Where Did the Term "Baby Boomer" Come From?
When World War II ended in 1945, thousands of young men returned from service, got jobs, got married and started families. This resulted in a significant jump in the birth rate (more than 1 million more babies born in 1946, compared to 1945) and this increased birth rate continued until 1964.
Because of the "baby boom" between 1946 and 1964, babies born during those years are called "baby boomers."
Depending on which government agency you ask, there were between 77 million (US Dept. of Health & Human Services) to 79 million (US Census Bureau) baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.
"What Defines Baby Boomers?" Many marketing experts and sociologists have attempted to define baby boomers as if we think as a group, but that's not any more true of baby boomers than it is of generations that came before or after. Baby boomers played the biggest part in shaping the music, politics and culture of the 60's and 70's, and continue to have considerable clout today, simply because there are so many of us.
Fun Facts About Baby Boomers
Here are some interesting baby boomer statistics, courtesy of the US government:
- In January 2006, the first baby boomers turned 60.
- In 2011, the oldest baby boomers will turn 65;their average lifespan is estimated at 83 years.
- One in four Americans is a baby boomer. Boomers are the largest population group in U.S. history.
- A baby boomer turns 50 every 18 seconds. Every seven seconds, a baby boomer turns 60.
- Baby boomers mostly live in metropolitan areas, as opposed to rural counties. And baby boomers are more highly concentrated in New England, the Mid-Atlantic States the upper Great Lake states and the Pacific Northwest.
- Four out of five boomers (80 percent) envision working in some form during their retirement years. Only 20 percent plan on stopping work to fully retire. (This comes from AARP)