District of Columbia Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

District of Columbia's 672,079 residents make it the 49th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +112.1% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 10995 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, District of Columbia is:

39.1% White (alone)
43.3% 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 District of Columbia state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in District of Columbia is $106,287, with per-capita income at $75,253. 10.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 4.6%.

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 District of Columbia: 34.9 years (US median ~39). The population is 47.6% male and 52.4% female. District of Columbia is among the younger states by median age — typically driven by higher birth rates or in-migration of working-age adults.

Largest Cities in District of Columbia

Washington city — population 672,079

Largest Counties in District of Columbia

District of Columbia — population 672,079

How District of Columbia Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 49th 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 District of Columbia state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

District of Columbia has a population of 672,079 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 49th among the 50 states. Population density is 10995 people per square mile.

District of Columbia is gaining population, with a +112.1% change since 1910 (331,069 → 672,079). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

39.1% of District of Columbia's population identifies as White, 43.3% 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 District of Columbia is $106,287 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $75,253. 10.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in District of Columbia is 34.9 years. The population is 47.6% male and 52.4% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the District of Columbia state page.

The largest cities in District of Columbia by population: Washington city (672,079).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). District of Columbia ranks 49th. 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. District of Columbia'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.