Alabama Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Alabama's 5,054,253 residents make it the 24th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +141.2% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 100 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Alabama is:

65.4% White (alone)
26.1% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.6% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Alabama state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Alabama is $62,027, with per-capita income at $34,835. 11.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.8%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Alabama: 39.3 years (US median ~39). The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Largest Cities in Alabama

Huntsville city — population 218,814
Birmingham city — population 199,322
Montgomery city — population 198,440
Mobile city — population 185,097
Tuscaloosa city — population 107,699

Largest Counties in Alabama

Jefferson County — population 669,744
Mobile County — population 413,162
Madison County — population 397,135
Baldwin County — population 239,945
Tuscaloosa County — population 234,036

How Alabama Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 24th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Alabama state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Alabama has a population of 5,054,253 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 24th among the 50 states. Population density is 100 people per square mile.

Alabama is gaining population, with a +141.2% change since 1910 (2,138,093 → 5,054,253). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

65.4% of Alabama's population identifies as White, 26.1% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.6% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Alabama is $62,027 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $34,835. 11.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Alabama is 39.3 years. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Alabama state page.

The largest cities in Alabama by population: Huntsville city (218,814), Birmingham city (199,322), Montgomery city (198,440), Mobile city (185,097), Tuscaloosa city (107,699).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Alabama ranks 24th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Alabama's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.