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

Population & Growth

Idaho's 1,893,296 residents make it the 38th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +514.8% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 23 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, Idaho is:

83.3% White (alone)
0.7% Black or African American
0.1% Asian
2.8% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.1% 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 Idaho state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Idaho is $74,636, with per-capita income at $37,169. 7.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.3%.

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 Idaho: 37.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

Largest Cities in Idaho

Boise City city — population 235,701
Meridian city — population 124,865
Nampa city — population 106,289
Idaho Falls city — population 66,672
Caldwell city — population 63,465

Largest Counties in Idaho

Ada County — population 508,052
Canyon County — population 242,405
Kootenai County — population 177,736
Bonneville County — population 127,056
Twin Falls County — population 92,121

How Idaho Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 38th 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 Idaho state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho has a population of 1,893,296 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 38th among the 50 states. Population density is 23 people per square mile.

Idaho is gaining population, with a +514.8% change since 1910 (325,594 → 1,893,296). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

83.3% of Idaho's population identifies as White, 0.7% as Black or African American, 0.1% as Asian, and 2.8% 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 Idaho is $74,636 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $37,169. 7.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Idaho is 37.1 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 Idaho state page.

The largest cities in Idaho by population: Boise City city (235,701), Meridian city (124,865), Nampa city (106,289), Idaho Falls city (66,672), Caldwell city (63,465).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Idaho ranks 38th. 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. Idaho'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.