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Veterans in Los Angeles County

2022, 2020 and 2010 Census Estimates*

Veterans, Military

"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 194,745 civilian U.S. military veterans living in Los Angeles County in 2022. They comprised almost 3 percent of the county’s civilian population age 18 years or older. Although the veteran population in Los Angeles County is only 1.2 percent of the nation's civilian veteran population, it is the sixth largest veteran population of any U.S. county. Los Angeles County is also home to the second largest numbers of Asian, Native American and Hispanic/Latino veterans in the nation as well as largest number of remaining World War II , Korean War and Gulf War veterans.


Veterans – By Period of Service

Period of Service 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
All Periods 194,745 100.0% 252,329 100.0% 368,128 100.0%
Gulf War (Sep 2001 or later) 49,311 25.3% 50,046 19.8% 26,505 7.2%
Gulf War (Aug 1990 to Aug 2001) 34,869 17.9% 40,748 16.1% 41,967 11.4%
Vietnam Era (Aug 1964 to Apr 1975) 64,416 33.1% 81,510 32.3% 115,224 31.3%
Period of Service 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
Korean War (Jul 1950 to Jan 1955) 11,131 5.7% 24,086 9.5% 49,329 13.4%
World War II (Dec 1941 to Dec 1946) 2,728 1.4% 10,279 4.1% 53,747 14.6%
All Other Periods (Peacetime Periods) 46,149 23.7% 44,338 18.2% 81,356 22.1%

Veterans – By Sex

Sex 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
Male 177,295 91.0% 233,615 92.6% 347,513 94.4%
Female 17,450 9.0% 18,714 7.4% 20,615 5.6%


Also see: Los Angeles County Women Veteran Demographics

Female, Woman, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Los Angeles


Veterans – By Age

Age Group 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
18 to 34 Years 19,715 10.1% 25,246 10.0% 32,395 8.8%
35 to 54 Years 44,311 22.8% 55,493 22.0% 82,093 22.3%
55 to 64 Years 30,394 15.6% 40,571 16.1% 87,614 23.8%
65 to 74 Years 39,972 20.5% 59,495 23.6% 71,785 19.5%
75 Years & Over 60,353 31.0% 71,524 28.3% 94,241 25.6%

Veterans – By Race

Except for "Two or More Races" or "Hispanic or Latino," race categories are persons who identify with only one race.

Race 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2,985 1.5% 2,245 0.9% 2,945 0.8%
Asian Alone 20,310 10.4% 22,031 8.7% 24,296 6.6%
Black or African American Alone 30,696 15.8% 42,670 16.9% 56,692 15.4%
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone 1,395 0.7% 934 0.4% 1,473 0.4%
Race 2022 2020 2010
Veterans Percent Veterans Percent Veterans Percent
White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino 81,485 41.8% 118,708 47.0% 208,729 56.7%
Some Other Race Alone 22,088 11.3% 18,515 7.3% 25,401 6.9%
Two or More Races 29,040 14.9% 13,406 5.3% 9,203 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino of Any Race 52,424 26.9% 61,260 24.3% 69,944 19.0%

Veterans – In Poverty

Veterans for whom poverty status was determined

Veteran Poverty 2022 2020 2010
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Veterans Below Poverty Line 19,246 10.0% 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