At a glance
Notable context
- The term refers to the rise in births that followed World War II.
- The U.S. baby boom is commonly dated from 1946 through 1964.
- Boomers are often associated with the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
Position in time
Generations timeline
The highlighted period shows where Baby Boomer sits among the commonly used modern generation ranges.
Baby Boomers are commonly defined as people born from 1946 to 1964, during the large increase in births after World War II. The size of this cohort gave it a substantial presence in schools, workplaces, consumer culture, and public life.
Its members experienced childhood during an era of television expansion and adulthood amid the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and major cultural change. The label originated in U.S. demographics, so its fit and dates can vary internationally.
Use the label as a starting point for historical context rather than a complete description of any individual. Birth-year ranges also differ between researchers and publications.
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