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

Population & Growth

Indiana's 6,811,752 residents make it the 17th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +156.4% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 190 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, Indiana is:

78.5% White (alone)
9.3% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.3% 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 Indiana state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Indiana is $70,051, with per-capita income at $37,178. 8.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.7%.

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 Indiana: 38.0 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Largest Cities in Indiana

Indianapolis city (balance) — population 882,043
Fort Wayne city — population 266,235
Evansville city — population 116,441
South Bend city — population 102,866
Fishers city — population 100,918

Largest Counties in Indiana

Marion County — population 971,822
Lake County — population 498,990
Allen County — population 388,791
Hamilton County — population 357,176
St. Joseph County — population 272,574

How Indiana Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 17th 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 Indiana state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Indiana has a population of 6,811,752 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 17th among the 50 states. Population density is 190 people per square mile.

Indiana is gaining population, with a +156.4% change since 1910 (2,700,876 → 6,811,752). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

78.5% of Indiana's population identifies as White, 9.3% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.3% 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 Indiana is $70,051 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $37,178. 8.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Indiana is 38.0 years. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Indiana state page.

The largest cities in Indiana by population: Indianapolis city (balance) (882,043), Fort Wayne city (266,235), Evansville city (116,441), South Bend city (102,866), Fishers city (100,918).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Indiana ranks 17th. 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. Indiana'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.