Have you ever wondered which generation you are, and how that has impacted your life? Here is a list of the different generations alive today, and the basics about each.
The Depression Era
Born: 1912-1921
Coming of Age: 1930-1939
Age in 2016: 95+
Current Population: less than 75,000 and declining
This generation was irrevocably impacted by coming of age during the Great Depression. If this is you, you are probably careful with money, spending little, saving as much as possible, and investing conservatively.
World War II
Born: 1922-1927
Coming of Age: 1940-1945
Age in 2016: 89-94
Current Population: 8 million and falling
The World War II generation came of age during a time of war, possibly working together with the rest of the world to defeat a common enemy. If this is you, you probably tend to downplay your own needs and desires in deference to “the needs of the many.”
Post-War Cohort
Born: 1928-1945
Coming of Age: 1946-1963
Age in 2016: 71-88
Current Population: 30 million and falling
This generation came of age during a period of significant opportunity following World War II, but also a period of a great deal of uncertainty during the Cold War. If this is you, you probably feel thrive in the security of familiar surroundings, situations, and routines.
Baby Boomers
Born: 1946-1954
Coming of Age: 1963-1972
Age in 2016: 62-70
Current Population: 28 million
This generation grew up and came of age during a period of ample opportunity and great economic change. If this is you, you are probably optimistic, not only about your own life and potential, but also about America’s place in the world.
Generation Jones
Born: 1955-1965
Coming of Age: 1973-1983
Age in 2016: 51-61
Current Population: 45 million
Formerly lumped in with the Baby Boomers, Generation Jones has been recognized as its own generation because of the differences in socioeconomic forces that impacted the generation. If this is you, you came of age with fewer opportunities available to you, and as a result are more cynical and skeptical of the government and media.
Generation X
Born: 1966-1976
Coming of Age: 1988-1994
Age in 2016: 40-50
Current Population: 41 million
Kids of Generation X mostly grew up in broken homes or homes with two working parents, but they were also more highly educated than previous generations. If this is you, you are most likely cynical like those of Generation Jones, but with more education to back it up.
Generation Y, AKA Millennials
Born: 1977-1994
Coming of Age: 1998-2006
Age in 2016: 22-39
Current Population: 85 million
Growing up in the age of technology has had an irrevocable impact on Millennials. If this is you, you are sophisticated and tech-savvy, and you’re more comfortable than your predecessors in a world that is socially diverse and constantly changing.
Generation Z
Born: 1995-20??
Coming of Age: 2013-2020
Age in 2016: 21 and younger
Current Population: 60 million and counting
You’ll sometimes see this group called Generation C (for connection). Like Millennials, Gen Z has grown up in the age of technology, but also in the politically charged climate post-9/11 and in the uncertainty of the Great Recession. If this is you, not much is known about where you will go here, so it’s up to you to write your own history!
We’ve seen over the past 100 years that the societal and economic forces while a generation is coming of age can have a huge impact on the kinds of people they become. How has your generation affected you?
