TL;DR: Millennials, also called Generation Y, came before Gen Z. They were born 1981–1996 and are about 30–45 years old in 2026.
What shaped Millennials
- The rise of the internet and early social media (Orkut, MySpace, Facebook)
- The 2008 financial crisis as they entered work
- Student debt (in some countries) and rising house prices
- The first smartphones arriving in their teens or twenties
Millennial traits
Optimistic about technology, purpose-driven at work, experience-focused, and pioneers of the “influencer” economy.
Millennials vs Gen Z
Millennials adopted the internet; Gen Z was born into it. Full comparison: Gen Z vs Millennials: What’s the Difference?.
And before Millennials?
Generation X (1965–1980). See Generation Names and Years: Silent Generation to Gen Alpha.
