The Baby Boomer Generation
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Key Takeaways
- A Baby Boomer is a person born in the years directly after World War II when birth rates soared.
- Baby Boomers were born from 1946 to 1964.
- As Baby Boomers age in a shift called “the gray tsunami,” thousands enter retirement each day. If you’re approaching retirement, visit our guide to retirement planning for tips on making the most of your finances after you retire.
In 2011, the first round of Baby Boomers—those Americans born between 1946 and 1964—turned 65. More than 11,200 Americans will turn 65 every day — or over 4.1 million each year — from 2024 through 2027, according to estimates from the Retirement Income Institute at the Alliance for Lifetime Income.
And as millions begin to officially retire, they collect Social Security checks and sign up for Medicare. Other Boomers will keep on working either out of financial necessity or because they want to keep working.
Are you a Baby Boomer or do you have a loved one that is? This generation was the largest in American history for many decades, and it is perhaps one of the most important right now when it comes to senior living. Boomers have unique personalities, and their life histories differ from today’s younger generations. Here’s a closer look at who they are and what they stand for.
Table of Contents
What Is a Baby Boomer?
The term Baby Boomer describes people who were born after World War II when the birth rate of Americans “boomed.” Baby Boomers represent an entire generation of people who came after The Greatest Generation (or GI Generation) and the Silent Generation. Generation X followed the Boomers, and they were followed by Millennials.
After the war, the GI bill helped soldiers pursue education, get good jobs, and find affordable housing in which to raise their families. Life seemed to flourish. Yet, Baby Boomers were born in an era that experienced great U.S. political and social upheaval. From race riots and the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam protests, the women’s movement and the assassinations of JFK, MLK, and RFK to our successful moon landing and a well-known era of free love and drug experimentation, Boomers lived in a U.S. that was both financially prosperous and socially turned on its head.
Boomers are often labeled as individualistic, narcissistic, and socially responsible. But it’s hard to give a general label to a group that came into the world over a nearly two-decade stretch—older Boomers are different from younger Boomers.
Americans born in the ‘40s were dancing to Buddy Holly one decade and starting their careers the next. Boomers born in the ‘50s grew up with the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones, and protested the Vietnam War in college. The ‘60s Boomers caught the tail end of Vietnam, Watergate, and Richard Nixon’s resignation as well as disco. A Boomer born in 1964 could be the child of a Boomer born in 1946.
Boomer Statistics and Facts
The following Baby Boomer statistics may surprise and fascinate you:
- Estimated to number over 73 million as of the 2020 census, this generation is the second-largest after their children, the Millennials, who were born from 1982 to 2000.
- Baby Boomers make up over 20% of the population.
- By 2030, all Boomers will be aged 65 or older.
- While Boomers make up only 29% of the population ages 75 to 84 today, they’re projected to increase to 100% of this age group by 2030.
- Our nation’s population is also getting older due to better health care. Boomers are living longer and also birth rates are very low.
- 51.8% of the total wealth in the United States is owned by members of the Boomer generation.
- Yet, 40% of older Americans are forced to rely solely on Social Security benefits in retirement to live.
FYI: SeniorLiving.org was created for the Baby Boomers. Our site includes tons of articles to help Baby Boomers plan their retirement and maximize their lifestyle. We also have the most complete directory of senior living options so Boomers can plan for their health care needs.
Watch our video below to learn more about Baby Boomers.
What Are the Birth Years for the Baby Boomer Generation?
Baby Boomers officially were born between 1946 and 1964. There were a total of 76 million births in the United States from 1946 to 1964. Of those 76 million baby Boomers born, nearly 11 million had already died by 2012. And that doesn’t include the addition of Boomer immigrants.
What Generation Came Before Baby Boomers? Which Came After?
As noted, the Silent Generation came directly before the Baby Boomer generation. This generation, which spanned from 1928 through 1945, is considered more cautious than their parents were. This generation was responsible, though, for shaping 20th-century pop culture, and they brought with them television legends, filmmakers, gonzo journalists, and political satirists. Interestingly, there are no presidents born in this generation.
Generation X came after the Baby Boomer generation. These individuals were born between 1965 and 1980. No members of this generation served as president. However, this generation is known to have done well. The group collectively learned more than Baby Boomers did when they were the same age. However, only 36% of them have more wealth than their parents. That’s due to the increased amount of debt held by this generation. By 2028, Generation X will outnumber Baby Boomers. As of 2016, there were between 61.2 million and 65.6 million present in the country.
How Are Baby Boomers Characterized?
Often derided for being members of the “me generation” (they did, after all, usher in an era of divorce), this “flower power” group is very confident in the future. They are known for their positive, confident attitude, probably because during their lifetimes they watched businesses grow and saw a high rate of home ownership. They watched labor unions help to improve working conditions for people. And, they saw wages rise. They also saw schools become more accessible.
And, perhaps one of the biggest lifestyle changes to hit Americans happened during their lifetime: people moved to the suburbs. We mentioned the GI bill helped them secure housing. Developers accessed faster methods to build homes. Their homes also changed. For the first time, spaces were created for fun and leisure called “family rooms.”
>> Related Reading: Retirement Has Changed Dramatically Over the Years
What Are Some Characteristics of the Baby Boomer Generation?
Baby Boomers represent a hard-working generation. Yet, they also have a strong desire to enjoy a higher quality of life. Some of the key characteristics of these individuals include:
- They value individual choice.
- They see community involvement as necessary and essential.
- They seek health and wellness in new ways.
- They are self-actualizing.
- They work hard to earn prosperity.
- They seek ownership of businesses and homes.
- They are confident in the tasks they have to do.
- They work hard to avoid conflicts and seek a more pleasant way to communicate.
- They adapt easily to change.
- Most are goal-oriented, but they also work well in teams.
Did You Know? Young Boomers are more racially and ethnically diverse than older Boomers. In fact, 68% of younger Boomers (ages 57 to 64) are non-Hispanic white and 32% identify with another racial or ethnic group. Compare that to 73% of older Boomers (ages 65 to 75) who identified as non-Hispanic white and 27% who identified with another racial or ethnic group.
What’s the Difference Between Baby Boomers and Millennials?
Baby Boomers differ in various ways from Millennials. The former hippies might be less likely to speak out now than Millennials who are more progressive on social issues. Baby Boomers thrived on supporting the whole family unit with a married set of parents whereas Millennials are less focused on getting married and more likely to support gay marriage. They are also more likely to support the legalization of marijuana and are less likely to be religious.
Millennials are also less likely to own a home or a vehicle. They instead rely on renting and do not strive to build ownership as readily, probably because of their debt burden and the current high prices for housing. Millennials are also less likely to be as affluent as Baby Boomers.
Unlike Millennials, when it comes to the workplace, Baby Boomers sometimes equate more authority with more experience. With digital expertise, authority can lie with younger people nowadays. Baby Boomers are also very competitive. Having come of age when many of their peers were born, they experienced competition for jobs and are comfortable working hard and taking as long as it takes to reach their goals. So many Boomers want to keep on working as long as they can. Many seniors want to continue working in jobs to stay mentally and physically active.
How are Baby Boomers Dealing With Their Health?
Baby Boomers led a fitness revolution. People started running, going to health clubs, and Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda combined exercise, dance, and music into their routines. They’re paying attention to what they eat, exercising more to live a more active lifestyle, and they’re focused on wellness.
Surprising Facts: Although Baby Boomers are less likely to smoke or experience heart attacks, they are more likely to be obese and to have diabetes and high blood pressure than the previous generation at the same age.
As Baby Boomers Retire, What’s the Impact on the Health Care System?
The exceedingly large generation of Boomers will tax the health care system like none before it. Baby Boomers, being very individualistic, will also have different views on what type of care is acceptable to them and for their needs. For example, many Baby Boomers want to live at home and age in place as long as possible to maintain their freedom.
The Boomers’ desire to safeguard their independence is already generating a greater need for custodial care services in which people assist at home. Members of this generation are buying more in-home care devices, such as medical alert systems, hearing aids, and digital medication dispensers, too.
Pro Tip: Visit our guides to the best medical alert systems and the best hearing aids to learn more about devices that can help thrive and stay safe as you age in place.
If they can’t live at home, many Boomers choose to remain in a residential setting. They don’t seem to want to live in nursing homes like their parents, although the demand for nursing home facilities continues to climb. A need for more locations for independent and assisted living facilities is therefore necessary at the same time staffing issues plague current facilities.
The Boomer generation is also living longer, and with that comes the need for long-term care. While this generation is getting used to more advanced and cutting-edge medical technology, through their sheer numbers, Baby Boomers are forcing the healthcare industry to modernize to meet their growing needs.
What Senior Living Options Exist for Baby Boomers?
With Baby Boomers reaching their golden years, they are choosing a variety of ways to live out their final days in true individualistic fashion. Some are living in unique retirement communities (like those for Jimmy Buffett fans and aviators) or swapping out split levels for houseboat communities.
Some are choosing to remain in their homes, and as they need more help with grooming, showering, and other activities of daily living, they are turning to family and paid caregivers.
As Baby Boomers age, they can also opt for the following types of senior living residencies:
- Senior living communities that allow those over the age of 55 to buy their home or condo within a private, amenity-filled community.
- Assisted living communities that allow seniors to access the assistance they need as they get older while still allowing them to live on their own.
- Nursing homes, which offer another solution for those who need more extensive help with medical care.
Of course, many other choices in senior living exist as well. From large farms to upscale apartment communities in urban areas, today’s senior Baby Boomers can seek out a variety of options that fit their specific needs, style, and price range. Visit our senior living directory to learn more about housing and care options in your area.
