As of early 2025, approximately 66,000 American World War II veterans are still alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This number is less than 0.5% of the original 16.4 million Americans who served during the war
. The number of surviving veterans has been rapidly declining due to their advanced age, with most now in their late 90s or older. Projections indicate that by 2030, fewer than 8,000 American WWII veterans are expected to remain, and by 2036, this number may drop to around 300
. Similar trends are observed in other countries involved in the war, such as the United Kingdom, where the number of surviving WWII veterans is also very low, estimated to be under 70,000 as of 2024
. The urgency to document and preserve the memories of these veterans is widely recognized, as their firsthand accounts are invaluable for historical records before the last veterans pass away
