North Dakota Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

North Dakota's 779,361 residents make it the 47th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +38.0% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 11 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, North Dakota is:

83.9% White (alone)
3.2% Black or African American
0.1% Asian
6.4% 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 North Dakota state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in North Dakota is $75,949, with per-capita income at $42,474. 6.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 1.9%.

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 North Dakota: 35.7 years (US median ~39). The population is 51.2% male and 48.8% female. North Dakota is among the younger states by median age — typically driven by higher birth rates or in-migration of working-age adults.

Largest Cities in North Dakota

Fargo city — population 129,064
Bismarck city — population 74,146
Grand Forks city — population 58,882
Minot city — population 47,922
West Fargo city — population 39,325

Largest Counties in North Dakota

Cass County — population 189,286
Burleigh County — population 98,986
Grand Forks County — population 72,764
Ward County — population 69,232
Williams County — population 39,368

How North Dakota Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 47th 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 North Dakota state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

North Dakota has a population of 779,361 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 47th among the 50 states. Population density is 11 people per square mile.

North Dakota is gaining population, with a +38.0% change since 1910 (577,056 → 779,361). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

83.9% of North Dakota's population identifies as White, 3.2% as Black or African American, 0.1% as Asian, and 6.4% 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 North Dakota is $75,949 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $42,474. 6.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in North Dakota is 35.7 years. The population is 51.2% male and 48.8% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the North Dakota state page.

The largest cities in North Dakota by population: Fargo city (129,064), Bismarck city (74,146), Grand Forks city (58,882), Minot city (47,922), West Fargo city (39,325).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). North Dakota ranks 47th. 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. North Dakota'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.