Rank #24 by Population · Updated April 2026
Alabama Population 2026
The population of Alabama is 5,054,253 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 24th-most populous state in the United States. The median household income is $62,027, the median home value is $195,100, and the median age is 39.3.
Alabama's population has grown 141.2% since 1910 (2,138,093 → 5,157,699).
5,054,253
Population
100
People / sq mi
$62,027
Median Income
39.3
Median Age
Alabama covers 50,651 sq mi of land at a density of 99.8 people per square mile.
About Alabama
What sets Alabama apart is money: median household income runs $62,027, below the US median of $78,538. With 5,054,253 residents, Alabama is a US state. It ranks #24 among US states by population.
Earnings trail the nation, with the median household making $62,027, below the US median of $78,538. Roughly 11.3% of residents fall below the poverty line, below the national 12.4%. Homes are comparatively cheap — a median value of $195,100, with typical rent around $963.
Fewer adults hold degrees here than in most comparable places — 27.8%, below the national 35.0%. Most workers commute: only 7.8% work from home, below the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 25 minutes each way.
Alabama, #24 by population
Alabama Population History (1910-2024)
The state of Alabama had a population of 2,138,093 in 1910 and 5,157,699 in 2024, a 2.4× growth over 114 years. The peak was 5,157,699 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.74%.
5,157,699
Population (2024)
2,138,093
Population (1910)
5,157,699
Peak (2024)
0.74%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,138,093 |
| 1920 | 2,348,174 |
| 1930 | 2,646,248 |
| 1940 | 2,832,961 |
| 1950 | 3,061,743 |
| 1960 | 3,266,740 |
| 1970 | 3,444,165 |
| 1980 | 3,893,888 |
| 1990 | 4,040,587 |
| 2000 | 4,447,100 |
| 2010 | 4,779,736 |
| 2020 | 5,024,279 |
| 2020 | 5,033,094 |
| 2021 | 5,049,196 |
| 2022 | 5,076,181 |
| 2023 | 5,117,673 |
| 2024 | 5,157,699 |
Age Distribution
Male: 48.5% · Female: 51.5%
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 65.4% |
| Black or African American | 26.1% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.3% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% |
Economy & Income
$62,027
Median Household Income
$34,835
Per Capita Income
11.3%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
$86,225
Mean Household Income
55.0%
Employment Rate
Cost of Living
Alabama's overall price level is 88.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 11.2% lower the US average. Adjusting for cost of living, Alabama's median household income of $62,027 has the buying power of $69,832 in average-priced areas.
88.8
Price Level (US = 100)
$69,832
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$62,027
Nominal Median Income
Education
88.1%
High School Graduate+
27.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Births & Fertility
58,149
Live Births (2022)
11.5
Birth Rate (per 1,000)
54.7%
Births to Married Mothers
Births by Mother's Age
Births by Mother's Race
| White | 67.8% |
| Black or African American | 28.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.7% |
Housing
$195,100
Median Home Value
$963
Median Rent
2,316,192
Total Housing Units
69.9%
Owner-Occupied
30.1%
Renter-Occupied
15.0%
Vacant
Languages Spoken at Home
94.1% of Alabama residents age 5+ speak only English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken at home in Alabama:
| # | Language | Speakers | % of pop. 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | 79,492 | 1.67% |
| 2 | Korean | 6,282 | 0.13% |
| 3 | Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese) | 5,386 | 0.11% |
| 4 | Vietnamese | 4,071 | 0.09% |
| 5 | Arabic | 1,874 | 0.04% |
| 6 | German | 1,407 | 0.03% |
| 7 | Japanese | 1,295 | 0.03% |
| 8 | Tagalog (incl. Filipino) | 1,205 | 0.03% |
| 9 | Thai, Lao, or other Tai-Kadai | 887 | 0.02% |
| 10 | Gujarati | 813 | 0.02% |
Commute
0.3%
Drive Alone
1.1%
Carpool
7.8%
Work From Home
25.4 min
Avg Commute
Largest Cities in Alabama
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | 218,814 |
| 2 | Birmingham | 199,322 |
| 3 | Montgomery | 198,440 |
| 4 | Mobile | 185,097 |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa | 107,699 |
| 6 | Hoover | 92,401 |
| 7 | Auburn | 78,738 |
| 8 | Dothan | 71,118 |
| 9 | Madison | 58,335 |
| 10 | Decatur | 57,760 |
| 11 | Florence | 41,231 |
| 12 | Prattville | 38,850 |
| 13 | Vestavia Hills | 38,704 |
| 14 | Phenix City | 38,477 |
| 15 | Alabaster | 33,633 |
| 16 | Gadsden | 33,617 |
| 17 | Opelika | 31,944 |
| 18 | Northport | 30,991 |
| 19 | Enterprise | 28,990 |
| 20 | Daphne | 28,673 |
Counties in Alabama
| # | County | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 669,744 | $64,589 |
| 2 | Mobile County | 413,162 | $58,119 |
| 3 | Madison County | 397,135 | $83,528 |
| 4 | Baldwin County | 239,945 | $75,019 |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa County | 234,036 | $63,947 |
| 6 | Montgomery County | 227,197 | $58,153 |
| 7 | Shelby County | 226,955 | $93,543 |
| 8 | Lee County | 177,663 | $61,123 |
| 9 | Morgan County | 123,742 | $64,858 |
| 10 | Calhoun County | 116,141 | $55,826 |
| 11 | Houston County | 107,628 | $57,531 |
| 12 | Limestone County | 107,577 | $83,534 |
| 13 | Etowah County | 103,208 | $53,070 |
| 14 | Marshall County | 98,712 | $60,946 |
| 15 | Lauderdale County | 95,037 | $59,082 |
| 16 | St. Clair County | 92,903 | $78,993 |
| 17 | Cullman County | 89,463 | $60,916 |
| 18 | Elmore County | 88,669 | $75,553 |
| 19 | Talladega County | 81,170 | $56,249 |
| 20 | DeKalb County | 71,946 | $51,149 |
Compare Alabama
Rankings for Alabama
Read more about Alabama
A complete guide to Alabama demographics — population, race & ethnicity breakdown, income, age, growth trends, and how the state compares nationally.
Alabama Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained →Metro areas in Alabama
Congressional districts in Alabama
Largest school districts in Alabama
Other states
State rankings
Common questions about Alabama
Where to stay in Alabama
Compare hotels and vacation rentals across Alabama — centered on Huntsville, its largest metro. Search any city right on the cards.
Top-rated places to stay near Huntsville, AL
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Thinking about moving to Alabama?
Get relocation and cost-of-living insights for Alabama by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alabama has a population of 5,054,253 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 24th-most populous state in the United States.
Alabama is gaining population, with a +141.2% change over the available historical Census record. Alabama's population has grown 141.2% since 1910 (2,138,093 → 5,157,699).
The median household income in Alabama is $62,027, with a per capita income of $34,835. 11.3% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.
65.4% of Alabama's population identifies as White (Census ACS 2023). 26.1% is Black or African American, 0.0% is Asian, and 1.6% is Hispanic or Latino (any race, counted separately under Census methodology).
Alabama is 65.4% White, 26.1% Black or African American, 0.0% Asian, and 1.6% Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100% in some breakdowns.
The median age in Alabama is 39.3 years. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
Alabama's population has grown 141.2% since 1910 (2,138,093 → 5,157,699).
Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Alabama's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.
Demographic data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates. Birth statistics from the CDC National Vital Statistics System via Data Commons. California does not report marital status on birth certificates. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
States Similar to Alabama
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.