District Of Columbia Population 2017

697,012

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 2016, Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 672,228.

Washington, DC Population

Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 672,228 in 2016, which makes it the 22nd most populous city in the U.S. It has a population density of 9,856.5 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.

If Washington, DC were a state, it would be the 49th most populous ahead of Wyoming and Vermont.

Washington, DC Religions

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.

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Public Record

District Of Columbia Population Chart

Washington, DC Population Growth

The District's population in 2016 is a more than 7.5% increase from the 2010 Census population, 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

District Of Columbia Growth Rate

District Of Columbia State Rank

Year Pop % Change
2020 734,188 1.72%
2019 721,796 1.75%
2018 709,404 1.78%
2017 697,012 1.81%
2016 684,620 1.84%
2015 672,228 1.88%
2014 659,836 1.59%
2013 649,540 2.23%
2012 635,342 2.40%
2011 620,472 3.12%
2010 601,723 0.51%
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%

District Of Columbia Facts

District Of Columbia Population in 2017 Source: Spyder Monkey

  • The second president of the U.S., John Adams, was the first president to live in the White House. Construction was not completed while George Washington was in office.
  • The Washington Monument was the tallest structure of its time when it was erected in 1884. Just five years later, the Eiffel Tower in Paris held the honor.
  • Washington, D.C., gets an average of 39 inches of rainfall per year. That amount is more than Seattle sees annually.
  • Over 175 embassies and international cultural centers are located in the District of Columbia.
  • The Smithsonian Museums have an astounding collection of almost 138 million items.
  • The D.C. Metro is the second busiest subway system in the nation.
  • The Old Stone House is the oldest building in D.C. and dates back to 1765.
  • The Residence Act of 1790 designated a site along the Potomac River as the country's permanent capital.
  • Fifteen percent of D.C.'s residents speak a language other than English.

District Of Columbia Population Density by County

  • Population
  • Density
  • Growth Since 2010
  • State Rank
  • % of State

District Of Columbia Population Growth Rate by County

Population Pyramid

To compare District Of Columbia to other states, click here.

Population by Race

Race Population Percentage

Washington D.C. has had a large African American population since its founding in 1791. Between 1800 and 1940, African Americans made up 30% of the population, reaching a peak of 70% in the 1970s before declining as more African Americans moved to the suburbs. Between 2000 and 2010, there was a 31% jump in the non-Hispanic white population and an 11.5% decline in the black population.

Approximately 1 in 7 Washingtonians are immigrants, many of whom come from El Salvador, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Due to the large number of immigrants who are not fluent in English, about 35% of District residents are considered functionally illiterate.

The largest Hispanic groups in Washington DC is Salvadoran, which have mostly settled in the Mount Pleasant area. It is estimated that there are over 18,000 Salvadorans living in Washtington D.C., with an estimated Hispanic population that totals over 45,000.

Languages Spoken in District Of Columbia

Language Population Percentage
Population 5 years and over 582,879 100
English 507,074 86.99
Spanish 44,455 7.63
French 8,360 1.43
Amharic 5,260 0.9
Chinese 2,665 0.46
German 2,625 0.45
Kru, Ibo, Yoruba 2,080 0.36
Portuguese 1,420 0.24
Mandarin 1,030 0.18

This chart shows the top 10 non-English languages that are spoken at home in District Of Columbia. The data comes from the most recent release of the American Community Survey (ACS).

District Of Columbia Economy

HighSchoolGraduate 89
BachelorsDegree 53
Disabled 8
NoHealthInsurance 6
LaborForceTotal 68
LaborForceFemale 66
FoodServiceSales 5,101,602
HealthCareRevenue 8,963,981
ManufacturerShipments 309,832
MerchantWholesalesSales 2,591,868
RetailSales 4,439,933
RetailSalesPerCapita 7,022
MeanWorkTravelTime 30
MedianHouseholdIncome 69,235
PerCapitaIncome 46,502
PovertyPercentage 18

This chart shows the employment and labor force participation rates in District Of Columbia for residents over 16 years of age. The 2015 unemployment rate is 6.5% and the labor force participation rate is 69%.

District Of Columbia Business

NonemployerEstablishments 55,013
AllFirms 63,408
MenOwnedFirms 30,237
WomenOwnedFirms 27,064
MinorityOwnedFirms 29,983
NonminorityOwnedFirms 29,521
VeteranOwnedFirms 5,070
NonveteranOwn 54,217

District Of Columbia Housing

HousingUnits 309,574
HousingUnits 296,719
OwnerOccupiedRate 42
OwnerOccupiedMedianValue 454,500
MonthlyOwnerCostsMortage 2,322
MonthlyOwnerCostsNoMortage 608
MedianGrossRent 1,302
BuildingPermits 4,956
Households 267,415
PersonsPerHousehold 2
SameHouseOneYearAgo 80
NonEnglishAtHome 17
Data Sources
  1. Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program - released 6/23/2016
  2. Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program - released 6/23/2016
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts

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