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

Population & Growth

Delaware's 1,005,872 residents make it the 45th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +419.9% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 516 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, Delaware is:

61.8% White (alone)
21.9% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.4% 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 Delaware state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Delaware is $82,855, with per-capita income at $44,219. 7.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.1%.

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 Delaware: 41.5 years (US median ~39). The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female. Delaware skews older than the US median, often a sign of out-migration of younger residents or high retiree population.

Largest Cities in Delaware

Wilmington city — population 71,124
Dover city — population 39,491
Newark city — population 30,309
Middletown town — population 24,071
Bear Cdp — population 22,604

Largest Counties in Delaware

New Castle County — population 573,030
Sussex County — population 247,799
Kent County — population 185,043

How Delaware Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 45th 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 Delaware state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware has a population of 1,005,872 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 45th among the 50 states. Population density is 516 people per square mile.

Delaware is gaining population, with a +419.9% change since 1910 (202,322 → 1,005,872). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

61.8% of Delaware's population identifies as White, 21.9% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.4% 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 Delaware is $82,855 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $44,219. 7.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Delaware is 41.5 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 Delaware state page.

The largest cities in Delaware by population: Wilmington city (71,124), Dover city (39,491), Newark city (30,309), Middletown town (24,071), Bear Cdp (22,604).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Delaware ranks 45th. 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. Delaware'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.