This section presents statistics on veterans in the United States. Specifically, the data address service-connected disability rating; the prevalence of disabilities in the veteran population; the portion of the veteran population that experiences poverty, including the difference between the poverty rates of veterans with and without disabilities (relative ratio), by disability status. The principal sources of these data are the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the American Community Survey and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Annual Benefits Report. For these tables, statistics for people with disabilities (disability status) are based on having responded ‘yes’ to a series of questions within the American Community Survey (go to the glossary for more details). Poverty is defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and set as a dollar threshold by the U.S. Census Bureau in all sources (go to the glossary for more details).
For expanded statistics by age, gender, and race/ethnicity please go to the Annual Disability Statistics Build Your Own Statistics site at https://www.researchondisability.org/collection/2024/build-stats
Tables
Table 8.1: In 2022, according to the American Community Survey, 2,046,000 veterans ages 18 and over living in the community reported having a military service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more. Table 8.1 Veterans - Service-Connected Disability Rating - Civilian Veterans Ages 18 Years and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2022
Table 8.2: In 2022, there were 8,139,000 civilian veterans ages 18-64 years living in the community, 1,635,000 of which were individuals with disabilities; representing 20.1% of veterans. Rhode Island/RI had the lowest percentage of veterans with disabilities (11.8%); while Puerto Rico/PR had the highest percentage of veterans with disabilities (34.1%). Table 8.2 Prevalence - Civilian Veterans With and Without Disability, Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022
Table 8.3: In 2022, of the 1,635,000 veterans with disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 225,000 veterans were experiencing poverty (13.8%). In contrast, of the 6,505,000 veterans without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 393,000 veterans were experiencing poverty (6%). The percentage of veterans with disabilities living in poverty was highest in Vermont/VT, 29.7% and lowest in North Dakota/ND, 4.5%. The state with the greatest disparity in poverty was in Connecticut/CT, with a relative ratio of poverty 6.106 (the further this value is from 1.00, the greater the disparity in poverty between veterans with disabilities and those without disabilities). Table 8.3 Poverty - Civilian Veterans with and without Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022
Table 8.4: In the Federal Fiscal Year 2022, the United States spent a total of $134,608,478,955 on compensation and pension benefits paid to disabled veterans. Table 8.4 Veterans Benefits Administration - Compensation and Pension Benefits Paid to Disabled Veterans and their Survivors: Federal Fiscal Year 2022
Table 8.1 Veterans - Service-Connected Disability Rating - Civilian Veterans Ages 18 Years and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2022
Table 8.1 Veterans - Service-Connected Disability Rating - Civilian Veterans Ages 18 Years and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2022 | ||||||||||||
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Notes: Authors’ calculations using the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample, (2022), which is subject to sampling variability. Slight differences in percentages may appear due to rounding when compared to populations. The margin of error (ME) is based on a 95% confidence level and is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. | ||||||||||||
*estimate either unavailable or too few sample observations. | ||||||||||||
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 8.1). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. |
Table 8.2 Prevalence - Civilian Veterans With and Without Disability, Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022
Table 8.2 Prevalence - Civilian Veterans With and Without Disability, Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022 | |||||||||
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Notes: Authors’ calculations using the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample, (2022), which is subject to sampling variability. Slight differences in percentages may appear due to rounding when compared to populations. The margin of error (ME) is based on a 95% confidence level and is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. | |||||||||
The U.S. Census uses a series of six questions to identify persons with vision, hearing, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living related questions are not asked of individuals less than five years old and the independent living related question is not asked of individuals less than 15 years old. See glossary for more information. | |||||||||
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 8.2). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. |
Table 8.3 Poverty - Civilian Veterans with and without Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022
Table 8.3 Poverty - Civilian Veterans with and without Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2022 | |||||||||||||
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Notes: Authors’ calculations using the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample, (2022), which is subject to sampling variability. Slight differences in percentages may appear due to rounding when compared to populations. The margin of error (ME) is based on a 95% confidence level and is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. The relative ratio is the ratio of the percentage of veterans with disability living in poverty over the percentage of veterans without disability living in poverty. Therefore, a relative ratio further from 1.000 indicates a greater disparity in poverty percentage. | |||||||||||||
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 8.3). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. |
Table 8.4 Veterans Benefits Administration - Compensation and Pension Benefits Paid to Disabled Veterans and their Survivors: Federal Fiscal Year 2022
Table 8.4 Veterans Benefits Administration - Compensation and Pension Benefits Paid to Disabled Veterans and their Survivors: Federal Fiscal Year 2022 | |
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Notes: Values are collected from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, (2022). | |
The Compensation & Pension expenditures include dollars for the following programs: veterans’ compensation for service-connected disabilities; dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths; veterans’ pension for non-service-connected disabilities; and burial and other benefits to veterans and their survivors. | |
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (Eds.) (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 8.4). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. |