Latest Veteran Census Statistics

A Statistical Snapshot of Our Nation’s Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides official estimates and projections of the Veteran population using the VetPop2007 Veteran Population Model. The Veteran Population Model (VetPop2007) is the latest official source of population information from the VA. VetPop2007 estimates the Veteran population and its characteristics from 2000 through 2006, and then forecasts the future population. By using data from VA, Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Census Bureau, they are able to forecast the Veteran population through the planning horizon. VetPop2007 generates the number of Veterans by characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity. According to the United States Census Bureau:

There are 21.8 million veterans in the United States.
20.2 million are male veterans and 1.6 million are female veterans.

The Breakdown by Race and Ethnicity*:
17.5 million White (non Hispanic/Latino)
2.4 million Black
1.2 million Hispanic/Latino
265,000 Asian
157,000 American Indian or Alaska Native
28,000 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
* Covers only those reporting a single race

States with more than 1 million veterans – California (2 million), Texas (1.6 million), Florida (1.6 million)

Cities with a high percentage of veterans – Killeen, Texas (28.9%), Clarksville, Tennessee (24%), Jacksonville, North Carolina (22.6%), Fayetteville, North Carolina (22.1%), Hampton, Virginia (20.9%).

Compared with 86% of the total population, 92% of veterans 25 and older have at least a high school diploma.
Compared with 28% of the total population, 26% of veterans 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Of the 21.8 million veterans more than 1.3 million served during multiple wars.
837,000 served during both Gulf War eras.
211,000 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
147,000 served during both World War II and the Korean War.
54,000 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
49,500 served during the Vietnam Era and both Gulf War eras.

Veterans own 9% of all U.S. businesses
$1.2 trillion- The amount of money in receipts generated by these businesses
5.8 million- People employed by veteran-owned businesses

Veterans’ annual income is about $10,000 higher than that of the average American.
$35,367 – median income of veterans
$24,521 – median income of non-veterans
$25,605 – median income of total U.S. population