1901–1927
Greatest Generation Age Range
The Greatest Generation is commonly defined as people born from 1901 through 1927. It is the oldest generation in this guide and comes before the Silent Generation. In 2026, the youngest members turn 99.
As of 2026, members of the Greatest Generation are between 98 and 125 years old.
What years is the Greatest Generation?
Pew Research Center uses birth years 1901 through 1927. Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe, who call this cohort the G.I. Generation, use a slightly shorter range of 1901–1924. It is also sometimes called the World War II Generation.
Because the youngest members were born in 1927, everyone in this generation is now in their late 90s or older. Most people born in these years have died, so the age range above describes the cohort's birth years rather than a large living population.
Where the name came from
The phrase was used as early as 1953, when U.S. Army General James Van Fleet told Congress the young Americans who had served were "the greatest generation" the country had produced. It became widespread after journalist Tom Brokaw's 1998 book The Greatest Generation, which profiled Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and fought or worked through World War II.
What shaped the Greatest Generation
- The Great Depression. The stock market crash of 1929 and the decade of hardship that followed hit when the oldest members were young adults and the youngest were small children.
- World War II. When the United States entered the war in December 1941, members of this generation were roughly 14 to 40 years old. About 16.4 million Americans served in uniform during the war, most of them from this cohort.
- New technology. They grew up as radio, telephones and automobiles spread into ordinary homes, and later saw the arrival of television.
After the war, many members of this generation went to college on the G.I. Bill, bought homes and raised the children who became the Baby Boomers.
How many are still living?
Very few. According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cited by the National WWII Museum, about 30,600 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II were still living in 2026. The surviving members of the Greatest Generation are now among the oldest people in the country.
The Greatest Generation compared with the Silent Generation
| Generation | Birth years | Current ages | Grew up with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatest Generation | 1901–1927 | 98–125 | Radio, the Great Depression and World War II |
| Silent Generation | 1928–1945 | 80–98 | Radio, then early television |
Greatest Generation FAQ
What years are the Greatest Generation?
The most common definition is 1901 through 1927, used by Pew Research Center. Strauss and Howe's G.I. Generation uses 1901 to 1924.
Why is it called the Greatest Generation?
The name was popularized by Tom Brokaw's 1998 book of the same name, which honored Americans who lived through the Great Depression and served in or supported the effort in World War II.
Is the Greatest Generation the same as the G.I. Generation?
Yes, the two names describe essentially the same cohort. G.I. Generation is the name Strauss and Howe use, with slightly different end years.
Generation names and years
See every generation in one table.
Silent Generation
See the generation after Greatest Generation.