How generations are defined
A generation is a group of people born in the same span of years, usually 15 to 20, who grew up around the same events. There is no official list. The ranges here follow the Pew Research Center from the Greatest Generation through Generation Z, which is the version most news and research articles quote. Generation Alpha and Generation Beta continue from there.
The calculator uses the birth year only. Someone born on 31 December 1980 and someone born on 1 January 1981 are a day apart but fall in different generations, which is why the years at each edge are worth a second look.
Generation birth years and ages in 2026
| Generation | Born | Years | Age reached in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatest Generation | 1901 to 1927 | 27 | 99 and over |
| Silent Generation | 1928 to 1945 | 18 | 81 to 98 |
| Baby Boomers | 1946 to 1964 | 19 | 62 to 80 |
| Generation X | 1965 to 1980 | 16 | 46 to 61 |
| Millennials (Generation Y) | 1981 to 1996 | 16 | 30 to 45 |
| Generation Z | 1997 to 2012 | 16 | 14 to 29 |
| Generation Alpha | 2013 to 2024 | 12 | 2 to 13 |
| Generation Beta | 2025 to 2039 | 15 | 0 to 1 |
Ages show the age a person reaches during 2026, which is the year minus the birth year. Generation Beta runs to 2039, so most of it has not been born yet.
Where the ranges disagree
The newest groups are the least settled. Pew Research Center ends Generation Z in 2012. Mark McCrindle, who coined the names Generation Alpha and Generation Beta, ends Generation Z in 2009, starts Alpha in 2010 and puts Beta at 2025 to 2039. If you were born between 2010 and 2012, you are Generation Z by one source and Generation Alpha by the other.
Common questions
Which generation am I?
Enter your birth year in the calculator above. It matches the year to a generation using the ranges in the table: for example, 1985 is a Millennial, 1970 is Generation X and 2003 is Generation Z. Only the birth year matters, not the month or day.
What are the birth years for each generation?
Baby Boomers were born 1946 to 1964, Generation X 1965 to 1980, Millennials 1981 to 1996, Generation Z 1997 to 2012 and Generation Alpha 2013 to 2024. Generation Beta starts in 2025. The Silent Generation is 1928 to 1945 and the Greatest Generation 1901 to 1927.
Why do different websites give different birth years?
No official body defines the generations, so every researcher draws the lines a little differently. Pew Research Center ends Generation Z in 2012, while Mark McCrindle ends it in 2009 and starts Generation Alpha in 2010. This calculator follows Pew up to Generation Z and then continues from 2013.
What does it mean to be on the cusp of two generations?
A cusp is a birth year at the edge of a range, such as 1980 or 1981 between Generation X and Millennials. People born within about two years of a boundary often feel they belong to either group. The calculator flags these years so you know a different source may place you next door.
What generation is someone born in 2000?
Someone born in 2000 is part of Generation Z, which runs from 1997 to 2012. They reach 26 in 2026. Someone born in 1996 is the youngest Millennial, and the very next birth year, 1997, starts Generation Z.
Are Millennials and Generation Y the same thing?
Yes. Generation Y was the name used before Millennials became the common term, and both refer to people born from 1981 to 1996. The younger end of the group is sometimes called Zillennials when it borders Generation Z, but that is an informal label.
How old is each generation in 2026?
The table above lists the age each group reaches in 2026. Millennials, for instance, turn 30 to 45. Because it uses the birth year alone, a person can be one year younger than shown until their birthday. For an exact age, use the age calculator.
What comes after Generation Alpha?
Generation Beta, for children born from 2025. The name follows the pattern of the Greek alphabet after Alpha, and it is a newer label than the others, so researchers have not agreed a settled end year. The calculator uses 2025 to 2039, which keeps it to a 15 year span.