Hawaii Population 2017

1,454,295

Based on the most recent estimates released by the US Census, we estimate the 2016 population of Hawaii at 1,442,949.

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 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 State Rank

Year Pop % Change
2020 1,488,333 0.77%
2019 1,476,987 0.77%
2018 1,465,641 0.78%
2017 1,454,295 0.79%
2016 1,442,949 0.79%
2015 1,431,603 0.80%
2014 1,420,257 0.82%
2013 1,408,765 1.16%
2012 1,392,641 1.05%
2011 1,378,227 1.32%
2010 1,360,301 1.16%
2000 1,211,537 0.90%
1990 1,108,229 1.40%
1980 964,691 2.30%
1970 768,561 1.96%
1960 632,772 2.39%
1950 499,794 1.67%
1940 423,330 1.40%
1930 368,336 3.71%
1920 255,912 2.92%
1910 191,909 2.23%
1900 154,001 0.00%

Hawaii Facts

Hawaii Population in 2017 Source: 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

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

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.

Population Pyramid

To compare Hawaii to other states, click here.

Population by Race

Race Population Percentage

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.

Languages Spoken in Hawaii

Language Population Percentage
Population 5 years and over 1,287,075 100
English 1,100,870 85.53
Ilocano 54,005 4.2
Spanish 25,490 1.98
Hawaiian 18,610 1.45
Chinese 17,360 1.35
Samoan 12,795 0.99
Cantonese 7,890 0.61
Marshallese 6,930 0.54
Mandarin 5,650 0.44

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

Hawaii Economy

HighSchoolGraduate 91
BachelorsDegree 31
Disabled 7
NoHealthInsurance 6
LaborForceTotal 62
LaborForceFemale 59
FoodServiceSales 9,536,706
HealthCareRevenue 8,136,947
MerchantWholesalesSales 9,607,982
RetailSales 18,901,745
RetailSalesPerCapita 13,576
MeanWorkTravelTime 26
MedianHouseholdIncome 68,201
PerCapitaIncome 29,552
PovertyPercentage 11

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

NonemployerEstablishments 102,544
AllFirms 118,454
MenOwnedFirms 60,409
WomenOwnedFirms 44,453
MinorityOwnedFirms 74,208
NonminorityOwnedFirms 38,510
VeteranOwnedFirms 11,148
NonveteranOwn 101,334

Hawaii Housing

HousingUnits 532,455
HousingUnits 519,508
OwnerOccupiedRate 57
OwnerOccupiedMedianValue 504,500
MonthlyOwnerCostsMortage 2,291
MonthlyOwnerCostsNoMortage 509
MedianGrossRent 1,417
BuildingPermits 5,422
Households 450,299
PersonsPerHousehold 3
SameHouseOneYearAgo 85
NonEnglishAtHome 25
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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