{"id":283758,"date":"2026-01-09T12:58:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T17:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=283758"},"modified":"2026-01-09T12:58:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T17:58:30","slug":"the-oldest-baby-boomers-turn-80-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/01\/09\/the-oldest-baby-boomers-turn-80-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The oldest Baby Boomers turn 80 in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Stock<\/a>
(Fabio Formaggio via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Baby Boomers will soon reach another milestone: In 2026, the oldest members of this generation will turn 80. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Baby Boom generation<\/a> refers to adults born between 1946 and 1964. The name reflects the sharp and prolonged increase in fertility that occurred in the wake of World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis updates the size of the U.S. Baby Boomer population and incorporates the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population projections to 2100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center<\/a> conducts high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The postwar baby boom has fundamentally changed U.S. society in many ways, from the political to the economic, social and demographic. Pew Research Center has a long-standing research focus on the impacts of the Baby Boomers<\/a>, including documenting the milestones of the generation<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This analysis primarily uses U.S. Census Bureau population estimates<\/a> and projections<\/a> by single year of age. Historical county population estimates are available at the SEER website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Center for Health Statistics compiles U.S. live births<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

The United States saw a total of 76 million births during the boom, with the annual number surpassing 4 million in 1954 and remaining above that level until 1965. The annual number of births would not surpass 4 million again until 1989.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Baby Boom generation: 76 million births occurred in U.S. from 1946 to 1964<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Number of U.S. births by year, in millions<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: All figures rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: National Center for Health Statistics.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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