# The Greatest Generation: Definition and Characteristics

![The Greatest Generation](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/yX3NxASOUzpo84l1xuuUaoXvXfo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/the_greatest_generation.asp-final-71d0792e842d4dccb4d21f394027da4d.png)

*— Investopedia / Julie Bang*

> **Definition**
>
> The Greatest Generation refers to Americans born from 1900 to 1925 who experienced the Great Depression and may have served in World War II, or labored at home to help win it.

## What Is the Greatest Generation?

"The Greatest Generation" is a term used to describe those Americans who grew up during the [Great Depression](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/great_depression.asp) and fought in World War II, or whose labor helped win it.

It is thought to have been coined by former NBC Nightly News anchor and author Tom Brokaw in his book of the same name.

The Greatest Generation is also known as the "G.I. Generation" or the "WWII Generation."

### Key Takeaways

*   The Greatest Generation commonly refers to those Americans who were born from the 1900s through the mid 1920s.
*   The Greatest Generation members lived through the Great Depression and many of them fought in World War II.
*   These individuals have often been described as driven, patriotic, and team players.
*   The Greatest Generation members also tend to be the parents of the baby boomer generation.
*   Roughly 100,000 members of the Greatest Generation left in the U.S.

## Understanding the Greatest Generation

There are no precise dates that define when members of the Greatest Generation were born, though the early 1900s to the mid-1920s is often seen.

The common characteristic of Greatest Generation members is that they lived through the hardships of the Great Depression and later either fought in World War II or worked in the industries that contributed to winning the war.

Newsman Tom Brokaw is often credited with popularizing the term through his book "The Greatest Generation," which profiled people who came of age during World War II.

It was inspired by Brokaw's attendance at the 40th-anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion of mainland Europe.

Brokaw's profiles focused on the soldiers who fought the war, as well as the workers whose labor provided the essential material and services in support of them.

## How Many Remain?

The youngest members of the Greatest Generation, if using 1924 as the last year they were born, hit 100 years of age in 2024. Around 101,000 centenarians were living in the United States in 2024.

As for WWII veterans, there were only about 66,000 left in the U.S. as of early 2025.

In 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that around 130 Greatest Generation veterans were thought to be lost every day.

According to research by the _Washington Post_, the final member of the Greatest Generation should die around the year 2046 if they can reach age 120 given advances in health care and improvements in life expectancy.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> Some well-known members of the Greatest Generation include President John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, Jesse Owens, Alan Turing, Judy Garland, Josephine Baker, Pope John Paul II, and Malcolm X.

## Characteristics of the Greatest Generation

While every individual is unique, demographers and sociologists have identified some common characteristics that often [vary from generation to generation](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generation-gap.asp).

Among the Greatest Generation, individuals tend to have the following characteristics:

*   They are patriotic.
*   They are driven and motivated.
*   They show a strong work ethic.
*   They live modestly.
*   They are frugal consumers and prudent savers.
*   They are committed and loyal.

Many of these are thought to stem from living through World War I (if born early enough) and the Great Depression as children, and then fighting in or living through World War II after that.

## The Greatest Generation and Other Demographics

Generally speaking, the Greatest Generation are the parents of the "[baby boomers](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp)" and are the children of the "Lost Generation" (those who grew up or came of age during World War I).

They preceded what is known as the "Silent Generation," a cohort born between the mid-1920s and the early-to-mid 1940s. Broadly speaking, the grandchildren of the Greatest Generation are members of [Generation X](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generation-x-genx.asp), and their great-grandchildren tend to be [millennials](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/millennial.asp) and Gen Zers.

Members of the Greatest Generation now fall into the "retirees" demographic and are collecting [Social Security benefits](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-security-benefits.asp).

The differences between generations have been studied extensively. Socio-economic models have been created to help plan for future government expenditures and programs to address changes in existing demographics.

## Why Are They Called the Greatest Generation?

"The Greatest Generation" is a term popularized by former NBC Nightly News anchor and author Tom Brokaw in his book of the same name. It was meant as a tribute to the resilience and patriotic spirit of those who lived through the Great Depression and then fought in World War II.

## What Are the Seven Living Generations?

1.  Greatest generation (b. ~1900-1925)
2.  Silent generation (~1925-1945)
3.  [Baby boomers](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp) (~ 1945-1965)
4.  [Generation X](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generation-x-genx.asp) (~1965-1980)
5.  [Millennials](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/millennial.asp) (~1980-1995)
6.  [Generation Z](https://www.investopedia.com/generation-z-gen-z-definition-5218554) (~1995-2010)
7.  [Generation Alpha](https://www.investopedia.com/generation-alpha-definition-8606114) (~2010- )

## How Many Americans Remain From the Greatest Generation?

The youngest members of the Greatest Generation, if using 1925 as the last year they were born, would be reaching their 100s in the year 2025. As of 2024, there were estimated to be around 101,000 centenarians living in the United States.

## The Bottom Line

The Greatest Generation refers to those Americans born from 1900 through 1925, many of whom fought during World War II.

Depending on their age, some members of this generation grew up during WWI, lived through the Great Depression and are or were the parents of the baby boomer generation.

They are characterized as being very patriotic, committed to work, family, and frugal lifestyles, and being motivated to work hard to succeed.

The term itself came from a book by newsman Tom Brokaw, entitled "The Greatest Generation_,"_ which was first published in 1998.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Britannica. "[Greatest Generation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greatest-Generation)."
>     
> 2.  The Normandy Institute. “[Tom Brokaw – Greatest Generation – Legion of Honor](https://normandyinstitute.org/tom-brokaw-legion-of-honor/).”
>     
> 3.  CNBC. "[By 2054, There Will Be 422,000 Americans Over Age 100. That Poses a Financial Challenge](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/19/centenarian-population-will-quadruple-by-2054-thats-a-financial-challenge.html)."
>     
> 4.  NSIN. "[How Many WW2 Veterans Are Still Alive? Will There Be Any Left in 2030?](https://www.nsin.us/how-many-ww2-veterans-are-alive/)"
>     
> 5.  Stars and Stripes. “[World War II Veterans Now Offered Free VA Health Care](https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2023-11-13/wwii-veterans-affairs-free-health-care-12039529.html).”
>     
> 6.  The Washington Post. "[Here’s How Much Longer Each Generation Will Be Sticking Around](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/01/24/heres-how-much-longer-each-generation-will-be-sticking-around/)." (Subscription may be required.)
>     
> 7.  On This Day. "[Famous People From the Greatest Generation](https://www.onthisday.com/people/generation/greatest-generation)."