The servicemen and servicewomen returning home will join the more than 17 million American military veterans living across the country. Over 20% of veterans served since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2021, the catalyst for the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Here is a look at the longest wars in history.
Nationwide, veterans account for 6.9% of the adult population. In Minnesota, 276,686 residents, or 6.4% of the 18 and older population, are military veterans — the ninth smallest share among states. Of all veterans in the state, 16.1% served after Sept. 11 2001, 40.5% served during the Vietnam War era, and 3.0% are veterans of WWII.
The human toll of American military conflicts extends far beyond those killed or missing in action. Nationwide, about 30% of veterans have a disability of some kind. That share is even higher, at 41%, among those who served since September 2001. In Minnesota, an estimated 28.1% of all veterans are living with a disability. Disabilities connected to military service typically include missing limbs, burns, spinal cord injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and traumatic brain injuries.
All data used in this story is from the U.S Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
| Rank | State | Adults who are veterans | Veteran pop. who served since Sept. 11, 2001 | Veteran pop. from Vietnam War era | Veteran pop. from WWII era | Veteran pop. with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | New York | 4.3% | 16.9% | 35.6% | 3.5% | 28.3% |
| 49 | New Jersey | 4.4% | 14.9% | 36.8% | 3.3% | 28.8% |
| 48 | California | 4.8% | 21.8% | 36.1% | 2.7% | 30.2% |
| 47 | Massachusetts | 5.0% | 16.6% | 36.1% | 3.9% | 29.3% |
| 46 | Utah | 5.1% | 27.1% | 36.3% | 2.7% | 27.7% |
| 45 | Illinois | 5.3% | 17.9% | 36.9% | 2.8% | 29.5% |
| 44 | Connecticut | 5.5% | 16.8% | 35.9% | 3.3% | 27.3% |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 5.8% | 13.7% | 39.3% | 4.5% | 28.7% |
| 42 | Minnesota | 6.4% | 16.1% | 40.5% | 3.0% | 28.1% |
| 41 | Louisiana | 6.5% | 21.6% | 36.5% | 1.4% | 34.1% |
| 40 | Texas | 6.5% | 28.3% | 32.2% | 1.5% | 29.3% |
| 39 | Michigan | 6.6% | 14.4% | 38.2% | 2.4% | 31.4% |
| 38 | Mississippi | 6.8% | 25.6% | 34.7% | 1.8% | 32.7% |
| 37 | Vermont | 6.9% | 17.4% | 38.0% | 1.9% | 34.0% |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 6.9% | 18.1% | 36.8% | 2.6% | 28.3% |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | 7.0% | 16.0% | 36.7% | 2.9% | 29.6% |
| 34 | Indiana | 7.1% | 19.3% | 35.8% | 2.6% | 31.4% |
| 33 | Kentucky | 7.2% | 19.5% | 37.8% | 2.1% | 34.3% |
| 32 | Ohio | 7.3% | 17.6% | 36.2% | 2.7% | 28.7% |
| 31 | Maryland | 7.5% | 28.3% | 30.1% | 1.9% | 23.0% |
| 30 | Kansas | 7.5% | 20.9% | 37.2% | 2.3% | 32.5% |
| 29 | Iowa | 7.6% | 18.4% | 36.2% | 2.8% | 28.7% |
| 28 | Georgia | 7.6% | 25.3% | 31.3% | 1.2% | 29.1% |
| 27 | Nebraska | 7.7% | 22.3% | 36.1% | 2.4% | 30.0% |
| 26 | Oregon | 7.9% | 17.6% | 37.8% | 2.5% | 34.5% |
| 25 | North Carolina | 7.9% | 23.4% | 33.8% | 1.9% | 29.8% |
| 24 | Tennessee | 8.0% | 22.1% | 36.9% | 1.2% | 33.2% |
| 23 | North Dakota | 8.0% | 29.8% | 36.1% | 1.7% | 28.3% |
| 22 | Arkansas | 8.0% | 21.8% | 38.1% | 1.5% | 36.7% |
| 21 | Missouri | 8.1% | 19.7% | 37.1% | 2.0% | 33.1% |
| 20 | Florida | 8.2% | 19.3% | 37.0% | 2.3% | 30.1% |
| 19 | Colorado | 8.2% | 29.2% | 31.6% | 1.8% | 26.6% |
| 18 | Alabama | 8.4% | 24.3% | 35.6% | 1.1% | 33.3% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 8.4% | 20.1% | 39.7% | 2.1% | 33.9% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 8.5% | 28.6% | 34.4% | 1.9% | 28.4% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 8.5% | 16.7% | 38.5% | 1.8% | 37.0% |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 8.5% | 17.0% | 37.0% | 2.1% | 28.9% |
| 13 | Arizona | 8.5% | 21.2% | 38.5% | 1.7% | 31.1% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 8.6% | 21.9% | 36.7% | 2.7% | 34.3% |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 8.8% | 25.3% | 35.7% | 1.9% | 37.3% |
| 10 | South Carolina | 8.9% | 21.4% | 36.6% | 1.3% | 30.0% |
| 9 | Washington | 8.9% | 24.6% | 35.8% | 1.8% | 29.6% |
| 8 | Maine | 8.9% | 16.7% | 40.3% | 2.5% | 32.5% |
| 7 | Nevada | 8.9% | 23.3% | 34.5% | 1.6% | 28.2% |
| 6 | Delaware | 8.9% | 16.0% | 39.5% | 2.2% | 30.0% |
| 5 | Idaho | 9.1% | 19.1% | 37.6% | 1.6% | 33.1% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 9.4% | 22.5% | 36.3% | 0.2% | 29.1% |
| 3 | Virginia | 10.0% | 33.1% | 29.8% | 1.4% | 22.4% |
| 2 | Montana | 10.3% | 22.6% | 36.9% | 1.6% | 30.6% |
| 1 | Alaska | 10.7% | 35.0% | 30.2% | 1.0% | 24.1% |
