I was getting ready to write a blog post contrasting and comparing the various generations, so I did some research to make sure I had the demarcation lines right.
Turns out it is very complicated. Here is what I have found:
I am ignoring the Lost Generation, the Generation of 1914, and the Interbellum Generation since they would be 106-131 years old today. Sorry. No disrespect intended.
1. Depression Era Generation, the Greatest Generation – born 1912-21 (my late father’s bunch) – 12,000,000 declining rapidly
2. World War II Generation – born 1922-27 (some fought in WWII) – 11,000,000 declining rapidly
3. Post War Generation – born 1928-45 – 41,000,000 declining
The three preceding generations are also called the Silent Generations, the Traditionalists. You can get an argument on that.
4. Baby Boomers, Boomer Cohort I – born 1946-54 (my gang) – 33,000,000
5. Baby Boomers II, Generation Jones – born 1955-65 – 49,000,000
Taken together BB I/II totals 82,000,000 making them the largest generation.
6. Generation X, the Baby Bust – born 1966-76 – 41,000,000
7. Millennials, Echo Boomers, Generation Y, Gen Next – born 1977-1994 (my children) – 71,000,000 – the second largest generation
8. Generation Z, iGen, Centennials – born 1995-2012 – 23,000,000
9. Gen Alpha – born 2013-25
Stay tuned. More to come.