February 1, 2018 | Alexa Terpanjian

41 Straight Up Facts About Millennials


Millennials get such a bad rap. Sure they can be self-centered—they did invent the selfie after all—but they are also industrious. They can be a little entitled, but maybe that’s because they feel like they got the short end of the stick after the recession. These characteristics vary by region, but there are a few things that they all have in common; heightened familiarity with and rampant use of technology (see fact #28), and they have a more liberal upbringing.

Whatever way you approach it from, the new generation will always be criticized—always has, always will—by the previous generation. Read on for 40 straight up facts about millennials.


Millennials Facts

41. Millennials Have LESS Sex?

Advertisement

Even though they're known colloquially as the "hookup generation" recent studies suggest that millennials are actually having less sexual relations than their parents generation. According to the LA Times, quoting a recent study done by the Archives of Sexual Behavior, millennials are having sex less than any generation in 60 years! Some other studies vary slightly but the general trend seems to be the same - millennials aren't as sexually active as their reputation makes them out to be.

Millennials FactsPxHere

Advertisement

40. What’s in a Name?

The term on everyone’s lips these days —millennials—was originally coined in 1987.
The word began to form when the media started to center around the notion of the impending new millennium as the backdrop of the high school graduating class of 2000.

Millennials FactsPxfuel

Advertisement

39. Yes, There Are 40-Year-Old Millennials

Regarding the exact ages that define the millennial cohort, there seems to be a little bewilderment. The latest and most authoritative development comes from the Pew Research Center and their findings strongly suggest that today’s millennials were born between 1977 and 1992.

Laziness FactsShutterstock

Advertisement



38. Has a Nice Ring to It

Previously known as Generation Y (and still commonly referred to as Gen Y), the word millennial just sounds better. According to a past director at Ad Age, the Gen Y label was merely meant to be a placeholder until they exhibited more defining traits. And the millennials certainly delivered!

Millennials FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

37. The 7 Traits of Highly Effective Millennials

During their research for their book Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, William Strauss and Neil Howen attributed 7 basic traits to the millennial cohort. Millennials are special, sheltered, confident, team-oriented, conventional, pressured, and achieving.

Advertisement
Millennials FactsShutterstock

 

Advertisement

36. Our House Is a Very Fine House

Today, the average middle-class American has 85 pictures of themselves and their pets plastered all over their home. Rewind to the 1950s, where a typical family would only display a wedding photo, a school photo, and possibly a military photo in their home.

Millennials FactsPexels

Advertisement

35. From Here on Out

Contrary to the notion that millennials are the Me Generation, it was actually the Baby Boomers who first earned the title, causing every generation afterwards to gain similar monikers.

Millennials FactsPixabay

Advertisement

34. United Millennials Stand

Each country’s millennials are different, adhering to their own cultural values and upbringings. But with the rate at which globalization has unfolded, the advent of social media and the exporting of Western culture, millennials share more similarities than differences with one another, in comparison to the similarities and differences found in older generations within their own countries.

Millennials FactsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

33. There Are 12 Zeros in a Trillion

Millennials are smart but unfortunately, they are also crippled by $1 trillion in student debt in the US alone. Higher education comes at a steep price.

People Realized They Were Rich FactsPixabay

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.
Advertisement

32. Hashtag Priorities

What would be your reaction if you woke up to your car stolen out of your driveway? For a millennial, it’s not the end of the world, as long as they still have their smart phone —65% of millennials confirm that losing their phone or computer would be more devastating, and would affect their daily routine more than losing their ride.

Advertisement
Luck Was On Their Side factsShutterstock

Advertisement

 31. Eat. Study. Sleep. Study. Drink. Repeat.

Living under the poverty line while sorting yourself out in your early twenties has been a rite of passage for decades. Younger millennials these days seem to be spending their cash on alcohol and education, causing the average debt for the American Millennial to reach up to $45,000 – the student debt being the main contributing factor.

Millennials FactsPexels

 

Advertisement

30. All for the Little Piece of Paper

And all that education they’re struggling to pay for? 40% of grads from America’s Top 100 colleges aren’t finding jobs in their chosen fields, and of those who are employed, about half have found employment in fields that don’t require a 4-year degree.

I Messed Up factsShutterstock

Advertisement

29. Winos and Beer Snobs

It is true that millennials are less keen on alcohol consumption. Since 2003, adolescent drinking has gone down by 42%, as millennials grow into their 20s and 30s. However, they do drink twice as much wine as their parents did at the same age, and hard liquor isn’t much of a go-to choice. They also REALLY like craft beer.

Millennials FactsPiqsels

Advertisement

28. Doing Rather Than Having

Millennials are reluctant to spend on big ticket items like cars and luxury goods. Gravitating more towards a “sharing economy” (think Uber, Airbnb, etc.) their money is going towards experience—72% of millennials would rather DO things like travel, bungee jump or swim with dolphins than buy material goods.

Millennials FactsFlickr

Advertisement

27. There Was Life Before Caller ID?!

A phone at home? Plugged into the wall? Sounds archaic, considering 41% of millennials have no landline at home, completely relying on their cell phones for communication with the outside world.

Advertisement
Millennials FactsPiqsels

Advertisement

26. Blame the Selfie

According to one school of thought, millennials and younger Gen Xers exude confidence and tolerance but also have a sense of entitlement and increased narcissism compared to the teens and twenty-somethings of previous generations.

Millennials FactsPiqsels

Advertisement

25. For the Greater Good

On the other hand, the stereotype that millennials are self-centered and entitled is only one-sided—they can actually be quite charitable. Approximately 84% of millennials make annual monetary donations, and 70% donate their time. Millennials believe in giving their money and talent to a cause they want to help out with.

Teachers Moment of Hope factsShutterstock

Advertisement

24. They Aren’t Always Attached at the Hip

Growing up and constantly being surrounded by the Internet has taught millennials the importance of unplugging, compared to their Gen X counterparts. Almost half are willing, able and better at going on a digital detox to find balance in their lives.

Millennials FactsFlickr, Marco Verch

Advertisement

23. Look Good, Feel Good

Health and wellness play a pivotal role in the existence of the Millennial. They are exercising much more, eating better and more whole foods, and don’t smoke nearly as much as previous generations. This focus on health and wellness is a space that gives them more incentive to want to spend on brands they believe in and care about.

Millennials FactsPxHere

Advertisement

22. Zen Generation

Even though they are earning less than their predecessors (earning 20% less than baby boomers at this age), they want to spend more on health and fitness. They are tuned into mindfulness including yoga, meditation and alternative therapies—much more so than their older counterparts.

Advertisement
Millennials FactsPexels

Advertisement

21. Preventative Measures

An eye-opening 50% of millennials consider healthy eating a lifestyle choice. As opposed to a diet that ends with a goal, they have a “big picture” approach revolving around the concept of starting healthy habits now to prevent problems later.

Millennials FactsPixabay

Advertisement

20. Instagram Definitely Had a Hand in This

Millennials are living healthy active lifestyles, moving often and with purpose—84% exercise at least once per week, most of them feeling that exercise is a passion they feel good about pursuing.

Exercise FactsPxfuel

 

Advertisement

19. Health Is Wealth

Health is the new luxury item, being that millennials consider it to be the gateway to success. Most of them (9 out of 10, in fact) pursue the ideal of having good health believing that this critical factor spills into other aspects of their life. Having and reaching goals related to health are fuelled by wanting to live long, healthy, high quality, happy lives.

Millennials FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

18. Squat Squat Baby

Goodbye boring gym memberships, rapid weight loss diets and intense cardiovascular workouts that last too long. Millennials are ushering the new wave of wellness that includes shorter workouts that are fun, social, and customizable. Classes and obstacle races (Tough Mudder, anyone?) are becoming the norm.

Exercise FactsPiqsels

Advertisement

17. It’s All Online

Millennials, the reputed hunters and gathers of information are especially prone to consuming large amounts of information when it comes to healthcare. They mostly acquire it through the internet, from sources and websites that include (but aren’t limited to) general health sites, social media, and other types of sites.

Advertisement
Millennials FactsPxfuel

Advertisement

16. Due Diligence

When it comes to healthcare, millennials are doing their own homework, researching what ails them online and gathering lots of information before seeing a doctor—if they even have to see one. They are twice as likely to act on health advice found online (including social media) rather than older adults.

Millennials FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

15. Doctors DO Know Best

It’s not that millennials don’t want to see doctors or think they don’t add value. In fact, it’s quite the opposite—they consider physicians to be their most trusted resource for this kind of information. However, it’s the long wait times, general lack of convenience and fear of big bills that deters them from making a visit to the doctor.

Did I Stutter FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

14. Avoiding at all Costs

A whopping 54% of American millennials have admitted to delaying or completely avoiding medical treatments simply because they didn't think they could afford it or don’t want to go into debt because of it.

Millennials FactsFlickr, Hloom Templates

Advertisement

13. Comparing Notes

Listening to other patients helps millennials make their choices regarding healthcare, word of mouth being very important to them in this sector—23% say they look at online reviews for hospitals and providers. They are getting more and more comfortable sharing personal health info and making and receiving suggestions through online communities and networks.

Millennials FactsPxHere

Advertisement

12. Don’t Take Me Out To the Ball Game

Once America’s favorite sport, it might be time for baseball to move over. Soccer is rising in popularity, becoming the #2 most-loved sport among 18-24 year olds. Only a shabby 18% of millennials consider themselves as baseball fans.

Advertisement
Millennials FactsFree Stock Photos

Advertisement

11. Shall We Dip Out to Paris for Our Lunch Break?

In the coming years, Asian millennials will have garnered a tremendous amount of spending power, more than any previous generation. The estimation is that they will have a ballpark figure of $6 trillion worth of disposable income by 2020.

Millennials FactsShutterstock

 

Advertisement

10. Individualism at Its Finest

Millennials tend to choose brands that are able to reflect them and their identity—40% will even go so far as to shell out more money on a product if it aligns with the image and style they want to convey, despite their lower average income.

Tipping Point in Relationship factsPixabay

Advertisement

9. Be Your Own Boss

Millennials are demonstrating a very entrepreneurial spirit in the midst of the aftermath of the recession and the current waning job market. This business mindset is evident across the board—54% of millennials have started their own business or want to start one.

Startups  FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

8. The Long Lost Marriage

As for relationships, millennials are doing things differently—or not at all, really. In the US, 26% are married, compared to 36% of Gen Xers , 48% of Baby Boomers and 65% of the Silent Generation, all at the same age.

Millennials FactsPikrepo

Advertisement

7. Marriage Can Wait

Why aren’t millennials getting hitched? There’s 30% who claim they haven't found their better half; another 27% who don’t think they are financially stable and 22% who just don’t want to settle down yet. Also, there is more of a focus on their own education and career, putting partners nearer to the bottom of the priority list.

Advertisement
Haunting Embarrassing Moments factsPexels

Advertisement

6. It’ll Happen When It Happens

And the gap is widening. Compared to the 1960s when the average age of a married man and woman was 23 and 21 respectively, the average age of a millennials FIRST marriage is 29 for men and 27 for women.

Millennials FactsPikrepo

Advertisement

5. Women in the Workforce

Apparently, education is a factor—but mostly for women. The rate at which highly educated women are getting married has increased, whereas the rate for women with only a high school education has decreased. This could be due to economic factors. Those with an education tend to make more money, therefore they are able to provide more financial support and security in a relationship.

Millennials FactsPxHere

Advertisement

4. An Escape Plan

There is good news—divorces are happening less. Since millennials are waiting longer and getting more prepared to settle down, studies show that living together first helps ease into the routine of marriage. Everyone can just break up and move out rather than go through the heartache of a divorce.

Weird House Rules FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

3. Try it on for Size

In fact, more and more millennials are choosing to live together first, putting marriage on the backburner, and sometimes even leaving it there all together—25% of millennial adults (ages 25-34) are living with their partner, taking their sweet time to say “I do.”

Millennials FactsPxHere

Advertisement

2. Too Smart to Be Employed

Millennials are on their way to becoming the most educated generation in American history and yet the struggle is real when it comes to finding a satisfactory job—their unemployment rate is sadly rising to 12.8%, compared to the national average of 4.9%.

Advertisement
Quit Job Interview FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

 1. Naughty, Naughty

Skyn Condoms performed surveys to find out the sex habits of U.S. millennials by State. They learned that a surprising number of people from California, for example, had sex in a school. According to their findings:

  • Millennials from Georgia were most likely to masturbate multiple times per day.
  • More than half of the population of sexually active millennials from Kansas have had sex in a hot tub or pool.
  • Millennials in Massachusetts were most likely to have had a one night stand.
  • Millennials in New York were most likely to have a threesome.

And more fun stuff. See the source below for more. Naughty, naughty!

Millennials FactsPixabay

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Advertisement

More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.