Quick Facts


More than half of the world's population is under the age of 25.

Born between 1978 and 2000, the Millennial Generation, also called Generation Y, Generation We, the global generation, currently include 95 million young people up to 30 years of age. In 2016, it will be 100 million strong.

The millennial generation is globally oriented, extremely diverse, technologically brilliant, and it has the most progressive political orientation till date. (Generation-We)

The millennial generation is the first generation in American history to inherit a nation in decline. (Generation-We)

Globally, in the last 100 years, we’ve consumed more resources than all of human history combined.

America has the highest child poverty rate in a developed country.

1 in every 2 Americans will get cancer. 1 in every 3 Americans will get diabetes.

Yet we are far from resigned. 79% of Millenials believe that our generation has better opportunities to make a difference and produce structural change than previous generations.

The Millennials have a clear sense of generational identity. By 10:1 (90 percent to 9 percent), they agree that their generation “shares specific beliefs, attitudes, and experiences” that set them apart from generations that have come before them. (Generation- We)

We have a strong sense of global connection. By 68-31, the Millenials feel their generation has a great deal or a fair amount in common with young adults of their generation in other countries, rather than just a little or nothing at all.



If Facebook were a country, it would hold a population of 800 Million people, making it the 3rd biggest country in the world, preceded only by China and India.

1 in every 5 Millennials has posted a video of themselves online.


Over half of YouTube’s users are under 20 years old.

In the US, youth ages 8-18 spend 7.5 hours everyday using entertainment media.

Within the millennial generation, 82% have at least 1 friend at work; 53% have more than 5 friends at work; 40% have more than 10 friends at work.

The average work friend count within the millennial generation is 16. The average total friend count is 696.

We are an incredibly diverse generation, immersed in a global context.

leadership circle survey

In the United States, the youth consists of 18.5% are Hispanic; 14.2% are Black; 4.3% are Asian; 3.2% are of mixed race; and 59.8% are White, making them the most and racially diverse cohort of youth in the nation’s history.

1 in 4 Millennials are unaffiliated with any religion.

5 out of 10 GenY-ers will travel for leisure with friends – nearly 20 points higher than older generations (PGAV Destinations Study 2011)

We are optimistic, and passionate about creating a new future. The Pew Study found that 18-29 year olds remain optimistic, despite a job-killing recession, two wars and the threat of terrorism.

The millennial generation is an entrepreneurial generation. The 5th most popular job title is that of ‘owner’.

On a survey conducted by Greenberg, 87 percent of Millennials agreed with the statement, “Throughout our history, America’s success has been built on innovation and entrepreneurship. As we confront the many challenges facing us today, it is that same spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is needed to maintain America’s strength in the 21st century.”

During a survey on priorities at work, 61% said their top priority was “to achieve a satisfactory level of work-life balance”, 57% said it was “to do meaningful and challenging work”, and 43% said it was “to have job security”.

The Most Important Things in Life according to GenY:

  • Being a good parent (52%)
  • Having a successful Marriage (30%)
  • Helping people in need (21%) Pew Research 2010


Globally youth contribute more than 2.5 Billion hours of community service each year.

80% of the Millenial population lists at least one school on their profile.



The Millenial Generation is the most politically progressive of any age group in modern history.

By 2016, the youngest of us will have reached voting age, making us the largest generation in the voting block.


Stay tuned for more quick facts about our generation! Have a fact to share? Send it to team(at)generationwakingup.org.