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

Population & Growth

Iowa's 3,195,937 residents make it the 31st-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +45.7% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 57 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, Iowa is:

85.6% White (alone)
3.9% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.2% 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 Iowa state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Iowa is $73,147, with per-capita income at $39,728. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.4%.

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 Iowa: 38.6 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

Largest Cities in Iowa

Des Moines city — population 212,464
Cedar Rapids city — population 136,859
Davenport city — population 101,083
Sioux City city — population 85,651
Iowa City city — population 75,264

Largest Counties in Iowa

Polk County — population 497,441
Linn County — population 229,463
Scott County — population 174,302
Johnson County — population 154,881
Black Hawk County — population 130,693

How Iowa Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 31st 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 Iowa state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Iowa has a population of 3,195,937 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 31st among the 50 states. Population density is 57 people per square mile.

Iowa is gaining population, with a +45.7% change since 1910 (2,224,771 → 3,195,937). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

85.6% of Iowa's population identifies as White, 3.9% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.2% 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 Iowa is $73,147 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $39,728. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Iowa is 38.6 years. The population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Iowa state page.

The largest cities in Iowa by population: Des Moines city (212,464), Cedar Rapids city (136,859), Davenport city (101,083), Sioux City city (85,651), Iowa City city (75,264).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Iowa ranks 31st. 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. Iowa'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.