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

Population & Growth

Virginia's 8,657,499 residents make it the 12th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +327.4% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 219 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, Virginia is:

61.7% White (alone)
18.7% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.4% 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 Virginia state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Virginia is $90,974, with per-capita income at $49,217. 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.7%.

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 Virginia: 38.8 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

Largest Cities in Virginia

Virginia Beach city — population 457,066
Chesapeake city — population 251,153
Arlington Cdp — population 235,463
Norfolk city — population 235,037
Richmond city — population 227,595

Largest Counties in Virginia

Fairfax County — population 1,144,474
Prince William County — population 484,625
Virginia Beach city — population 457,066
Loudoun County — population 427,082
Chesterfield County — population 371,610

How Virginia Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 12th 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 Virginia state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia has a population of 8,657,499 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 12th among the 50 states. Population density is 219 people per square mile.

Virginia is gaining population, with a +327.4% change since 1910 (2,061,612 → 8,657,499). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

61.7% of Virginia's population identifies as White, 18.7% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.4% 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 Virginia is $90,974 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $49,217. 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Virginia is 38.8 years. The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Virginia state page.

The largest cities in Virginia by population: Virginia Beach city (457,066), Chesapeake city (251,153), Arlington Cdp (235,463), Norfolk city (235,037), Richmond city (227,595).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Virginia ranks 12th. 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. Virginia'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.