LAST UPDATED AUGUST 25, 2026
Useful figures, with the source beside every one.
This page brings together current public data about veterans in the United States, with local context for Desert Rat Graphix’s home in El Paso. It is built as a practical reference for writers, organizers, families, and businesses who need a clear starting point.
Each figure links directly to the government source that published it. Dates matter because different agencies update their data on different schedules.
17.3 million
Veterans lived in the United States in 2025.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 17.26 million veterans age 18 and older in its 2025 annual employment data. That is about 7 percent of the civilian noninstitutional population in the same age group.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation of Veterans, April 28, 2026 ↗3.5%
Was the veteran unemployment rate in 2025.
The 2025 unemployment rate for all veterans was lower than the 4.2 percent rate for nonveterans. This figure measures veterans who were in the labor force and looking for work.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation of Veterans, April 28, 2026 ↗2.1 million+
Women veterans live in the United States.
Women are the fastest-growing group within the veteran population. The VA reports they made up 11.3 percent of all veterans in fiscal year 2023 and are projected to make up 17.2 percent by 2043.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Women Veterans Facts and Statistics, September 23, 2025 ↗About 200,000
Service members transition to civilian life each year.
The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs use this estimate when planning transition support. It is a useful reminder that the veteran community is constantly gaining new members and new family milestones.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, VA-DoD transition partnership memorandum, May 30, 2025 ↗8.0 million
Veterans used a Veterans Benefits Administration benefit in fiscal year 2025.
The VA reports this total across benefits administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration. It covers a broad mix of earned support, including compensation, education, home-loan, insurance, and employment-related programs.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, 2025 fiscal year data, reported in 2026 ↗1,402,357
Veterans lived in Texas from 2020 to 2024.
Texas is home to one of the country’s largest veteran communities. The Census Bureau reports this estimate from its 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Texas QuickFacts, 2020 to 2024 estimate ↗40,359
Veterans lived in El Paso, Texas, from 2020 to 2024.
This local estimate helps show why military service, family traditions, retirements, and reunions remain part of everyday life in the El Paso community.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, El Paso city, Texas QuickFacts, 2020 to 2024 estimate ↗METHOD & SOURCES
How to use these numbers.
These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Population estimates, fiscal-year benefit totals, and annual employment figures describe different periods, so they should not be treated as one single survey.
For publication, cite the original source linked under the relevant statistic. You may also cite this page as a curated reference: “Desert Rat Graphix, ‘U.S. Veteran Statistics (2026),’ accessed August 25, 2026.”