"Wall of Heroes" honor local veterans in a retail store in Pico Rivera. Los Angeles Almanac photo.
According to U.S. Census estimates, there were 242,668 civilian U.S. military veterans living in Los Angeles County in 2021. They comprised about 3 percent of the county’s civilian population age 18 years or older. Although the veteran population in Los Angeles County is only 1.5 percent of the nation's civilian veteran population, it is the second largest veteran population in any U.S. county (barely missing first place to Maricopa County, Arizona). Los Angeles County is also home to the largest number of Hispanic/Latino veterans in the nation as well as largest number of remaining World War II and Korean War veterans.
| Period of Service | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| All Periods | 242,668 | 100.00% | 252,329 | 100.0% | 368,128 | 100.0% |
| Gulf War (Sep 2001 or later) | 51,352 | 21.20% | 50,046 | 19.8% | 26,505 | 7.2% |
| Gulf War (Aug 1990 to Aug 2001) | 41,985 | 17.30% | 40,748 | 16.1% | 41,967 | 11.4% |
| Vietnam Era (Aug 1964 to Apr 1975) | 77,806 | 32.10% | 81,510 | 32.3% | 115,224 | 31.3% |
| Period of Service | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| Korean War (Jul 1950 to Jan 1955) | 20,255 | 8.30% | 24,086 | 9.5% | 49,329 | 13.4% |
| World War II (Dec 1941 to Dec 1946) | 7,592 | 3.10% | 10,279 | 4.1% | 53,747 | 14.6% |
| All Other Periods (Peacetime Periods) | 43,678 | 18.00% | 44,338 | 18.2% | 81,356 | 22.1% |
| Sex | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| Male | 224,219 | 92.40% | 233,615 | 92.6% | 347,513 | 94.4% |
| Female | 18,449 | 7.60% | 18,714 | 7.4% | 20,615 | 5.6% |
Also see: Los Angeles County Women Veteran Demographics
| Age Group | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| 18 to 34 Years | 24,272 | 10.00% | 25,246 | 10.0% | 32,395 | 8.8% |
| 35 to 54 Years | 55,340 | 22.80% | 55,493 | 22.0% | 82,093 | 22.3% |
| 55 to 64 Years | 40,130 | 16.50% | 40,571 | 16.1% | 87,614 | 23.8% |
| 65 to 74 Years | 55,627 | 22.90% | 59,495 | 23.6% | 71,785 | 19.5% |
| 75 Years & Over | 67,299 | 27.70% | 71,524 | 28.3% | 94,241 | 25.6% |
Except "Two or More Races" or "Hispanic or Latino," race categories are persons of only one race alone.
| Race | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 2,538 | 1.00% | 2,245 | 0.9% | 2,945 | 0.8% |
| Asian | 21,947 | 9.00% | 22,031 | 8.7% | 24,296 | 6.6% |
| Black or African American | 40,785 | 16.80% | 42,670 | 16.9% | 56,692 | 15.4% |
| Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander | 880 | 0.40% | 934 | 0.4% | 1,473 | 0.4% |
| Race | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
| Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | Veterans | Percent | |
| White, Not Hispanic or Latino | 109,187 | 45.00% | 118,708 | 47.0% | 208,729 | 56.7% |
| Some Other Race | 19,895 | 8.20% | 18,515 | 7.3% | 25,401 | 6.9% |
| Two or More Races | 19,240 | 7.90% | 13,406 | 5.3% | 9,203 | 2.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of Any Race) | 62,140 | 25.60% | 61,260 | 24.3% | 69,944 | 19.0% |
Veterans for whom poverty status was determined
| Veteran Poverty | 2021* | 2020* | 2010† | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Veterans Below Poverty Line | 23,518 | 9.80% | 24,686 | 9.9% | --- | --- |
* U.S. Census estimates based on American Community Survey data collected over the preceeding 5 years. These estimates are issued annually between full Decennial Census counts conducted each decade.
† Also American Community Survey estimates, however, 2010 estimates were reported as percentages rather than specific numbers. Numbers for 2010 here were calculated using total number of veterans against these percentages.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
