Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Get in touch with us nowVietnam War: Projected number of living U.S. veterans until 2050
As of 2020, there were approximately 6.3 million veterans of the United States military still alive who served during the period of the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1975. Around 8.75 million service personnel served during the war, with 40% of those stationed in Vietnam and the surrounding Southeast Asian countries. Veterans of this conflict reflect the largest cohort of American veterans still alive in terms of service era.
Vietnam War veterans may still suffer from long-term health effects of their service during the war. These range from mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, to health conditions caused by exposure to toxic chemicals used to clear trees and plants in the Vietnamese jungle during the war. Since the signing of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 by President Donald J. Trump, March 29th is designated in the U.S. as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Vietnam War veterans may still suffer from long-term health effects of their service during the war. These range from mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, to health conditions caused by exposure to toxic chemicals used to clear trees and plants in the Vietnamese jungle during the war. Since the signing of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 by President Donald J. Trump, March 29th is designated in the U.S. as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
