The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Hispanic or Latino veterans made up 8 percent of the total U.S. veteran population in 2023
October 15, 2024
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, join us as we take a closer look at some national labor market characteristics for Hispanic or Latino veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Hispanic or Latino veterans age 18 and over made up 8 percent of the total U.S. veteran population in 2023. Between 2008 and 2023, the number of Hispanic veterans grew from 1.2 million to 1.5 million, an increase of 25 percent. In comparison, the total U.S. veteran population declined by 20 percent during the same period.
Hispanic or Latino veteran population 18 years of age and over by period of service 2008 to 2023, annual averages
Military service period
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
All Hispanic or Latino veterans
1,177,000
1,225,000
1,244,000
1,259,000
1,298,000
1,385,000
1,395,000
1,468,000
1,484,000
1,459,000
Gulf War era II
161,000
190,000
241,000
287,000
308,000
370,000
423,000
493,000
532,000
527,000
Gulf War era I
268,000
256,000
250,000
260,000
274,000
287,000
293,000
280,000
262,000
270,000
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
440,000
452,000
431,000
384,000
412,000
428,000
381,000
381,000
359,000
374,000
Other service periods
309,000
327,000
322,000
328,000
303,000
300,000
298,000
314,000
331,000
287,000
Hispanic or Latino veteran population 18 years of age and over by period of service 2008 to 2023, annual averages
Military service period
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
All Hispanic or Latino veterans
1,345,000
1,358,000
1,456,000
1,453,000
1,407,000
1,471,000
Gulf War era II
539,000
540,000
622,000
605,000
588,000
665,000
Gulf War era I
237,000
272,000
295,000
320,000
289,000
309,000
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
338,000
311,000
292,000
295,000
294,000
269,000
Other service periods
231,000
235,000
247,000
234,000
236,000
229,000
In 2023, there were 665,000 Hispanic veterans who served during Gulf War-era II (September 2001 to present). Those who served during this wartime period accounted for 45 percent of the total Hispanic veteran population in 2023. Twenty-one percent of Hispanic veterans (309,000) served during Gulf War-era I (August 1990 to August 2001) and 18 percent (269,000) served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam-era. Another 16 percent (229,000) served outside these designated wartime periods.
Unemployment rates of Hispanics or Latinos, by veteran status and period of service
Veteran status and period of service
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total, 18 years and over
7.3
11.8
12.2
11.2
10.0
8.8
7.1
6.4
5.6
4.9
4.5
4.1
10.3
6.6
4.1
4.5
Veterans
5.1
7.7
9.2
9.8
8.2
7.5
6.3
6.2
4.9
3.8
3.8
2.4
7.4
6.0
3.3
2.9
Gulf War era II
6.0
10.7
14.0
17.0
11.7
10.3
7.6
6.5
4.5
4.0
3.4
3.2
8.7
6.0
4.1
3.8
Gulf War era I
5.9
7.9
7.9
7.5
7.2
6.8
5.0
6.3
3.4
2.9
3.1
2.2
5.1
4.1
1.4
1.6
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
5.5
7.8
7.7
6.6
5.4
4.6
6.1
3.0
6.6
4.0
5.0
1.2
5.9
10.6
8.0
4.2
Other service periods
3.4
5.5
7.5
6.7
7.1
6.7
5.9
7.5
6.6
4.4
5.5
0.8
7.0
8.1
2.6
1.5
Nonveterans
7.3
11.9
12.3
11.2
10.0
8.8
7.2
6.4
5.6
5.0
4.5
4.2
10.4
6.7
4.1
4.5
In 2023, the unemployment rate for Hispanic veterans was 2.9 percent, compared to their nonveteran counterparts at 4.5 percent. For Gulf War-era II veterans of Hispanic ethnicity, the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in 2023. The difference in unemployment rates between Hispanic veterans and nonveterans varied during the period from 2008 to 2023, with rates for Hispanic veterans tending to be lower than those for nonveterans. During the recession caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gap in unemployment rates between the two groups grew to 3.0 percentage points. The rates for both veteran and nonveteran Hispanics declined following the recession, narrowing the gap to less than 1 percentage point in 2022. In 2023, the gap in unemployment rates was 1.6 percentage points.
Veterans are men and women who previously served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were civilians when the survey was conducted. People on active duty are not included in the survey. Veterans could have served anywhere in the world during these periods of service: Gulf War-era II (September 2001–present), Gulf War-era I (August 1990–August 2001), Vietnam-era (August 1964–April 1975), Korean War (July 1950–January 1955), World War II (December 1941–December 1946), and other service periods (all other time periods). Veterans who served in more than one wartime period are classified only in the most recent one. Veterans who served during one of the selected wartime periods and another period are classified only in the wartime period. Nonveterans are men and women who never served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
United States Department of Labor
