Honoring our veterans by the numbers

Contributed Article/Courtesy U.S. Census

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The ceremony honors and thanks all who served in the U.S. armed forces.

The following facts are made possible by the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation in helping us measure America’s people, places and economy.

Veteran Population

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18.0 million

The number of military veterans in the United States in 2018.

Source:

2018 American Community Survey

1.7 million

The number of female veterans in the United States in 2018.

Source:

2018 American Community Survey

12.0%

The percentage of veterans in 2018 who were black. Additionally, 76.7 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.7 percent were Asian, 0.8 % were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 % were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.4 % were some other race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and some other race cover only those reporting a single race.)

Source:

2018 American Community Survey

7.2%

The percentage of veterans in 2018 who were Hispanic.

Source:

2018 American Community Survey

50.1%

The percentage of veterans age 65 and older in 2018. At the other end of the age spectrum, 9.1% were younger than age 35.

Source:

2018 American Community Survey