District Of Columbia Population 2018

703,608

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 2018, Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 703,608.

Washington, DC Population

Washington, D.C. has an estimated population of 703,608 in 2018, 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.

Washington DC Population History

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.

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 Population Rank

Year Pop % Change
2020722,8801.35%
2019713,2441.37%
2018703,6081.39%
2017693,9721.41%
2016684,336Infinity%
2016659,009-2.04%
2015672,7361.81%
2014660,7971.64%
2013650,1142.28%
2012635,6302.47%
2011620,3362.53%
2010605,0400.56%
2000572,059-0.59%
1990606,900-0.50%
1980638,333-1.68%
1970756,510-0.10%
1960763,956-0.49%
1950802,1781.92%
1940663,0913.14%
1930486,8691.07%
1920437,5712.83%
1910331,0691.74%
1900278,7181.92%
1890230,3922.64%
1880177,6243.04%
1870131,7005.78%
186075,0803.80%
185051,6874.36%
184033,7451.10%
183030,2612.63%
182023,3364.20%
181015,4716.63%
18008,1440.00%

District Of Columbia Facts

District Of Columbia Population in 2018Source: [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

  • 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

District of Columbia

  • Population693,972
  • Density11349.60 per sq km
  • Growth Since 201014.70%
  • State Rank1
  • % of State100.00%

District Of Columbia Population Growth Rate by County

Population by Race

Race Population
Black or African American318,598
White266,035
Some Other Race29,650
Asian24,036
Two or More Races18,245
American Indian and Alaska Native2,174
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander271

Race Data via US Census (2016 ACS 5-Year Survey)

District Of Columbia Population Pyramid 2018

0%2%4%6%8%10%12% Male Population0%2%4%6%8%10%12% Female Population80757065605550454035302520151050

Data via US Census (2016 ACS 5-Year Survey): Table S0101

District Of Columbia Median Age

33.8


Total

33.6


Male

34


Female

District Of Columbia Adults

There are 544,341 adults, (75,127 of which are seniors) in District Of Columbia.

District Of Columbia Age Dependency

40.5

Age Dependency Ratio

16

Old Age Dependency Ratio

24.4

Child Dependency Ratio

District Of Columbia Sex Ratio

Female

346,380

52.56%

Male

312,629

47.44%

District Of Columbia Households and Families

District Of Columbia Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

District Of Columbia Household Types

Type Owner Renter
Married64.6%35.4%
All40.7%59.3%
Male38%62%
Non Family33%67%
Female31%69%

40.7%

Rate of Home Ownership

District Of Columbia Households by Type

Type Count Average Size Owned
All276,5462.2440.7
Non Family155,4451.433
Married68,7073.1164.6
Female42,3293.6231
Male10,0653.3638

3.19

Average Family Size

2.24

Average Household Size

5.4%

Unmarried (Opposite Sex)

1.3%

Unmarried (Same Sex)

District Of Columbia Households

District Of Columbia Education

District Of Columbia Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Education Attained Count Percentage
Less Than 9th Grade18,6124.02%
9th to 12th Grade27,8986.03%
High School Graduate83,36718.01%
Some College62,30813.46%
Associates Degree14,4963.13%
Bachelors Degree108,25223.38%
Graduate Degree148,06431.98%

District Of Columbia Educational Attainment by Race

Name Total High School Bachelors
Black213,323181,35052,992
White181,276180,156164,620
Hispanic43,84231,13118,750
Asian18,25517,03514,225
Other Race18,01610,6144,715
Multiple Races10,0059,3566,787
Native American1,6301,489709
Islander259259165

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 islander people with a rate of 90.81%.

District Of Columbia Earnings by Educational Attainment

Name Average Male Female
Overall$56,747$61,919$52,439
Less Than High School$22,225$24,317$21,114
High School Grad$29,210$30,226$27,880
Some College$37,496$40,302$35,152
Bachelors Degree$63,708$70,796$58,297
Graduate Degree$86,625$97,393$77,655

$56,747

Average Earnings

$61,919

Average Male

$52,439

Average Female

District Of Columbia Language

District Of Columbia Language by Age

District Of Columbia Language

82.57% of District Of Columbia residents speak only English, while 17.43% speak other languages. The largest non-English language is Spanish, which is spoken by 8.79% of the population.

District Of Columbia Poverty

District Of Columbia Poverty by Race

Name Total In Poverty Poverty Rate
Black304,73780,49626.41%
White221,17616,0737.27%
Hispanic66,78210,85816.26%
Other29,1316,25521.47%
Asian21,7273,22714.85%
Multiple16,9922,10812.41%
Native2,15030914.37%
Islander271103.69%

17.93%

Overall Poverty Rate

16.53%

Male Poverty Rate

19.19%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in District Of Columbia

The race most likely to be in poverty in District Of Columbia is Black, with 26.41% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in District Of Columbia is Islander, with 3.69% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.94%. Among those working part-time, it was 23.56%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 36.96%.

District Of Columbia Poverty Rate by Education

Name Poverty
Less Than High School34.77%
High School24.29%
Some College17.28%
Bachelors or Greater5.46%

District Of Columbia Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Name Poverty
Female Unemployed47.46%
Male Unemployed35.82%
Female Employed7.26%
Male Employed5.23%

District Of Columbia Income

District Of Columbia Income by Household Type

Name Median Mean
Households$72,935$110,614
Families$89,023$139,260
Married Families$150,788$199,246
Non Families$62,581$85,667

District Of Columbia Marital Status

District Of Columbia Marital Status

Marriage Rates

28.2%

Overall Marriage Rate

30.8%

Male Marriage Rate

25.9%

Female Marriage Rate

District Of Columbia Married by Age and Sex

District Of Columbia Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35To44.

District Of Columbia Marital Status by Race

District Of Columbia Veterans

District Of Columbia Veterans by War

27,754

Number of Veterans

24,416

Male Veterans

3,338

Female Veterans

Name Veterans
Vietnam8,040
First Gulf War5,920
Second Gulf War5,784
Korea2,747
World War II1,730

District Of Columbia Veterans by Age

Name Veterans
35 to 547,120
75+6,691
55 to 645,608
65 to 745,252
18 to 343,083

District Of Columbia Veterans by Race

Name Veterans % of Total
Black15,9306.38%
White10,6134.54%
Hispanic1,3802.70%
2 or More5944.89%
Other3101.46%
Asian2251.03%
Indian824.34%

District Of Columbia Veterans by Education

10.98%

Veteran Poverty Rate

23.72%

Veteran Disability Rate

District Of Columbia Employment Status

District Of Columbia Employment by Age

69.4%

Labor Force Participation

62.8%

Employment Rate

8.7%

Unemployment Rate

District Of Columbia Employment by Race

District Of Columbia Employment by Education

District Of Columbia Nativity

District Of Columbia Citizenship Status

Data Sources
  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

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