Today's post is a reader question: What are the generational age ranges for the different customer demographics including ages, how many are there and what are they called.
Currently there are about 332,631,383 (up from 328,593,633 in 2019) people in the United States (Population Clock)
Population Estimate Source US Census SO101 Data Set…. when data spreads over two fields of age ranges I try to jump them the best I can!
There are basically 6 generations alive today, although the Greatest Generation, born between 1901 and 1926 is shrinking drastically as they age out.
- The Greatest Generation
- The Silent Generation
- The Baby Boomers
- Gen X
- Xennials (newer term)
- Gen Y or the Millennials
- Centennials – Newer Term
- Gen Z, Post-millennials or iGen
- Generation Alpha
- Want More Consumer Demographics?
- How Does Knowing Age Ranges and Generational Info Help With Marketing Strategy?
- Age Ranges FAQ
The Greatest Generation
Born between 1901-1926
Age 96+ (in 2022)
No data set for this generation
The Silent Generation
Born between 1927 and 1945
Age 77-95 (in 2022)
Data Set
75-79 is 9,113,714 people…. so 60% of that is 5,468,228
80-84 is 6,079,337 people
85+ is 6,621,816 people
Total number of people in the Silent Generation age range is 18,169,381 which is 5.46% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
The Baby Boomers
Born between 1946 and 1964
Age 58-76 (in 2022)
Data Sets
55-59 is 28,785,721 people… so 40% of that is 11,514,288
60-64 is 20,315,718 people
65-69 17,301,772 people
70-74 is 13,246,178 people
75-78 is 9,113,714 and 50% of this one 4,556,857
Total number of people in the Baby Boomer age range is 66,934,753 which is 13.18% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Gen X
Born between 1965 and 1980
Age 42-57 (in 2022)
Data Sets
40-44 is 6.1% 20,000,622 people… so 60% of that is 12,000,373
45-49 is 6.3% 20,569,969 people
50-54 is 6.4% 20,970,767 people
55-59 is 6.7% 28,785,721 people… so 60% of that is 17,217,433
Total number of people in the Gen X age range is 70,758,542 which is 21.27% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Additional Resources
Xennials (newer term)
Born between 1977 and 1983
Have the Gen X Cynicism & the Millennial Optimism
Age 39-45 (in 2022)
Data Sets
35-39 is 21,346,055 people… so 20% of that is 4,269,212
40-44 is 20,000,622 people
45-49 is 20,569,969 people… so 20% of that is 4,113,993
Total number of people in the Xennials age range is 28,383,827 which is 8.53% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Additional Resources
- There’s Now a Name for the Micro Generation Born Between 1977-1983
- If You Were Born Between 1977-1985, You’re Not A ‘Millennial’ Anymore, You’re An ‘Xennial’
Gen Y or the Millennials
Born between 1981 and 2000
Age 22-41 (in 2020)
Data Sets
20-24 is 21,820,378 people… so 60% of that is 13,092,226
25-29 is 23,262,155 people
30-34 is 22,223,010 people
35-39 is 21,346,055 people
40-44 is 20,000,622 people so 40% of that is 8,000,248
Total number of people in the Millennials age range is 87,923,694 which is 26.43% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Additional Resources
- Millennials – Demographics and Characteristics
Centennials – Newer Term
Born between 1995 and 2008
age 13-26 (in 2020)
Data Sets
10-14 is 21,107,910 people so 40% of that is 8,443,164
15-19 is 21,174,955 people
20-24 is 21,820,378 people
25-29 is 23,262,155 so 40% of that is 9,304,862
Total number of people in the Centennials age range is 60,743,359 which is % of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Gen Z, Post-millennials or iGen
Born between 2001 and 2022
age 1-21 (in 2020)
Data Sets
Under 5 is 19,650,192 people
5-9 is 19,979,039 people
10-14 is 21,107,910 people
15-19 is 21,174,955 people
20-24 is 21,820,378 people so 40% of that is 8,728,151
Total number of people in Gen Z age range is 90,640,247 which is 27.24% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
Interesting article: Move Over Millennials, It’s Gen Z’s Turn to Kill Industries
Additional Resources
Generation Alpha
There is a thinking that there is an additional demographic called Generation Alpha. I haven't really heard it used in the wild, but want to give you the data if you have to need it!
Born between 2012 and 2022
Age 0-10 (in 2022)
Data Set
Under 5 is 19,650,192
5-9 is 19,979,039
10-14 is 21,107,910 so 20% of that is 4,221,582
Total number of people in the Alpha Generation age range is 43,850,813 which is 20.12% of the population (as of the 2020 census data)
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Want More Consumer Demographics?
- Customer Demographics – Age Demographics for Advertising
- What are important customer demographics?
- Customer Demographics For Social Media
How Does Knowing Age Ranges and Generational Info Help With Marketing Strategy?
If you understand customer demographics and how it fits into your small business you can truly make some great leaps in progress with your marketing plan!
I thought a real world example might be helpful for understanding how this all works!
A few months ago I started writing about dementia on my Artsy Fartsy blog when we moved my Mother In Law in with us. She hits the very last part of the silent generation being born in 1945, but she is very much a product of the consumption of Baby Boomers (shopping is her life!)
But is she my target demographic for marketing (getting website views, selling affiliate products and building an email list?) NO! My target demographic is the Sandwich Generation, younger Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who are now stuck with caring for their aging parents WHILE raising their own children.
Baby Boomers are a consumption generation, taking advantage of their large buying numbers and desire to be seen as “cool and hip”.
Gen X-ers are a practical bunch who grew up before the internet and who took care of themselves at home after school as latchkey kids while their moms went back into the workforce.
So with two different demographics I can target in my marketing efforts, I need to make sure to create content that would appeal to both of those models. Posts about products to help take care of elderly people AND practical tips for how to do it all yourself.
The great thing is that by knowing how each of the generations responds to marketing, I can make sure that I am creating content (blog posts, graphics, social media posts) that will be interesting to both groups.
The numbers and charts provided are for marketing purposes only and should not be taken as gospel! We are waiting for updated data from the next census to revise percentages.
Age Ranges FAQ
Since I have had this post for a while, I have gotten different questions over the years as I update the post so here are some of them!
What's After Gen Z?
Generation Alpha is a suggested term that could come after Gen Z. It is thought to be Mid 2010s to the present.
That said, I haven't seen it wide use and they are really kind of young to have any impact on sales at this time.
