Cohort comparison · -35-year gap
Baby Boomers was born 1946–1964 and Millennials 1981–1996, a gap of -35 years between the start of each cohort. In 2026 Baby Boomers is aged 62–80 and Millennials is aged 30–45. The clearest difference is that Baby Boomers is defined by post-war prosperity and the birth spike while Millennials is defined by came of age with the commercial internet.
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 1981 and 1996, Millennials are the generation that came of age with the commercial internet, and are now the parents of most of Generation Alpha.
Side by side
| Baby Boomers | Millennials | |
|---|---|---|
| Birth years | 1946–1964 | 1981–1996 |
| Age in 2026 | 62–80 | 30–45 |
| Cohort size | ~1.15bn | ~1.9bn |
| Defining shift | Post-war prosperity and the birth spike | Came of age with the commercial internet |
| Age in 2050 | 86–104 | 54–69 |
| Cohort length | 19 years | 16 years |
| Status | Closed | Closed |
Baby Boomers covers births from 1946 to 1964 and Millennials from 1981 to 1996. Post-war prosperity and the birth spike defines the first; Came of age with the commercial internet defines the second.
In 2026, Baby Boomers is 62–80 and Millennials is 30–45.
Baby Boomers is ~1.15bn and Millennials is ~1.9bn.
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