"Wall of Heroes" honor local veterans in a retail store in Pico Rivera. Los Angeles Almanac photo.
The U.S. Census estimates that, in 2019, there were 243,871 civilian U.S. military veterans living in Los Angeles County. They comprise about 3.1 percent of the county’s civilian population, age 18 years or older. Although the veteran population in Los Angeles County is only 1.3 percent of the nation's civilian veteran population, it is the second largest veteran population of any U.S. county (second only to Maricopa County, Arizona).
Data are Census 2019 1-Year Estimates
| Period of Service | Veterans | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| All Periods | 243,871 | 100.0% |
| Gulf War (Sep 2001 or later) | 52,265 | 21.4% |
| Gulf War (Aug 1990 to Aug 2001) | 39,352 | 16.1% |
| Vietnam Era (Aug 1964 to Apr 1975) | 80,575 | 33.0% |
| Korean War (Jul 1950 to Jan 1955) | 20,025 | 8.2% |
| World War II (Dec 1941 to Dec 1946) | 7,316 | 3.0% |
| All Other Periods (Peacetime Periods) | 44,338 | 18.2% |
| Sex | Veterans | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 224,965 | 92.2% |
| Female | 18,906 | 7.8% |
Also see: Los Angeles County Women Veteran Demographics
| Age Group | Veterans | Percent of All Veterans |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 34 Years | 24,721 | 10.1% |
| 35 to 54 Years | 53,848 | 22.1% |
| 55 to 64 Years | 37,013 | 15.2% |
| 65 to 74 Years | 58,576 | 24.0% |
| 75 Years & Over | 69,713 | 28.6% |
| Race | Veterans | Percent of All Veterans |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian & Alaska Native Alone | 2,733 | 1.1% |
| Asian Alone | 22,292 | 9.1% |
| Black or African American Alone | 41,594 | 17.1% |
| Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone | 1,266 | 0.5% |
| White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino | 111,388 | 45.7% |
| Some Other Race Alone | 16,815 | 6.9% |
| Two or More Races | 9,286 | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino of Any Race | 61,381 | 25.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
