterans Eligibility Trends and Statistics 2021 (USVETS 2021). These counts represent Veterans who used any VA benefit or service during FY 2021 (includes both living and deceased Veterans as of end of FY 2021). "Veteran VA Healthcare Users" represents historical Veteran VA healthcare user counts from VA's United States Veterans Eligibility Trends and Statistics 2021 (USVETS 2021). These counts represent Veterans who used VA healthcare during FY 2021 (includes both living and deceased Veterans as of end of FY 2021). "Veteran VA Users" includes Veteran users of VA healthcare or any other VA benefit or service. Sources: USVETS 2021 and VetPop20 Effective Date: 9/30/2021

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.

In 2024 in the United States, about five million veterans had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher. In that same year, around six million veterans had some college or an associate's degree.

Data from America's War factsheet with only those who served and living

Graph and download economic data for Population Level - Total Veterans, 18 Years and over (LNU00049526) from Jan 2000 to Aug 2025 about 18 years +, veterans, civilian, population, and USA.

This dataset contains publications from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NCVAS) featuring various maps, and a geodatabase, related to veteran statistics. These maps visually represent data on veteran distribution across the United States. Additionally, the folder structure mirrors the organization of the website. Miscellaneous is the folder that contains a geodatabase of VA facilities.

This report uses data from the 2013 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample to report data concerning the demographics, socioeconomic status, and health characteristics of AIAN Servicemembers and Veterans.

National Center for Veterans and Analysis Statistics Population Maps are a compilation of facts related to the count of Veterans at multiple geographies.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Veterans, Other Service Periods, 18 Years and over (LNU01349586) from May 2006 to Aug 2025 about 18 years +, veterans, participation, civilian, labor force, labor, household survey, services, rate, and USA.

View yearly updates and historical trends for US Government Department of Veterans Affairs Spending. from United States. Source: Office of Management and …

VBA EDUCATION BENEFITS PROGRAM to help servicepersons adjust to civilian life after separation from military service, assist in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel in the active and reserve components in the Armed Forces by providing education benefits, and to provide educational opportunities to the dependents of certain service members and veterans. Individuals who entered active duty after September 10, 2001 may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Individuals can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill after serving 90 days on active duty (excluding entry level and skill training). Only periods of active duty under title 10 will be used to establish eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. A high school diploma or equivalency certificate is always required for eligibility. Individuals who are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (chapter 30), the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (chapter 1606), or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) will have to make an irrevocable election to relinquish eligibility under one of those benefit programs to establish eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The dependent children of a person who died in the line of duty while serving as a member of the Armed Forces may be eligible to use benefits under the Fry Scholarship provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The spouse and/or child(ren) of a veteran or service member may be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill if the veteran or service member transfers entitlement to those dependents. Eligibility to transfer entitlement to dependents is determined by the Department of Defense. This is not a complete list of eligibility requirements. For more information on the latest changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill go to the VA web-site.

Charactertics of the veteran population such as age, period of service, educational attainment, income, disability, etc. as reported by the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey five-year estimates. The year shown in the dataset refers to the final year of the five-year reporting period (ie "2010" refers to the 2006-2010 ACS).

Graph and download economic data for Population Level - Veterans, Vietnam-Era and Earlier Wartime Periods, 18 Years and over, Men (LNU00073765) from Sep 2008 to Aug 2025 about korean war, Vietnam Era, World War, 18 years +, veterans, males, civilian, population, and USA.