WWII Veteran Statistics

THE LEGACY OF THE WWII GENERATION

THE LEGACY OF THE WWII GENERATION

Every day, memories of World War II are disappearing from living history. The men and women who fought and won this great conflict are now in their 90s or older; according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 66,143 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are alive as of 2024.

With less than 1 percent of the 16.4 million Americans who served during World War II still with us today, The National WWII Museum’s mission to tell the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world is more crucial than ever. Our Museum is committed to honoring those who secured the freedom we cherish and carrying on the legacies of the WWII generation into the future.

“Preserving the stories of the men and women who served in World War II has been at the heart of our institution since its founding,” said Stephen J. Watson, President & CEO of the Museum. “We have the enormous responsibility to ensure that the memories and experiences of the war will not be lost as those who lived through it leave this world. It is our hope that this Museum, built in honor of the WWII generation, will allow visitors to connect with history and the people who sacrificed so much during World War II for years to come.”

The graph below uses statistics from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to emphasize the urgency of our mission. The projections for each year are updated in September and reflect the 2024 statistics.

Surviving WWII Veterans

70,000
63,000
56,000
49,000
42,000
35,000
28,000
21,000
14,000
7,000
0
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
2032
 
2033
 
2034
 
2035
 
2036

Living WWII Veterans By State 2024

Alabama 561

Alaska 0

Arizona 1,381

Arkansas 376

California 7,455

Colorado 876

Connecticut 1,266

Delaware 275

District of Columbia 106

Florida 5,511

Georgia 1,359

Hawaii 282

Idaho 318

Illinois 2,531

Indiana 1,271

Iowa 429

Kansas 352

Kentucky 714

Louisiana 306

Maine 328

Maryland 1,321

Massachusetts 1,370

Michigan 2,520

Minnesota 1,786

Mississippi 502

Missouri 1,321

Montana 379

Nebraska 236

Nevada 497

New Hampshire 891

New Jersey 1,629

New Mexico 55

New York 3,587

North Carolina 1,710

North Dakota 265

Ohio 2,352

Oklahoma 658

Oregon 1,458

Pennsylvania 3,930

Rhode Island 459

South Carolina 1,077

South Dakota 118

Tennessee 1,221

Texas 3,786

Utah 747

Vermont 95

Virginia 2,121

Washington 1,928

West Virginia 196

Wisconsin 1,795

Wyoming 82

Puerto Rico 234

Island Areas & Foreign 121


Grand Total 66,143