Rank #36 by Population · Updated April 2026
Kansas Population 2026
The population of Kansas is 2,937,569 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 36th-most populous state in the United States. The median household income is $72,639, the median home value is $203,400, and the median age is 37.2.
Kansas's population has grown 75.7% since 1910 (1,690,949 → 2,970,606).
2,937,569
Population
36
People / sq mi
$72,639
Median Income
37.2
Median Age
Kansas covers 81,759 sq mi of land at a density of 35.9 people per square mile.
About Kansas
Kansas skews on age — the median resident is 37.2, younger than the national median. With 2,937,569 residents, Kansas is a US state. It ranks #36 among US states by population.
Household earnings are middling, with a median of $72,639 — below the US median of $78,538. About 7.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level, below the national 12.4%. Housing is relatively affordable, with a median home value of $203,400, with typical rent around $1,029.
Roughly 35.2% of adults have a bachelor’s, near the national 35.0%. Remote work is below the national 14.0% at 10.7%, and the average commute runs about 20 minutes each way.
Kansas, #36 by population
Kansas Population History (1910-2024)
The state of Kansas had a population of 1,690,949 in 1910 and 2,970,606 in 2024, a 75.7% growth over 114 years. The peak was 2,970,606 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.44%.
2,970,606
Population (2024)
1,690,949
Population (1910)
2,970,606
Peak (2024)
0.44%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1910 | 1,690,949 |
| 1920 | 1,769,257 |
| 1930 | 1,880,999 |
| 1940 | 1,801,028 |
| 1950 | 1,905,299 |
| 1960 | 2,178,611 |
| 1970 | 2,246,578 |
| 1980 | 2,363,679 |
| 1990 | 2,477,574 |
| 2000 | 2,688,418 |
| 2010 | 2,853,118 |
| 2020 | 2,937,880 |
| 2020 | 2,938,172 |
| 2021 | 2,938,338 |
| 2022 | 2,937,324 |
| 2023 | 2,951,500 |
| 2024 | 2,970,606 |
Age Distribution
Male: 50.2% · Female: 49.8%
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 77.9% |
| Black or African American | 5.4% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.7% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.2% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% |
Economy & Income
$72,639
Median Household Income
$39,638
Per Capita Income
7.7%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
$97,625
Mean Household Income
62.8%
Employment Rate
Cost of Living
Kansas's overall price level is 90.1 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 9.9% lower the US average. Adjusting for cost of living, Kansas's median household income of $72,639 has the buying power of $80,649 in average-priced areas.
90.1
Price Level (US = 100)
$80,649
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$72,639
Nominal Median Income
Education
91.9%
High School Graduate+
35.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Births & Fertility
34,401
Live Births (2022)
11.7
Birth Rate (per 1,000)
64.0%
Births to Married Mothers
Births by Mother's Age
Births by Mother's Race
| White | 86.2% |
| Black or African American | 6.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.3% |
Housing
$203,400
Median Home Value
$1,029
Median Rent
1,285,221
Total Housing Units
66.9%
Owner-Occupied
33.1%
Renter-Occupied
9.7%
Vacant
Languages Spoken at Home
87.9% of Kansas residents age 5+ speak only English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken at home in Kansas:
| # | Language | Speakers | % of pop. 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | 88,089 | 3.19% |
| 2 | Vietnamese | 8,273 | 0.30% |
| 3 | Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese) | 5,418 | 0.20% |
| 4 | Other Asian/Pacific | 2,811 | 0.10% |
| 5 | Thai, Lao, or other Tai-Kadai | 2,579 | 0.09% |
| 6 | Amharic, Somali, or other Afro-Asiatic | 2,289 | 0.08% |
| 7 | Swahili or other Bantu | 1,999 | 0.07% |
| 8 | Arabic | 1,981 | 0.07% |
| 9 | German | 1,541 | 0.06% |
| 10 | Tagalog (incl. Filipino) | 1,169 | 0.04% |
Commute
0.4%
Drive Alone
2.3%
Carpool
10.7%
Work From Home
19.8 min
Avg Commute
Largest Cities in Kansas
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita | 396,488 |
| 2 | Overland Park | 197,199 |
| 3 | Kansas City | 154,776 |
| 4 | Olathe | 143,720 |
| 5 | Topeka | 126,103 |
| 6 | Lawrence | 95,459 |
| 7 | Shawnee | 68,175 |
| 8 | Lenexa | 57,986 |
| 9 | Manhattan | 53,951 |
| 10 | Salina | 46,432 |
| 11 | Hutchinson | 39,837 |
| 12 | Leavenworth | 37,176 |
| 13 | Leawood | 33,844 |
| 14 | Garden City | 27,781 |
| 15 | Dodge City | 27,652 |
| 16 | Derby | 25,801 |
| 17 | Emporia | 24,098 |
| 18 | Gardner | 24,020 |
| 19 | Prairie Village | 22,937 |
| 20 | Junction City | 22,431 |
Counties in Kansas
| # | County | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson County | 614,764 | $107,261 |
| 2 | Sedgwick County | 524,810 | $67,675 |
| 3 | Shawnee County | 178,315 | $66,043 |
| 4 | Wyandotte County | 167,277 | $60,582 |
| 5 | Douglas County | 119,547 | $68,756 |
| 6 | Leavenworth County | 82,493 | $86,906 |
| 7 | Riley County | 71,710 | $59,560 |
| 8 | Butler County | 67,916 | $80,375 |
| 9 | Reno County | 61,693 | $60,498 |
| 10 | Saline County | 53,801 | $63,316 |
| 11 | Crawford County | 38,963 | $50,311 |
| 12 | Finney County | 38,001 | $72,437 |
| 13 | Geary County | 35,895 | $57,344 |
| 14 | Miami County | 34,625 | $88,000 |
| 15 | Cowley County | 34,487 | $58,263 |
| 16 | Ford County | 34,133 | $70,495 |
| 17 | Harvey County | 33,823 | $73,269 |
| 18 | Lyon County | 32,145 | $59,078 |
| 19 | Montgomery County | 31,143 | $53,242 |
| 20 | McPherson County | 30,130 | $77,701 |
Compare Kansas
Rankings for Kansas
Read more about Kansas
A complete guide to Kansas demographics — population, race & ethnicity breakdown, income, age, growth trends, and how the state compares nationally.
Kansas Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained →Metro areas in Kansas
Congressional districts in Kansas
Largest school districts in Kansas
Other states
State rankings
Common questions about Kansas
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Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas has a population of 2,937,569 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 36th-most populous state in the United States.
Kansas is gaining population, with a +75.7% change over the available historical Census record. Kansas's population has grown 75.7% since 1910 (1,690,949 → 2,970,606).
The median household income in Kansas is $72,639, with a per capita income of $39,638. 7.7% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.
77.9% of Kansas's population identifies as White (Census ACS 2023). 5.4% is Black or African American, 0.0% is Asian, and 2.7% is Hispanic or Latino (any race, counted separately under Census methodology).
Kansas is 77.9% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.0% Asian, and 2.7% 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 Kansas is 37.2 years. The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female.
Kansas's population has grown 75.7% since 1910 (1,690,949 → 2,970,606).
Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Kansas'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.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.