Total VeteranHow Many Veterans Are There? UK and US Veteran Population Compared
Census 2021 counted 1.85 million veterans in England and Wales. The US counts between 15.7 million and 18.3 million depending on the survey. Here are the official figures and what each one measures.
- Census 2021 counted 1,853,112 veterans in England and Wales, 3.8% of residents aged 16 and over.
- Scotland's Census 2022 counted 176,100 veterans; NISRA linked data counts 37,697 in Northern Ireland.
- The 2024 American Community Survey estimated 15.7 million US veterans, 5.9% of civilian adults.
- Women make up 13.6% of veterans in England and Wales and 11.1% in the US.
- MOD projects about 1.6 million GB veterans by 2028; VA projects 12.1 million US veterans by 2048.
The UK has a little over 2 million veterans on the latest census counts, and the US has between 15.7 million and 18.3 million depending on the measure used. Census 2021 counted 1,853,112 veterans in England and Wales, 3.8% of residents aged 16 and over (ONS). Scotland's Census 2022 counted 176,100, 3.9% of those aged 16 and over (Scotland's Census). In the US, the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) estimated 15.7 million veterans, 5.9% of the civilian population aged 18 and over (US Census Bureau).
No single release gives a UK-wide total, and the three US figures in common use come from three different methods. This guide sets out each official number, the year it refers to, and what it measures, so you can quote the right one.
UK veteran population by nation
| Nation | Veterans | Share of residents 16+ | Source and year |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | About 1.7 million | 3.8% | Census 2021, ONS |
| Wales | About 115,000 | 4.5% | Census 2021, ONS |
| England and Wales total | 1,853,112 | 3.8% | Census 2021, ONS (published November 2022) |
| Scotland | 176,100 | 3.9% | Scotland's Census 2022 (published June 2024) |
| Northern Ireland | 37,697 | Not published | NISRA linked MOD records and Census 2021 (published June 2026) |
The Northern Ireland figure comes from linking MOD service records to census returns. NISRA warns that it may undercount older veterans, because MOD records exclude personnel who left before 1975 (NISRA). In Scotland, half of veterans (50.4%) are aged 65 or over and around one in five people aged 85 and over has served (Scotland's Census). Adding the three sources gives roughly 2.07 million, but treat that as an approximation built from different methods and dates.
US veteran population: three numbers, three methods
| Measure | Veterans | Population covered | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Community Survey 1-year estimate | 15.7 million (5.9%) | Civilian population aged 18+ | 2024 |
| Current Population Survey (BLS) | 17.3 million (about 7%) | Civilian noninstitutional population aged 18+ | 2025 annual average |
| VA population model (VetPop), reported by Pew | 18.3 million (about 6% of adults) | All living veterans, modelled | 2023 |
The ACS is the Census Bureau's large household survey and carries the most demographic detail. The BLS, the federal statistics agency for jobs and pay, uses the Current Population Survey for its employment figures. VA's VetPop2023 model starts from VA's own records at the end of fiscal year 2023 and projects forward to 2053; its tables are on the VA VetPop page. Quote the ACS for demographics, the BLS for jobs and VetPop for long-range planning.
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Who veterans are: UK and US compared
| Characteristic | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,853,112 (England and Wales, 2021); 176,100 (Scotland, 2022) | 15.7 million (ACS 2024) |
| Share of adults | 3.8% (England and Wales); 3.9% (Scotland) | 5.9% of civilian adults (ACS 2024) |
| Women | 13.6%, 251,400 people (England and Wales, 2021) | 11.1%, 1.7 million people (ACS 2024) |
| Older veterans | 53.0% aged 65+, 31.8% aged 80+ (England and Wales); 50.4% aged 65+ (Scotland) | 29.1% aged 75+; 8.4% under 35 (ACS 2024) |
| Type or era of service | Regular only 76.3%; reserve only 19.5%; both 4.3% (England and Wales) | Vietnam era 31.3%; Post-9/11 29.9%; Gulf War 25.5%; Korea 2.9%; WWII 0.4% (ACS 2024) |
| Unemployment | 1.6% of veterans aged 16+, against 1.7% of non-veterans (Census 2021, adjusted estimates) | 3.5% of veterans in the labour force, against 4.2% of non-veterans (BLS 2025) |
| Disability | Not measured in the same way | 34% reported a service-connected disability (BLS, August 2025) |
Two cautions apply. UK unemployment is shown as a share of all veterans aged 16 and over, which includes retired people, while the US rate is a share of veterans in the labour force, so the two percentages are not on the same base. The UK health measure is self-reported general health: veterans were less likely than non-veterans to report very good health, a gap ONS says largely disappears after adjusting for age, sex and region (ONS).
Veterans in work
Census 2021 found 40.8% of veterans in England and Wales in work, just over 755,800 people, and 42.4% economically active against 41.6% of non-veterans after adjustment. Veterans were less likely to be self-employed: 17.0% of economically active veterans, against 23.0% of non-veterans. They were more likely to work in protective service occupations and in transport and machine operative roles (ONS, June 2024).
In the US, BLS data for 2025 show a veteran unemployment rate of 3.5%, up from 3.0% in 2024, and 3.6% for Gulf War-era II veterans, against 4.2% for non-veterans. Women veterans, 12% of the total in this survey, had an unemployment rate of 4.6%. Half of Gulf War-era II veterans, 2.8 million people, reported a service-connected disability in August 2025 (BLS, April 2026).
Where veterans live
In England and Wales the South West has the highest share of veterans, 5.6% of residents aged 16 and over (265,000 people), followed by the North East at 5.0%. Gosport has the highest local authority share at 12.5%. Around 1,745,078 households, 7.0% of all households, contain at least one veteran (ONS). The ACS publishes comparable veteran counts for every US state and county through data.census.gov.
Both populations are getting smaller
| UK (Great Britain) | US | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting estimate | About 2.5 million (2016, Annual Population Survey basis) | 18.3 million (2023, VA model) |
| Projection | About 1.6 million by 2028 | 12.1 million by 2048, a fall of about 34% |
| Women | Rising from 10% to 13% | Rising from 11% to 18% |
| Age | Share aged 16 to 64 rising from 38% to 44% | Not stated in the Pew summary |
| Source | MOD, January 2019 | Pew Research Center, November 2023 |
Both declines reflect an older veteran population. Over half of veterans in England and Wales are 65 or older, and 29.1% of US veterans are 75 or older, so deaths in the oldest cohorts outnumber new service leavers. Women make up a growing share in both countries, and in Great Britain the working-age share is projected to rise.
The census count for England and Wales in 2021 sits below the 2016 survey-based estimate for Great Britain. The two figures use different methods, so read the census as the more recent direct count and the projection as a trend.
How to find veteran data for your area
- England and Wales: search the ONS Census 2021 veteran tables by local authority, starting from the ONS bulletin.
- Scotland: use the Scotland's Census 2022 veterans release and its area tables (Scotland's Census).
- Northern Ireland: read the NISRA linked-data report and its demography and labour market tables (NISRA).
- US states and counties: search "veteran status" on data.census.gov and choose the latest ACS 1-year or 5-year table.
- US projections: download the VetPop2023 national and state tables from VA.
Population size shapes how services are planned and funded. Our comparisons of veteran unemployment and Covenant and VA benefits show how each country turns these numbers into support.
What to do this week
- Look up the veteran share for your own council area in the ONS Census 2021 tables.
- When quoting US figures, state whether you mean the ACS, BLS or VA estimate and the year.
- Download the VetPop2023 state table if you plan services in a specific US state.
- Check the NISRA and Scotland's Census releases before quoting a UK-wide total.
Questions people ask
How many veterans are there in the UK?
How many veterans are there in the US?
What percentage of UK veterans are women?
Is the veteran population shrinking?
- Office for National Statistics, "UK armed forces veterans, England and Wales: Census 2021" (November 2022). https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/armedforcescommunity/bulletins/ukarmedforcesveteransenglandandwales/census2021
- Office for National Statistics, "Characteristics of UK armed forces veterans, England and Wales: Census 2021" (February 2023). https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/armedforcescommunity/articles/characteristicsofukarmedforcesveteransenglandandwalescensus2021/census2021
- Office for National Statistics, "The labour market status of UK armed forces veterans, England and Wales: Census 2021" (June 2024). https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/armedforcescommunity/articles/thelabourmarketstatusofukarmedforcesveteransenglandandwales/census2021
- National Records of Scotland, "Scotland's Census 2022: UK Armed Forces veterans" (June 2024). https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/2022-results/scotland-s-census-2022-uk-armed-forces-veterans/
- NISRA, "New report profiles Northern Ireland's UK Armed Forces veteran population" (June 2026). https://www.nisra.gov.uk/news/new-report-released-nisra-profiles-northern-irelands-uk-armed-forces-veteran-population-using
- US Census Bureau, "Veterans Day 2025: November 11" (2025). https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2025/veterans-day.html
- BLS, US Department of Labor's statistics agency, "Employment Situation of Veterans 2025" (April 2026). https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/vet_04282026.htm
- Pew Research Center, "The changing face of America's veteran population" (November 2023). https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/08/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/
- Ministry of Defence, "New figures reveal changes to the UK's veteran population" (January 2019). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-figures-reveal-changes-to-the-uks-veteran-population
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Veteran Population: VetPop2023" (accessed October 2026). https://www.va.gov/vetdata/veteran_population.asp
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