Connecticut Population 2023

This figure is based on the 2015 official estimates released by the US Census, and the current rate of decline.

The last confirmed population data for Connecticut was recorded during the 2010 Census, which revealed that the state had a total population of 3,574,097. The latest Census Bureau estimate took that number to 3,590,886, which makes Connecticut the 29th largest state in the United States.

Over the past couple of years, Connecticut has actually begun to see a decline in population numbers, currently losing .11% of its population per year. This makes the state one of just 7 that are seeing a decline beginning in 2016.

Connecticut Population Density and Area

The population density of Connecticut makes for some very interesting reading. Connecticut has a very small land mass -- just 5,543 square miles (14,357 square kilometers) making this only the 48th largest state in the Union by size.

However, Connecticut crams a significant number of citizens into its surface area. The terrain is very flat, and very few areas of the state are inhospitable. As a result, there are an impressive 738.1 people for every square mile (285 per square kilometer), and this ranks Connecticut at 4th place in terms of population density.

The largest city in Connecticut is Bridgeport, with a population of 143,628 people. The largest county in the state by population is Fairfield, with a population of 949,921. See below for interactive graphs and charts for more information on the projected growth in these areas.

Connecticut Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age in Connecticut is 40.6 years, and carries a small gender gap of 51.2% female and 48.8% male individuals in the total state population.

In terms of religious diversity the state shows a strong preference for Christianity, sitting at 70%, with 7% non-Christian affiliations, and the remaining 28% of the population reporting that they are without a particular faith.

Connecticut Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Connecticut was one of the 13 original States created in the Union. Additionally, apart from claims to territory in the West, which were relinquished by 1800, its boundaries have remained substantially unchanged; small cessions to Massachusetts were made shortly after 1800. Census coverage included all of Connecticut from 1790 on.

Connecticut Population History

Because of its location on the East Coast, many of the early settlers would have set up home in Connecticut - something that is clear from the early population figures.

In 1790, the population of Connecticut was recorded as 237,946, which ranked it 8th among the 16 states recorded in the 1790 census.

From this point, the population within the state grew but at a slower rate than in many other parts of the country. By 1800, the numbers had grown by just 5.5% to 251,002, and similar rises were recorded throughout the first half of the 19th century.

In the latter half of the 1800s, however, numbers were on the rise by significant margins and increases of 20% on a census by census basis were common. By 1900, the Connecticut population exceeded one million for the first time.

The greatest decade of growth for Connecticut was the 1960s, where the population grew at 2.36% annually. This pushed the state over 3 million by 1970. Since 1970, the state's population has continued to grow at a fairly steady rate, to the nearly 3.6 million estimated today.

Connecticut Population Growth

In 2005, natural growth figures were released and they showed that in the five years since the previous census in 2000, there was an increase in numbers of 67,427. This was calculated based on 222,222 births in the five year period minus 154,795 deaths and a net migration figure of 41,718.

Connecticut Population Projections

Predictions about the future of Connecticut are varied. The last official figure from the 2010 Census and estimates from July 2015 show a 0.5% growth rate. If Connecticut continues to grow these rates, it is estimated that the population will exceed 3.7 million in 2020, and approach 3.75 million by 2025.

On the other hand, others are predicting a continuation of the decline since 2014. The decline is mostly driven by domestic out-migration to New York and Massachusetts, with reasons ranging from high taxes to challenging winters and a worsening real estate market.

According to 2004 data, over 11% of the state's population were foreign-born. Irish American, English American, and Italian American communities are quite large in the state of Connecticut. In fact, its population of Italian Americans is the second highest in the country. The state also has a large population of Hungarian Americans and Polish Americans.

Recent immigrants to the state have come over from Jamaica, Guatemala, Laos, Vietnam, Brazil, Panama and other countries around the world. While the state's highest demographic is non-Hispanic white, this number has declined significantly from the 98% recorded in 1940 as the state becomes more diverse.

Connecticut also has a high percentage of Hispanic and Latino residents, and it has the largest population of Puerto Ricans in the nation. Data from 2011 indicates that over 46% of Connecticut's population under the age of 1 were minorities. The urban areas of Connecticut are primarily where African American and Hispanic residents live.

• Connecticut was the state that implemented the first speed limit. This occurred in 1901, and the limit was 12 miles per hour.
• An average of 2,400 hours -- or about 100 days -- of sunshine occurs in Connecticut every year.
• Connecticut had two state capitals -- New Haven and Hartford -- from 1703 to 1875. Today, Hartford is the only state capital.
• The first State House in the US was built in Connecticut in 1788.
• Connecticut's Yale University issued the first medical diploma in 1729.
• Connecticut opened the first public art museum, which was established in 1842.
• The Hartford Courant is the oldest newspaper published in the country.
• Former President George W. Bush was born in New Haven, and he holds the distinction of being the only US President born in the state of Connecticut.
• New Haven was incorporated as a city in 1784.
• Burlington was first inhabited by the Tunxis Tribe and was used as hunting grounds according to local legends.