How Many World War 2 Veterans Are Still Alive?

How Many World War 2 Veterans Are Still Alive? We did the research and we have some answers.

World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, involved millions of soldiers from all over the world. Over the years, the number of World War II veterans has declined significantly due to old age and mortality. Today, nearly eight decades after the war ended, the number of surviving World War II veterans continues to dwindle. But how many World War II veterans are still alive today?

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, it is estimated that around 389,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were still alive in 2020. This means that less than 3% of the total number of World War II veterans from the United States are still living. This number is expected to continue to decline in the coming years as these veterans continue to age.

In the United Kingdom, the Royal British Legion estimates that there are currently around 300,000 surviving World War II veterans. This number includes not only British soldiers but also those who served in the Commonwealth forces. The youngest of these veterans are now in their late 90s, and the numbers are expected to decline significantly in the coming years.

In Russia, which had the highest number of military and civilian casualties in World War II, the number of surviving veterans is also decreasing rapidly. The Russian government estimates that there were around 2.5 million World War II veterans in 2020, but this number is expected to decrease to just 300,000 by 2025. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of these veterans are now in their 90s or older.

In Germany, where the war originated, the number of surviving veterans is much lower than in other countries. This is because most of the German soldiers who fought in the war were conscripts, and many of them were killed or captured. Today, the German government estimates that there are fewer than 100,000 surviving World War II veterans in the country.

So, how many World War 2 veterans are still alive? The number of World War II veterans still alive today is relatively small, and the number is expected to decline rapidly in the coming years. It is essential that we honor and remember these veterans, who made great sacrifices to defend our freedoms and values. We should also make sure that we support the remaining veterans in any way we can, whether it is through financial support or simply by listening to their stories and experiences.

Sources:

US Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). America’s Wars. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf

Royal British Legion. (2021). Remembrance Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/facts-and-figures

TASS. (2020). Number of Russia’s WWII veterans decreases to 2.5 mln – Putin. Retrieved from https://tass.com/society/1218227

Deutsche Welle. (2020). Fewer than 100,000 German WWII veterans still alive. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/fewer-than-100000-german-wwii-veterans-still-alive/a-55574259