Checked
Veterans in the United States
Civilian veterans ages 18 and older, American Community Survey 2020-2024
- Veterans
- 16,185,883
- 6.2% of adults
- Women veterans
- 1,680,081
- 10.4% of veterans
- Age 65 and older
- 7,959,918
- 49% of veterans
Share of adults who are veterans
Darker states have a larger share of veterans among residents 18 and older
VA medical centers and clinicsVA health facilities and Vet CentersNational cemeteriesVA cemeteries and burial space status
Veterans by state
ACS 2020-2024
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Veterans | Share of adults | Women | Age 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 303,253 | 7.7% | 32,209 | 139,377 |
| Alaska | 57,477 | 10.7% | 8,162 | 21,551 |
| Arizona | 452,729 | 7.9% | 47,262 | 237,414 |
| Arkansas | 173,377 | 7.4% | 16,267 | 86,140 |
| California | 1,305,453 | 4.3% | 122,555 | 665,021 |
| Colorado | 342,276 | 7.5% | 43,052 | 147,121 |
| Connecticut | 134,265 | 4.7% | 10,261 | 78,297 |
| Delaware | 59,557 | 7.4% | 6,746 | 32,265 |
| District of Columbia | 19,465 | 3.5% | 2,719 | 8,666 |
| Florida | 1,327,071 | 7.4% | 144,798 | 695,262 |
| Georgia | 601,304 | 7.2% | 79,891 | 249,238 |
| Hawaii | 87,697 | 8.0% | 9,881 | 43,864 |
| Idaho | 116,723 | 8.0% | 10,841 | 56,545 |
| Illinois | 478,196 | 4.8% | 42,100 | 249,198 |
| Indiana | 328,414 | 6.3% | 26,770 | 165,263 |
| Iowa | 160,571 | 6.5% | 11,939 | 85,273 |
| Kansas | 151,597 | 6.8% | 14,886 | 75,880 |
| Kentucky | 228,692 | 6.5% | 21,230 | 108,622 |
| Louisiana | 212,834 | 6.1% | 22,708 | 102,139 |
| Maine | 95,013 | 8.4% | 8,802 | 51,113 |
| Maryland | 327,493 | 6.8% | 47,702 | 141,703 |
| Massachusetts | 243,596 | 4.3% | 18,593 | 140,111 |
| Michigan | 460,783 | 5.8% | 37,814 | 252,570 |
| Minnesota | 259,988 | 5.9% | 20,622 | 148,526 |
| Mississippi | 151,757 | 6.8% | 17,384 | 70,125 |
| Missouri | 347,543 | 7.3% | 30,591 | 178,633 |
| Montana | 79,357 | 9.0% | 7,770 | 39,502 |
| Nebraska | 102,710 | 6.9% | 10,405 | 49,495 |
| Nevada | 196,013 | 7.9% | 22,230 | 93,848 |
| New Hampshire | 86,727 | 7.6% | 8,102 | 45,915 |
| New Jersey | 273,031 | 3.7% | 20,662 | 156,902 |
| New Mexico | 130,343 | 7.9% | 14,072 | 67,885 |
| New York | 581,776 | 3.7% | 48,512 | 321,599 |
| North Carolina | 615,509 | 7.4% | 76,732 | 279,615 |
| North Dakota | 42,380 | 7.1% | 4,516 | 20,061 |
| Ohio | 605,840 | 6.6% | 52,705 | 309,207 |
| Oklahoma | 240,929 | 7.9% | 25,250 | 114,921 |
| Oregon | 246,300 | 7.2% | 22,461 | 132,420 |
| Pennsylvania | 632,183 | 6.1% | 49,902 | 351,020 |
| Puerto Rico | 64,118 | 2.4% | 3,319 | 41,334 |
| Rhode Island | 45,406 | 5.1% | 3,681 | 25,684 |
| South Carolina | 343,824 | 8.3% | 39,578 | 163,788 |
| South Dakota | 53,890 | 7.9% | 5,404 | 26,960 |
| Tennessee | 399,814 | 7.3% | 40,573 | 189,431 |
| Texas | 1,402,357 | 6.2% | 174,802 | 570,202 |
| Utah | 111,760 | 4.6% | 8,922 | 54,941 |
| Vermont | 32,714 | 6.2% | 2,720 | 18,416 |
| Virginia | 629,500 | 9.4% | 94,055 | 244,973 |
| Washington | 473,124 | 7.8% | 54,862 | 220,959 |
| West Virginia | 104,941 | 7.4% | 7,651 | 55,423 |
| Wisconsin | 288,078 | 6.2% | 24,119 | 156,781 |
| Wyoming | 40,253 | 9.0% | 4,610 | 20,053 |
Frequently asked questions
- How many veterans live in the U.S.?
- The American Community Survey estimates 16,185,883 civilian veterans ages 18 and older (2020-2024), or 6.2% of adults.
- Which states have the largest share of veterans?
- Alaska (10.7%), Virginia (9.4%), Montana (9.0%) have the largest share of adults who are veterans.
- Where do veteran population numbers come from?
- They are American Community Survey 5-year estimates of civilian veterans ages 18 and older, from Census table B21001. Estimates have margins of error, especially in small counties.
- Where can veterans find VA services?
- VA medical centers, outpatient clinics and Vet Centers are listed in VA's facility directory, and the Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 and pressing 1.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B21001 · 2020-2024 estimates