1901 — 1927
Greatest Generation
Born between 1901 and 1927 and named by Tom Brokaw. Fewer than five million are still alive, all of them aged 99 or over.
In one sentence
The Greatest Generation is the cohort born from 1901 to 1927, named by journalist Tom Brokaw for the generation that came of age during the Depression and fought the Second World War.
Birth years
1901–1927
Age in 2026
99–125
Cohort size
Under 5m
Age in 2050
123–149
What shaped them
- The Great Depression.
- The Second World War.
- Post-war reconstruction and the founding of modern institutions.
Traits people report
- Defined in popular memory by collective sacrifice.
- Almost entirely gone — fewer than five million remain.
Generational traits describe averages across hundreds of millions of people. They are useful for planning, useless for judging any individual child.
Frequently asked
Who named the Greatest Generation?
Journalist Tom Brokaw, in his 1998 book of the same name.