Maine Population 2024

1,402,106

At the very northeastern tip of the United States is the state of Maine: a land known for its mountainous terrain and rocky coastline on which there is perhaps the one thing that Maine is famous for outside of its own country (other than Stephen King of course) -- the Maine Lobster. Maine is also the 41st most populated state in the US.

The varying landscape results in a very sparsely populated territory but in terms of pure numbers, the 2010 Census revealed that there were 1,328,361 people living in Maine. A further estimate in 2011 suggested that those numbers had decreased slightly to 1,328,188, making Maine the 41st most populous state in the country.

As a result of that fluctuation, the population of Maine in 2016 is a little hard to pinpoint, but current estimates show there are now 1,329,328 people living in the state, a slight rise from the last Census. Maine currently has one of the slowest population growth rates in the country of only 0.03%, which ranks 48th out of 50.

Maine Area and Population Density

Maine has a current population density of just 43.1 people per square mile, over an area consisting of 35,380 square miles, which makes it the least densely populated state in New England, the American northeast and the eastern seaboard, as well as all states with an Atlantic coastline and all of those states east of the Mississippi River.

The Greater Portland metropolitan area is the most densely populated in the state and claims 40% of Maine's total population. Much of Maine is comprised of uninhabited lands in remote parts of its interior.

The largest county in Maine by population size is Cumberland County. The most populated city in Maine is Portland with a population of over 67,000 individuals.

Maine Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age of the population in Maine is 44 years of age, and the states male to female ratio is approximately 51% female to 49% male.

When it comes to religious preferences, Maine has 60% of its population affiliated with a Christian based faith, 7% affiliated with a non-Christian based faith, and 31% unaffiliated with any faith.

Maine Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Although geographically separate, Maine was legally part of Massachusetts from early Colonial times until March 15, 1820, when it was admitted as a separate State. The far northern portion of Maine was in dispute with Canada until the present boundary was agreed to in 1842.

Census coverage included virtually all settled portions of Maine from 1790 on, with the Maine counties reported separately from those of Massachusetts Proper.

Maine Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Maine was:

  • White: 92.93%
  • Two or more races: 3.46%
  • Black or African American: 1.44%
  • Asian: 1.1%
  • Native American: 0.56%
  • Other race: 0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.02%

Maine Population History

Its location at the edge of the new world means that the earliest recorded population figures were healthier and more stable than they may have been in other parts of the country.

The first set of available figures date back to 1790 and at the time, the population of Maine was recorded at a healthy 96,540. The following two censuses resulted in population increases of over 50%, and by 1810, it was shown that 228,705 people resided in the state.

Maine Population Growth

From this point, the changes in population fluctuated somewhat but the overall picture was one of healthy growth. By the time the 20th century rolled in, Maine’s population had grown to a figure of 694,466. Further rises followed and in the present day, the population of Maine in 2016 had edged past 1.3 million.

Maine Population Projections

Occasional decreases in the overall numbers within the state, as well as one of the slowest population growth rates in the US, mean that it is relatively difficult to judge the exact population of Maine in the future. In terms of population and growth, this is one of the least remarkable states in the union, and while the overall picture is one of growth, only the 2020 census will give a more accurate picture.

It is projected that Maine's population will peak in 2020 at 1.332 million people, and then fall beyond that to 1.326 million. It's also estimated that the age composition in the state will change dramatically, as 26% of the population currently consists of people under 19. By 2030, it's estimated that this group will make up just 21% of the population. Meanwhile, the population over 65 continues to grow.

There are approximately 38,695 native French speakers in Maine, about 3.06% of the state's population and one-third of the French speakers in New England as a whole. In fact, nearly 24% of the state’s native residents put their ancestry down as French Canadian or French. Maine also has the highest percentage of non-Hispanic Whites of any state in the country, with 89% of all births in Maine to two non-Hispanic white parents. Maine's population of non-Hispanic whites is estimated to be over 96%. Only two other states have white populations this high. Just 10 states in total, including Maine, have non-Hispanic white populations that exceed 90%.

The most common ancestries in the state are:

  • 23.9% French or French-Canadian
  • 21.6% English
  • 17.8% Irish
  • 9.4% American
  • 8.5% German
  • 5.8% Italian

It's believed that most people who cite American as their ancestry are of primarily English descent, although they may have ancestry that has been in the area for so long, sometimes since the 1600s, that they choose to identify as just American.

Maine Growth Rate

Maine Population Rank

Maine Population 2024

  • The earliest inhabitants of Maine were descendants of hunters from the Ice Age.
  • It is believed that the land that is now Maine was discovered by Vikings approximately 1,000 years ago.
  • Over nine-tenths of the land of Maine is covered with forests -- making the state the most forested in the country.
  • About 40 million pounds of lobster are caught off the coast of Maine each year. This is about 90% of the country's lobster supply.
  • The state has over 5,000 miles of coastline.
  • York was the first city incorporated in the US back in 1642.

Maine Facts

Population

20K

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When looking at the population trends among counties in Maine, data shows that the majority of counties have experienced population declines since 2010, with the exception of some of the state's southernmost counties, which reported minor growth. In total, just five counties in Maine experienced population growth between the time of the US Census in 2010 and estimates taken by the Census Bureau in 2015. Of these five counties, Cumberland had the highest growth rate of 3.03%. Trailing behind are York County at 2.01%, Waldo County at 0.87%, Hancock County at 0.53% and Knox County at 0.35%.

On the other end of the spectrum, there were multiple counties that showed declining populations, particularly in the northernmost counties. Aroostook County posted the biggest loss of 4.31%. Its neighbor, Washington County, saw a decrease of 3.65% and Piscataquis saw a decrease in population of 3.51%. Other counties moving south also saw smaller losses, including Somerset, Oxford, and Lincoln.

Maine Population by County

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White1,261,09792.93%
Two or more races46,9013.46%
Black or African American19,5251.44%
Asian14,9171.1%
Native American7,5780.56%
Other race6,8000.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander2280.02%

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Asian

Native American

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Maine Population by Race

Maine Population Pyramid 2024

Maine Median Age

44.7

Total

43.5

Male

46

Female

Maine Adults

There are 1,102,461 adults, (280,821 of whom are seniors) in Maine.

Maine Age Dependency

65.2

Age Dependency Ratio

34.2

Old Age Dependency Ratio

31

Child Dependency Ratio

Maine Sex Ratio

Female688,73850.75%
Male668,30849.25%

Maine Population by Age

Maine Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All571,0642.3173.426.6
Married275,2842.9289.310.7
Non Family222,4581.2857.642.4
Female50,3263.145842
Male22,9963.2269.230.8

2.87

Average Family Size

2.31

Average Household Size

73.4%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Maine Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Maine Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Maine Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 94.81%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 47.24%.

Maine Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$41,635

Average Earnings

$47,437

Average Male

$36,039

Average Female

Maine Earnings by Educational Attainment

Maine Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Maine Language

94.1% of Maine residents speak only English, while 5.9% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 3.63% of the population.

Maine Language

Maine Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White1,219,397127,96410.49%
Multiple44,5726,98215.66%
Black17,8894,71726.37%
Hispanic23,0743,36814.6%
Native7,3351,88125.64%
Asian13,5681,62311.96%
Other6,61984712.8%
Islander2285021.93%

11.05%

Overall Poverty Rate

10.1%

Male Poverty Rate

11.96%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Maine

The race most likely to be in poverty in Maine is Black, with 26.37% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Maine is White, with 10.49% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.52%. Among those working part-time, it was 12.96%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.15%.

Maine Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade25.5%
High School13.27%
Some College8.9%
Bachelors or Greater4.31%

Maine Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed29.29%
Male Unemployed24.8%
Female Employed5.46%
Male Employed3.96%

Maine Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Maine Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Maine Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

50.3%

Overall Marriage Rate

51.8%

Male Marriage Rate

48.9%

Female Marriage Rate

Maine Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Maine Marriage

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.

Maine Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Maine Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

101,024

Number of Veterans

92,811

Male Veterans

8,213

Female Veterans

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Maine Veterans by War

count

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Maine Veterans by Age

count

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Maine Veterans by Race

Maine Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

6.13%

Veteran Poverty Rate

30.99%

Veteran Disability Rate

Maine Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

62.9%

Labor Force Participation

60%

Employment Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

Maine Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Maine Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Maine Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

61.77%

Born in Maine

96.37%

Native Born

3.63%

Foreign Born

1.64%

Non Citizen

1.99%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

96.37% of Maine residents were born in the United States, with 61.77% having been born in Maine. 1.64% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Maine Place of Birth

  1. Maine Office of Policy and Management
  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)

Sources