The generation timeline
A century-plus of named generations at a glance. Each bar shows a generation's birth-year span; click through for full profiles.
Lost Generation
1883 – 1900
Greatest Generation
1901 – 1927
Silent Generation
1928 – 1945
Baby Boomers
1946 – 1964
Generation X
1965 – 1980
Millennials
1981 – 1996
Generation Z
1997 – 2012
Generation Alpha
2013 – 2024
Generation Beta
2025 – present
18832026
How generations are defined
Generation boundaries aren't universal — different researchers use slightly different years. We follow the widely-cited ranges from Pew Research (Millennials 1981–1996, Gen Z 1997–2012) and McCrindle (Gen Alpha 2013–2024, Gen Beta 2025 onward). The boundaries roughly track defining historical or technological turning points, not arbitrary dates.