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

Population & Growth

West Virginia's 1,784,462 residents make it the 39th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +44.9% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 74 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, West Virginia is:

90.9% White (alone)
3.3% 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 West Virginia state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in West Virginia is $57,917, with per-capita income at $32,949. 11.9% 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 West Virginia: 42.7 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.9% male and 50.1% female. West Virginia skews older than the US median, often a sign of out-migration of younger residents or high retiree population.

Largest Cities in West Virginia

Charleston city — population 47,918
Huntington city — population 46,189
Morgantown city — population 30,273
Parkersburg city — population 29,461
Wheeling city — population 26,670

Largest Counties in West Virginia

Kanawha County — population 178,198
Berkeley County — population 126,165
Monongalia County — population 106,520
Cabell County — population 93,300
Wood County — population 83,829

How West Virginia Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 39th 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 West Virginia state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

West Virginia has a population of 1,784,462 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 39th among the 50 states. Population density is 74 people per square mile.

West Virginia is gaining population, with a +44.9% change since 1910 (1,221,119 → 1,784,462). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

90.9% of West Virginia's population identifies as White, 3.3% 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 West Virginia is $57,917 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $32,949. 11.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in West Virginia is 42.7 years. The population is 49.9% male and 50.1% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the West Virginia state page.

The largest cities in West Virginia by population: Charleston city (47,918), Huntington city (46,189), Morgantown city (30,273), Parkersburg city (29,461), Wheeling city (26,670).

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