Each GWI data set features a generational segmentation based on the year of birth of each respondent, which is calculated using the age they reported at the time they were surveyed.
This method avoids the limitations of fixed age ranges that shift annually, ensuring consistent demographic segmentation over time.
Each generation is defined as follows:
Gen Alpha: Born 2010
Gen Z: Born 1997–2009
Gen Y (Millennials): Born 1983–1996
Gen X: Born 1964–1982
Baby Boomers: Born 1946–1963
Silent Generation: Born 1927–1945
Greatest Generation: 1925-1926
How can I check the current age range for each generation?
It depends on the survey wave(s) you’re working with.
Generational age ranges shift over time, so the age ranges will be different for each year of data. For example, if you were analyzing Millennials using data from all 2025 waves, their age range in that year would be 28 to 41 years old.
To check the age ranges of each generation in a given year, create a crosstab and follow the below steps:
Add Generations to rows.
Add Age (individual) to columns (or vice versa)
Check the cells that don’t show zero
Are the year thresholds different across datasets?
For add-on datasets, the generational thresholds are aligned with GWI Core. This means the generation they’re assigned to is based on the respondent’s age at the time they completed GWI Core.
However, in some cases, respondents can have up to a two-year age difference, which accounts for:
The time gap between completing Core and the add-on survey
Minor differences in how age is calculated or reported across cultures and countries