Coming and Going Age Generations

Since no one has figured out how to defeat time, age generations come and go. This chart shows the generational breakdowns since 1920.

RELATIVE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION OF

AGE GENERATIONS

FROM 1920 THROUGH 2019

Based on estimates from the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey

A new generation begins.

100%

Generation Alpha

Greatest Generation

Generation Z

80%

Millennials

60%

Lost Generation

Generation X

40%

20%

Boomers

Missionary Generation

Progressive Generation

Silent Generation

0%

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2019

Gilded and Transcendental Generations

All generations come to an end eventually.

Even the greatest.

RELATIVE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION OF

AGE GENERATIONS

FROM 1920 THROUGH 2019

Based on estimates from the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey

Gilded and Transcendental

Progressive

Greatest

Lost

Missionary

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2019

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Alpha

Z

Millennials

X

Boomers

Silent

The Census Bureau released counts for 2020, but only at the national and state levels. So the most recent count available by age uses estimates from the 2019 American Community Survey. As time does, the older generations will shift down a bit, and Generation Alpha will grow.

See here for a more detailed view of the distribution for 2019.

Become a member. Support an independent site. Make great charts.

See What You Get

Favorites

The Most Gender-Switched Names in US History

We use some names mostly for boys and some mostly for girls, but then there is a small percentage that, over time, switched from one gender to another. Which names made the biggest switch?

Sleep Schedule, From the Inconsistent Teenage Years to Retirement

From the teenage years to college to adulthood through retirement, sleep is all over the place at first but then converges towards consistency.

How the American Work Day Changed in 15 Years

The American Time Use Survey recently released results for 2018. That makes 15 years of data. What’s different? What’s the same?

Redefining Old Age

What is old? When it comes to subjects like health care and retirement, we often think of old in fixed terms. But as people live longer, it’s worth changing the definition.