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Learn the latest definitions for the generational groups based on birth years, from the Silent Generation to Gen Alpha. Find out how factors like 9/11, the internet, and COVID-19 have shaped each generation's identity and culture.
A generation is all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It also is "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children."
- Greatest Generation (Born 1901-1927) Also known as the G.I. Generation, the Greatest Generation survived a lot: They lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II, and grew victory gardens to feed their families, then contributed to one of the most economically prosperous times in American history.
- Silent Generation (Born 1928-1945) The Silent Generation followed the Greatest Generation. Known as traditionalists, the Silent Generation were small in number due to low birthrates in the 1920s and 1930s and were generally raised as kids to be seen and not heard, hence their name (coined by Time in a 1951 essay).
- Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964) Baby Boomers got their moniker from the "baby boom" that followed the second World War: There are 76 million Baby Boomers.
- Gen X (1965-1980) Gen X (Generation X) is often called a forgotten generation. They had the highest rate of divorced parents of any generation on our list.
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word generation, from biology and genealogy to culture and history. See examples, synonyms, related phrases, and word history of generation.
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- The Lost Generation: Born 1883-1910. The idea of naming each generation didn't take hold until the 20th century when author Gertrude Stein began referring to people who came of age during the First World War as "The Lost Generation."
- The Greatest Generation (GI Generation): Born 1901–1927. The next generation would not receive their designation until 1991 when Howe and Strauss hit the scene.
- The Silent Generation: Born 1928 to 1945. Time first introduced the term "Silent Generation" in a 1951 article that read, "By comparison with the Flaming Youth of their fathers and mothers, today's younger generation is a still, small flame.
- The Baby Boomer Generation: Born 1946 to 1964. The Baby Boomer Generation are the individuals born during the U.S. baby boom that followed World War II.
From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, explore the complexity of America’s living and lost generations through an interactive multimedia experience.
Jan 17, 2019 · Learn how Pew Research Center determines the boundaries of generational cohorts, such as Millennials and Generation Z, based on key factors like politics, economy and technology. Find out why 1996 is the last birth year for Millennials and what makes Gen Z distinct.
