General Demographics: Total Veteran Population: Approximately 19 million veterans in the United States. Gender: Male: About 89%. Female: Approximately 11%, with the number of female veterans increasing over time.
Age Distribution: Under 35 years old: Around 9%. 35 to 54 years old: About 26%. 55 to 64 years old: Approximately 17%. 65 to 74 years old: Around 25%. 75 years and older: Approximately 23%.
Race and Ethnicity: White (Non-Hispanic): Around 75%. Black (Non-Hispanic): Approximately 13%. Hispanic: About 8%. Asian and Pacific Islander: Nearly 1.7%. American Indian and Alaska Native: About 0.8%.
Geographic Distribution: Urban vs. Rural: Urban Areas: Around 76%. Rural Areas: About 24%.
States with the Largest Veteran Populations: California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York host the highest numbers of veterans.
Educational Attainment: High School Graduate or Equivalent: Approximately 29%. Some College, No Degree: Around 34%. Associate Degree: About 10%. Bachelor's Degree: Approximately 17%. Graduate or Professional Degree: About 10%.
Employment Status: Labor Force Participation: Employed: Approximately 9 million veterans. Unemployed: Around 3.5%. Industries: Many veterans work in management, professional, and related occupations, as well as in service, sales, and office occupations.
Disability Status: Service-Connected Disability: About 26% of veterans report having a service-connected disability. 10 to 20 Percent Disability Rating: Around 22% of disabled veterans. 30 to 40 Percent Disability Rating: Around 17%. 50 to 60 Percent Disability Rating: Around 14%. 70 to 100 Percent Disability Rating: Around 47%.
Marital Status: Married: Approximately 64%. Widowed: Around 6%. Divorced: About 16%. Never Married: Around 14%.
Housing: Homeownership: Approximately 77% of veterans own their homes.
Health Care: Enrollment: Over 9 million veterans are enrolled in VA health care. Facilities: More than 1,200 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and over 1,000 outpatient sites. Appointments: More than 58 million outpatient visits annually. Mental Health: Nearly 2 million veterans receive specialized mental health care.
Disability and Compensation: Disability Claims: Over 5 million veterans receive disability compensation. Benefit Amounts: Annual disability benefits payments exceed $78 billion. New Claims: Approximately 1.5 million new claims processed each year.
Homelessness: Homeless Veterans: Roughly 37,000 veterans are experiencing homelessness on any given night. Support Programs: VA provides various programs, including HUD-VASH, offering housing assistance and case management.
Education and Employment: GI Bill: Over 1 million beneficiaries are using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Vocational Rehabilitation: Nearly 100,000 veterans receive vocational rehabilitation and employment services annually.
Other Supportive Services: Pension Benefits: Over 300,000 veterans and their survivors receive pension benefits. Life Insurance: VA administers approximately $1.2 trillion of life insurance, covering over 5 million Veterans and their families.
In 2023, there were 67,495 homeless veterans.
