2019 Population Rank
50
2019 Growth Rate
1.30%
District Of Columbia Square Miles
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State Capital
Red/Blue
Abbreviation
Washington, D.C., also known simply as D.C. or the District, is the capital of the United States. Washington, D.C. is a federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress, and thus is not a part of any state in the United States. The District was formed from land donated by Virginia and Maryland and named in honor of George Washington. In 2019, Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 711,571. Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 711,571 in 2019, which makes it the 22nd most populous city in the U.S. If Washington, DC were a state, it would be the 49th most populous ahead of Wyoming and Vermont.
This district is a particularly small area, encompassing only 68 square miles of land and water. Only 61 square miles of land are available, and yet, this tiny area has the title of the highest density of population in the nation.
It has a population density of 11,535 people per square mile. During the work week, however, the population swells to more than one million as commuters come from Virginia and Maryland. The Washington metropolitan area has a population estimated at over 6 million, which makes it the 7th largest metro area in the United States. If the District is included with Baltimore and the suburbs, the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area has a population of more than 9 million, which makes it the 4th largest CSA in the country.
The median age in Washington, DC is 33.8 years, with a slight gender gap of 52.5% female, and 47.5% male spread across the state.
There are many religions represented in Washington, DC, including Baptist (17%), Catholic (13%), Evangelical Protestant (6%), Methodist (4%), Episcopalian (3%), Jewish (2%), Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, Buddhist, Adventist, Lutheran, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu and Presbyterian.
The District of Columbia was formed in 1791 from territory ceded by Maryland and Virginia, but remained in some respects under their jurisdiction until the National government moved there in 1800. The District included the existing small cities of Georgetown and Alexandria as well as the site chosen for the Nation's new capital, Washington. In 1846 the portion south of the Potomac River, including Alexandria, was retroceded to Virginia.
In 1800 the census reported the District as part of Maryland and Virginia. All populations shown in the table exclude the portion returned to Virginia in 1846.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of District Of Columbia was:
Washington DC had very slow growth initially, with a population of only 100,000 after its first 70 years. This number more than doubled to 250,000 by the time the Civil War had ended and has grown steadily ever since.
The District's population has made more than a 7.5% increase since the 2010 Census, continuing a trend of growth set since 2000 after 50 years of decline. In 2010, Washington, DC was the 24th most populous city. The Washington, DC area currently ranks 5th among metro areas in the US for population growth.
According to officials, the growth is due to people migrating to the area from other parts of the US. Growth is expected to continue into the future, with projections showing that the population may exceed 718,000 by 2030.
Population Data via US Census
Year | Pop | % Change |
2020 | 720,687 | 1.28% |
2019 | 711,571 | 1.30% |
2018 | 702,455 | 0.97% |
2017 | 695,691 | 1.33% |
2016 | 686,575 | 1.68% |
2015 | 675,254 | 1.92% |
2014 | 662,513 | 1.86% |
2013 | 650,431 | 2.47% |
2012 | 634,725 | 2.44% |
2011 | 619,602 | 2.40% |
2010 | 605,085 | 0.56% |
2000 | 572,059 | -0.59% |
1990 | 606,900 | -0.50% |
1980 | 638,333 | -1.68% |
1970 | 756,510 | -0.10% |
1960 | 763,956 | -0.49% |
1950 | 802,178 | 1.92% |
1940 | 663,091 | 3.14% |
1930 | 486,869 | 1.07% |
1920 | 437,571 | 2.83% |
1910 | 331,069 | 1.74% |
1900 | 278,718 | 1.92% |
1890 | 230,392 | 2.64% |
1880 | 177,624 | 3.04% |
1870 | 131,700 | 5.78% |
1860 | 75,080 | 3.80% |
1850 | 51,687 | 4.36% |
1840 | 33,745 | 1.10% |
1830 | 30,261 | 2.63% |
1820 | 23,336 | 4.20% |
1810 | 15,471 | 6.63% |
1800 | 8,144 | 0.00% |
Race | Population |
Black or African American | 321,062 |
White | 273,471 |
Some Other Race | 30,961 |
Asian | 25,558 |
Two or More Races | 19,293 |
American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,757 |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 289 |
33.9
33.8
34.1
There are 554,333 adults, (79,769 of whom are seniors) in District Of Columbia.
Female
353,345
52.55%
Male
319,046
47.45%
Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
All | 277,985 | 2.28 | 41.7 |
Non Family | 156,574 | 1.42 | 34 |
Married | 70,359 | 3.16 | 64.8 |
Female | 40,960 | 3.71 | 32.4 |
Male | 10,092 | 3.56 | 37.2 |
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
Less Than 9th Grade | 18,889 | 3.95% |
9th to 12th Grade | 27,608 | 5.78% |
High School Graduate | 84,119 | 17.60% |
Some College | 62,203 | 13.02% |
Associates Degree | 14,601 | 3.06% |
Bachelors Degree | 113,830 | 23.82% |
Graduate Degree | 156,593 | 32.77% |
Name | Total | High School | Bachelors |
Black | 216,598 | 185,317 | 55,272 |
White | 189,407 | 188,202 | 172,578 |
Hispanic | 45,736 | 32,617 | 21,096 |
Asian | 19,603 | 18,386 | 15,625 |
Other Race | 19,010 | 10,724 | 5,337 |
Multiple Races | 10,716 | 10,018 | 7,416 |
Native American | 1,375 | 1,222 | 712 |
Islander | 243 | 243 | 152 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 91.11%.
$59,284
Average Earnings
$63,921
Average Male
$54,246
Average Female
82.49% of District Of Columbia residents speak only English, while 17.51% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 8.99% of the population.
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
Black | 307,477 | 81,287 | 26.44% |
White | 227,102 | 14,868 | 6.55% |
Hispanic | 69,138 | 9,665 | 13.98% |
Other | 30,276 | 5,429 | 17.93% |
Asian | 23,506 | 3,697 | 15.73% |
Multiple | 18,173 | 1,930 | 10.62% |
Native | 1,720 | 410 | 23.84% |
Islander | 276 | 30 | 10.87% |
17.39%
Overall Poverty Rate
15.68%
Male Poverty Rate
18.93%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in District Of Columbia is Black, with 26.44% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in District Of Columbia is White, with 6.55% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.79%. Among those working part-time, it was 22.61%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 36.42%.
28.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
31.1%
Male Marriage Rate
26.1%
Female Marriage Rate
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
Black | 15,476 | 6.15% |
White | 10,868 | 4.54% |
Hispanic | 1,496 | 2.85% |
2 or More | 594 | 4.63% |
Other | 358 | 1.63% |
Asian | 225 | 0.97% |
Indian | 167 | 11.29% |
Hawaiian | 7 | 2.42% |
11.71%
Veteran Poverty Rate
25.05%
Veteran Disability Rate
69.5%
Labor Force Participation
63.4%
Employment Rate
8%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
85.96%
Native Born
14.04%
Foreign Born
8.22%
Non Citizen
85.96% of District Of Columbia residents were born in the United States, with 36.75% having been born in District Of Columbia. 8.22% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.