Veterans Day: These states are home to the greatest percentage of U.S. veterans
The share of the adult population that has served in the U.S. military is highest in these 10 states.
By the end of 2023, the United States was home to more than 18 million individuals who had served in the country’s military. That figure, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Veterans Affairs and surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center, represents individuals from all walks of life.
Veterans come from diverse personal backgrounds, and they also call a wide range of states home. The USCB reports that some state populations feature a greater percentage of veterans than others. The share of the adult population that has served in the U.S. military is highest in these 10 states.
1. Alaska: More than 10 percent of Alaska’s 533,000 adult residents have served in the military.
2. Wyoming: The 2020 U.S. Census indicated Wyoming is the least populated state in the country. Despite that, the Equality State is home to a veteran population of just over 42,000, which accounts for roughly 9.4 percent of the state’s adult population.
3. Virginia: Perhaps not surprising given its proximity to the nation’s capital, Virginia is home to a sizable veteran population that accounts for 9.2 percent of its roughly 6.68 million adults.
4. Maine: Though it’s another state like Wyoming that does not boast an especially large adult population (a little more than 1.1 million individuals), Maine is home to more than 101,000 veterans.
5. Montana: The Treasure State features an adult population of just under 884,000, and 8.9 percent of those individuals (roughly 79,000 people) served in the U.S. military.
6. South Carolina: The Palmetto State is home to more than 344,600 veterans, and those individuals make up just under 8.5 percent of the state’s adult population.
7. Nevada: Among the roughly 2.5 million adults who call Nevada home, nearly 206,000 (roughly 8.3 percent) are veterans.
8. New Mexico: More than 136,000 veterans live in The Land of Enchantment, accounting for 8.3 percent of the state’s adult population.
9. South Dakota: Like Alaska, Wyoming and Montana, South Dakota does not boast a particularly large adult population (roughly 685,000). However, more than 8.2 percent of adults who live in The Mount Rushmore State are U.S. military veterans.
10. Hawaii: The Aloha State rounds out the top 10, as the island state in the Pacific Ocean is home to nearly 90,000 U.S. military veterans, which accounts for 8.2 percent of its total adult population.
This Veterans Day, individuals in all 50 states are urged to thank local veterans for their sacrifices and service.
