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

Population & Growth

Nebraska's 1,965,926 residents make it the 37th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +68.2% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 26 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, Nebraska is:

79.9% White (alone)
4.8% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.2% 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 Nebraska state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Nebraska is $74,985, with per-capita income at $40,637. 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.0%.

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 Nebraska: 37.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

Largest Cities in Nebraska

Omaha city — population 488,197
Lincoln city — population 291,932
Bellevue city — population 64,355
Grand Island city — population 52,761
Kearney city — population 34,024

Largest Counties in Nebraska

Douglas County — population 585,461
Lancaster County — population 323,673
Sarpy County — population 194,051
Hall County — population 62,431
Buffalo County — population 50,323

How Nebraska Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 37th 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 Nebraska state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Nebraska has a population of 1,965,926 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 37th among the 50 states. Population density is 26 people per square mile.

Nebraska is gaining population, with a +68.2% change since 1910 (1,192,214 → 1,965,926). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

79.9% of Nebraska's population identifies as White, 4.8% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.2% 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 Nebraska is $74,985 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $40,637. 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Nebraska is 37.1 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 Nebraska state page.

The largest cities in Nebraska by population: Omaha city (488,197), Lincoln city (291,932), Bellevue city (64,355), Grand Island city (52,761), Kearney city (34,024).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Nebraska ranks 37th. 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. Nebraska'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.