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

Population & Growth

Washington's 7,740,984 residents make it the 13th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +596.9% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 116 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, Washington is:

67.8% White (alone)
4.0% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
3.3% 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 Washington state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Washington is $94,952, with per-capita income at $51,493. 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.2%.

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 Washington: 38.2 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

Largest Cities in Washington

Seattle city — population 741,440
Spokane city — population 229,228
Tacoma city — population 220,482
Vancouver city — population 192,696
Bellevue city — population 151,199

Largest Counties in Washington

King County — population 2,262,713
Pierce County — population 924,106
Snohomish County — population 834,648
Spokane County — population 544,323
Clark County — population 510,516

How Washington Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 13th 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 Washington state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Washington has a population of 7,740,984 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 13th among the 50 states. Population density is 116 people per square mile.

Washington is gaining population, with a +596.9% change since 1910 (1,141,990 → 7,740,984). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

67.8% of Washington's population identifies as White, 4.0% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 3.3% 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 Washington is $94,952 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $51,493. 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Washington is 38.2 years. The population is 50.4% male and 49.6% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Washington state page.

The largest cities in Washington by population: Seattle city (741,440), Spokane city (229,228), Tacoma city (220,482), Vancouver city (192,696), Bellevue city (151,199).

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