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

Population & Growth

Kansas's 2,937,569 residents make it the 35th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +75.7% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 36 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, Kansas is:

77.9% White (alone)
5.4% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.7% 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 Kansas state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Kansas is $72,639, with per-capita income at $39,638. 7.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.6%.

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 Kansas: 37.2 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

Largest Cities in Kansas

Wichita city — population 396,488
Overland Park city — population 197,199
Kansas City city — population 154,776
Olathe city — population 143,720
Topeka city — population 126,103

Largest Counties in Kansas

Johnson County — population 614,764
Sedgwick County — population 524,810
Shawnee County — population 178,315
Wyandotte County — population 167,277
Douglas County — population 119,547

How Kansas Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 35th 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 Kansas state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas has a population of 2,937,569 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 35th among the 50 states. Population density is 36 people per square mile.

Kansas is gaining population, with a +75.7% change since 1910 (1,690,949 → 2,937,569). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

77.9% of Kansas's population identifies as White, 5.4% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.7% 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 Kansas is $72,639 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $39,638. 7.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Kansas is 37.2 years. The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Kansas state page.

The largest cities in Kansas by population: Wichita city (396,488), Overland Park city (197,199), Kansas City city (154,776), Olathe city (143,720), Topeka city (126,103).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Kansas ranks 35th. 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. Kansas'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.