For years, understanding societal shifts has been a key focus at Pew Research Center, often achieved by examining differences across generations. This generational lens allows us to analyze Americans based on their stage in life – young adulthood, middle age, or retirement – and their shared experiences as a cohort born within a similar timeframe. But precisely, What Age Are Millennials today? Defining this generation is crucial for accurate social and demographic analysis.
Generational studies, as highlighted by Michael Dimock, president of Pew Research Center, are vital for tracking evolving perspectives over time. By studying generational cohorts, researchers can understand how significant events, technological progress, economic conditions, and social changes interact with aging to shape worldviews. While age groups may differ in opinions at any given point, generational cohorts enable researchers to trace how older adults felt about issues when they were younger and how these perspectives evolve across generations.
Pew Research Center’s extensive study of the Millennial generation spans over a decade. However, by 2018, it became necessary to establish a clear boundary between Millennials and the subsequent generation. With the oldest Millennials approaching 38 years old that year, and having reached adulthood well before today’s youngest adults were even born, the need for a distinction was evident.
To maintain the analytical relevance of the Millennial generation and to begin exploring the unique characteristics of the next cohort, Pew Research Center made a pivotal decision a year prior to the original article’s publish date: 1996 would be the final birth year for Millennials in their ongoing research. Therefore, individuals born between 1981 and 1996 are classified as Millennials, while those born from 1997 onwards belong to a new generation. This means, in 2019 when this article was originally published, Millennials were aged 23 to 38. So, to answer directly: if you were born between 1981 and 1996, you are a Millennial.
Initially, there was hesitation in naming the generation following Millennials, as the oldest were just turning 22. Terms like “Generation Z,” “iGeneration,” and “Homelanders” were considered. Pew Research Center initially used “post-Millennials” as a placeholder. However, “Gen Z” gained traction in popular culture and media. Dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and Oxford, along with Urban Dictionary and Google Trends data, indicated “Generation Z” as the prevailing term for the generation after Millennials. The search term “Generation Z” significantly outpaced other potential names, solidifying its widespread acceptance.
It’s important to note that generational cutoffs are not precise scientific measurements. They serve as analytical tools. While boundaries aren’t arbitrary, there’s no universally agreed-upon length for a generation’s span. Pew Research Center defined Millennials with a 16-year span (1981-1996), mirroring the length of Generation X (1965-1980). Both are shorter than the Baby Boomer generation (19 years), which is unique as the U.S. Census Bureau officially designated it based on the post-World War II birth surge starting in 1946 and a birth rate decline after 1964.
Unlike Baby Boomers, later generations lack such clear-cut defining thresholds. However, for analytical purposes, 1996 is considered a meaningful dividing line between Millennials and Gen Z due to significant political, economic, and social factors that shaped the Millennial generation’s formative years.
The Millennial generation’s formative experiences are marked by key events. Most Millennials were between 5 and 20 years old during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a pivotal moment in modern history that many understood the significance of. In contrast, most Gen Z members have little to no memory of this event. Millennials also grew up during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which influenced political views and contributed to the intense political polarization seen today. The 2008 election, where the youth vote played a crucial role in electing the first Black president, also occurred when most Millennials were between 12 and 27. Furthermore, Millennials are the most racially and ethnically diverse adult generation in U.S. history, a trend that continues even more strongly with Generation Z.
Economically, Millennials came of age and entered the workforce during a major recession. This economic downturn significantly impacted their life choices, earning potential, and entry into adulthood, potentially more so than for younger generations. The long-term consequences of this “slow start” for Millennials will likely continue to shape American society for decades.
Technology is another defining generational factor. Baby Boomers experienced the rise of television, fundamentally altering lifestyles. Generation X grew up with the computer revolution. Millennials came of age during the internet explosion.
Generation Z is unique because they have always lived with these technological advancements. The iPhone launched in 2007, when the oldest Gen Z members were around 10 years old. By their teens, mobile devices, Wi-Fi, and high-speed cellular service became the primary means of internet access for young Americans. Social media, constant connectivity, and on-demand entertainment are innovations Millennials adapted to as they matured. For those born after 1996, these are the assumed norms.
The implications of growing up in an “always-on” technological environment are still emerging. Recent studies indicate significant shifts in youth behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles—both positive and negative—for those raised in this era. Whether these are lasting generational traits or simply characteristics of adolescence that will fade in adulthood remains to be seen. Tracking this new generation over time is crucial.
Pew Research Center acknowledges that their 1996 cutoff for Millennials isn’t the only perspective, and valid arguments exist for slightly earlier or later boundaries. Future data may clarify a more precise delineation. However, current historical, technological, behavioral, and attitudinal data suggests a continuum across generations rather than a sharp threshold. Differences within generations can be as significant as those between generations, and individuals at the edges of cohorts may identify more with adjacent generations. This highlights the inherent diversity and complexity within generational groups, moving beyond simplistic stereotypes.
Pew Research Center continues to expand its generational research, building upon past work. Recent reports have begun to explore Generation Z’s views on social and political issues compared to older generations. While Gen Z’s views are still developing, early insights offer compelling clues about their potential impact on the future political landscape.
Future analyses will compare Millennials to previous generations at similar life stages to assess whether Millennial demographic, economic, and household trends continue to differ from prior generations. Furthermore, research into teen technology use will expand to explore the daily lives, aspirations, and challenges faced by today’s teenagers.
However, caution remains in projecting too much onto a generation still so young. Donald Trump is the first U.S. president most Gen Z members have known as they reach adulthood. Just as the contrast between George W. Bush and Barack Obama shaped political discourse for Millennials, the current political climate may similarly influence Gen Z, although the specifics are yet to unfold. The technologies, debates, and events that will truly define Generation Z are likely still on the horizon.
The coming years will be dedicated to studying Generation Z as they transition into adulthood. It’s crucial to remember that generations are a tool to understand societal change, not labels that oversimplify group differences.
Note: This article is updated from a post originally published March 1, 2018, announcing Pew Research Center’s adoption of 1996 as the end year for the Millennial generation.
