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

Population & Growth

Hawaii's 1,445,635 residents make it the 40th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +653.6% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 225 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, Hawaii is:

22.5% White (alone)
1.9% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.6% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
6.2% 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 Hawaii state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Hawaii is $98,317, with per-capita income at $44,823. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.0%.

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 Hawaii: 40.6 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

Largest Cities in Hawaii

Urban Honolulu Cdp — population 346,323
East Honolulu Cdp — population 50,961
Hilo Cdp — population 48,223
Pearl City Cdp — population 45,079
Waipahu Cdp — population 39,871

Largest Counties in Hawaii

Honolulu County — population 1,003,666
Hawaii County — population 203,684
Maui County — population 164,632
Kauai County — population 73,610
Kalawao County — population 43

How Hawaii Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 40th 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 Hawaii state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Hawaii has a population of 1,445,635 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 40th among the 50 states. Population density is 225 people per square mile.

Hawaii is gaining population, with a +653.6% change since 1910 (191,909 → 1,445,635). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

22.5% of Hawaii's population identifies as White, 1.9% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.6% 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 Hawaii is $98,317 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $44,823. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Hawaii is 40.6 years. The population is 50.3% male and 49.7% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Hawaii state page.

The largest cities in Hawaii by population: Urban Honolulu Cdp (346,323), East Honolulu Cdp (50,961), Hilo Cdp (48,223), Pearl City Cdp (45,079), Waipahu Cdp (39,871).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Hawaii ranks 40th. 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. Hawaii'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.