Baby boomers are people born between 1946 and 1964. This generation is currently between 57-75 years old and makes up a substantial portion of the worlds population, especially in the United States. The term "baby boom" refers to a massive surge in births that occurred after World War II, when people wanted to start families that they had put off during the war and the Great Depression before it. The baby boomers were born during this period of increased birth rates and prosperity.