Hawaii Population 2018

1,426,393

Based on the most recent estimates released by the US Census, we estimate the 2018 population of Hawaii at 1.43 million.

At the 2010 census the population of Hawaii was declared at a total of 1,360,301. Estimates of the population are produced in the years between censuses - and in 2015, this number had risen to 1,431,603.

This represents a 5.2% increase from the 1.36 million recorded during the 2010 Census.

Based on the most recent estimates, Hawaii is the 40th largest state in the union. Although small in terms of its population, Hawaii is big in terms of one area of census statistics – population density. In total, the islands make up 10,931 square miles (28,311 square kilometres), which makes its density 222.9 people per square mile. This ranks it 13th in the US in population density.

Population of Hawaiian Islands

There are eight major islands in Hawaii. Oahu is the largest, with a population of 953,207.

Next largest is Hawaii itself, holding 186,738 people, followed closely by Maui (144,444). The only other island with a sizeable population is Kauai (pop 66,921). The remaining islands are Molokai (7,345), Lanai (3,135), Niihau (170) and Kahoolawe (unpopulated).

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, home to an estimated 350,399 of Oahu's people. There are no other cities with more than 50,000 people. The next largest is Pearl City, which is home to 47,698 people.

Hawaii Population History

Hawaii was an independent nation prior to being annexed by the United States in 1898; it was made a territory in 1900. On August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted as a State and assumed its present boundaries, omitting certain small islands formerly included in the territory.

Census coverage has included the whole of Hawaii since 1900. The Hawaiian government conducted at least 9 censuses between 1850 and 1898; see Robert C Schmitt, Historical Statistics of Hawaii (Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, 1977).

Hawaii Population Chart

Hawaii Population History

Although Hawaii only became a US state in 1959, there are population statistics dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. In 1900, the total number of citizens living on the islands was declared at 154,001 and just ten years later that had risen by 24.6% to 191,874.

The US census of 1960 was the first to include Hawaii in its statistics and by that point, the population had grown to 632,772, a 26.6% increase from the 1950 findings. From that stage, the numbers have continued to increase but the percentage increase decade by decade has slowed down. The 2010 figures represented a rise of 12.3% from the 2000 Census numbers.

Natural growth

Hawaii has a healthy gap between birth and death rates and, when figures in this respect were released in 2005, they showed a net gain of 48,111 new Hawaiians in the five years from 2000. Net migration is also a contributory factor and using those figures in 2005 once again, they showed a gain of 16,956 new citizens compared to the statistics from 2000.

Population Data via US Census

Hawaii Growth Rate

Hawaii Population Rank

Year Pop % Change
20201,424,103-0.08%
20191,425,248-0.08%
20181,426,393-0.08%
20171,427,538-0.08%
20161,428,6830.25%
20151,425,1570.62%
20141,416,3490.70%
20131,406,4811.05%
20121,391,8201.01%
20111,377,8641.29%
20101,360,3011.16%
20001,211,5370.90%
19901,108,2291.40%
1980964,6912.30%
1970768,5611.96%
1960632,7722.39%
1950499,7941.67%
1940423,3301.40%
1930368,3363.71%
1920255,9122.92%
1910191,9092.23%
1900154,0010.00%

Hawaii Facts

Hawaii Population in 2018Source: Cristo Vlahos

  • Hawaii is the only state to have a tropical rainforest.
  • Hawaii is composed of 132 islands. It is the only state that is made up entirely of islands.
  • Hawaii has its own time zone -- Hawaiian Standard Time -- and does not follow Daylight Savings Time.
  • The state is home to Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth. NASA astronauts prepare for moon missions on its lava fields.
  • Hawaii was admitted to the Union in 1959. It was the 50th state to be admitted.
  • It is the only state to grow coffee.
  • The islands are actually projected mountain tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.
  • Hawaii is made up of just four counties.
  • There are no majority races in the state -- everyone is considered a minority because the population is so diverse.

Hawaii Population Density by County

Honolulu County

  • Population992,761
  • Density1652.99 per sq km
  • Growth Since 20103.82%
  • State Rank1
  • % of State69.49%

Hawaii Population Growth Rate by County

When breaking down population growth by county, it is easy to evaluate the data of Hawaii, as there are few counties within this state. Based on a comparison of data from the 2010 Census and estimates taken five years later by the US Census Bureau, it is shown that all of Hawaai's counties have shown continued population growth.

Kauai saw the highest rate of growth during this period, with an increase of 6.73%. This is followed by Maui County, with a population increase of 6.23%, Hawaii County with growth of 5.99%, and Honolulu County posting 4.43% growth from 2010 to 2015.

Hawaii Population Pyramid 2018

0k2k4k6k8k10kHawaii Male Population0k2k4k6k8k10kHawaii Female Population80757065605550454035302520151050

To compare Hawaii to other states, click here.

Population by Race

Race Population
Asian543,448
White357,994
Two or More Races341,679
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander144,568
Black or African American25,898
Some Other Race12,321
American Indian and Alaska Native2,649
Total

There is a very wide range of cultures and ethnic groups within the population of Hawaii. Notably, there is a higher percentage of Asian Americans in Hawaii than in any other state. Hawaii also has the highest percentage of multiracial residents than any other state, and it has the lowest percentage of whites.

Hawaii is the only state to have Asians as its largest ethnic group, making this a majority-minority state. The Asian population is primarily Filipino, although there are also large populations of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean residents.

Approximately 75% of Hawaii's foreign-born population comes from Asia. The vast majority of residents -- over 82% -- were born in the United States. The state also a fairly large population of indigenous Hawaiians that make up almost 6% of the population.

Race Data via US Census (2016 ACS 1-Year Survey)

Languages Spoken in Hawaii

Language Population Percentage
English1,100,87085.53%
Ilocano54,0054.20%
Spanish25,4901.98%
Hawaiian18,6101.45%
Chinese17,3601.35%
Samoan12,7950.99%
Cantonese7,8900.61%
Marshallese6,9300.54%
Mandarin5,6500.44%
German4,6150.36%

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

Hawaii Economy

IndicatorValue
High school graduate or higher 90.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher 30.5%
With a Disability 6.7%
Persons Without Health Insurance 6.1%
In Civilian Labor Force 61.9%
In Civilian Labor Force (Female) 59.2%
Food Services Sales $9,536,706
Health Care Revenue $8,136,947,000
Manufacturers Shipments $
Merchant Wholesaler Sales $9,607,982,000
Total Retail Sales $18,901,745,000
Total Retail Sales per Capita $13,576
Mean Travel Time to Work 26.4 minutes
Median Household Income $68,201
Per Capita Income (past 12 months) $29,552
Persons in Poverty 11.4%

This chart shows the employment and labor force participation rates in Hawaii for residents over 16 years of age. The 2015 unemployment rate is 3.7% and the labor force participation rate is 65.2%.

Hawaii Business

IndicatorValue
Total Nonemployer Establishments 102,544
All firms 118,454
Men-owned Firms 60,409
Women-owned Firms 44,453
Minority-owned Firms 74,208
Nonminority-owned Firms 38,510
Veternan-owned Firms 11,148
Nonveteran-owned Firms 101,334

Hawaii Housing

IndicatorValue
Housing Units 519,508
Owner Occupied Housing Rate 57.1%
Median Value Owner Occupied Housing Units $504,500
Median Monthly Owner Costs (w/Mortgage) $2,291
Median Monthly Owner Costs (no mortgage) $509
Median Gross Rent $1,417
Building Permits 5,422
Households 450,299
Persons per Household 3 persons
Living in Same House 1 Year Ago 85%
Language Other than English Spoken at Home 25.3%
Data Sources
  1. Hawaii State Data Center
  2. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  4. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  5. Census QuickFacts
  6. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

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