Generation Z is most commonly defined as people born from about 1997 to 2012.

Quick Scoop: When Were Gen Z Born?

Most major researchers and references today place Gen Z’s birth years in the late 1990s to early 2010s , with 1997–2012 being the most widely used range. That means in 2026, Gen Z-ers are roughly in their mid-teens through late twenties.

Why 1997–2012 Specifically?

  • Pew-style definitions usually say “after 1996,” which effectively starts Gen Z at 1997.
  • Encyclopaedia-type sources and demographic charts list 1997–2012 as the standard bracket.
  • Many pop culture and marketing discussions also talk about Gen Z as those born from the late ’90s into the early 2010s.

Some people and forums argue for slightly different edges (like 1995 or 1996 on the early side, or 2011 instead of 2012 on the late side), but these are minority takes compared with the 1997–2012 consensus.

Mini Timeline

  • Oldest Gen Z : Born 1997, now in their late 20s.
  • Youngest Gen Z : Born 2012, now in early teens.
  • Neighbor generations : Millennials just before them (commonly 1981–1996), Generation Alpha just after them (early 2010s onward).

TL;DR

When people online ask “when were Gen Z born,” they almost always mean those born between 1997 and 2012 , give or take a year at either end depending on who you ask.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.