Cohort comparison · -19-year gap
Baby Boomers was born 1946–1964 and Generation X 1965–1980, a gap of -19 years between the start of each cohort. In 2026 Baby Boomers is aged 62–80 and Generation X is aged 46–61. The clearest difference is that Baby Boomers is defined by post-war prosperity and the birth spike while Generation X is defined by the last analogue childhood.
Born between 1946 and 1964 during the post-war birth spike. Boomers hold roughly half of global wealth while making up about 14% of the population.
Born between 1965 and 1980 — the smallest of the modern generations, and the last to have a fully analogue childhood.
Side by side
| Baby Boomers | Generation X | |
|---|---|---|
| Birth years | 1946–1964 | 1965–1980 |
| Age in 2026 | 62–80 | 46–61 |
| Cohort size | ~1.15bn | ~1.4bn |
| Defining shift | Post-war prosperity and the birth spike | The last analogue childhood |
| Age in 2050 | 86–104 | 70–85 |
| Cohort length | 19 years | 16 years |
| Status | Closed | Closed |
Baby Boomers covers births from 1946 to 1964 and Generation X from 1965 to 1980. Post-war prosperity and the birth spike defines the first; The last analogue childhood defines the second.
In 2026, Baby Boomers is 62–80 and Generation X is 46–61.
Baby Boomers is ~1.15bn and Generation X is ~1.4bn.
There is no boundary between these two directly unless they are adjacent cohorts. Boundaries are conventions set by McCrindle Research, not official definitions, and other frameworks draw them a year or two apart.
Other comparisons