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

Population & Growth

Ohio's 11,780,046 residents make it the 7th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +149.3% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 288 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, Ohio is:

77.8% White (alone)
12.3% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.1% 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 Ohio state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Ohio is $69,680, with per-capita income at $39,455. 9.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.1%.

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 Ohio: 39.6 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

Largest Cities in Ohio

Columbus city — population 906,480
Cleveland city — population 367,523
Cincinnati city — population 309,595
Toledo city — population 268,461
Akron city — population 189,526

Largest Counties in Ohio

Franklin County — population 1,321,635
Cuyahoga County — population 1,249,418
Hamilton County — population 827,878
Summit County — population 538,087
Montgomery County — population 535,528

How Ohio Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 7th 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 Ohio state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio has a population of 11,780,046 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 7th among the 50 states. Population density is 288 people per square mile.

Ohio is gaining population, with a +149.3% change since 1910 (4,767,121 → 11,780,046). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

77.8% of Ohio's population identifies as White, 12.3% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.1% 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 Ohio is $69,680 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $39,455. 9.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Ohio is 39.6 years. The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Ohio state page.

The largest cities in Ohio by population: Columbus city (906,480), Cleveland city (367,523), Cincinnati city (309,595), Toledo city (268,461), Akron city (189,526).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Ohio ranks 7th. 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. Ohio'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.