District of Columbia Population 2023

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. If Washington, DC were a state, it would be the 49th most populous ahead of Wyoming and Vermont.

Washington, DC Area and Population Density

This district is a particularly small area, encompassing only 68 square miles of land and water. Only 61 square miles of land are available, and yet, this tiny area has the title of the highest density of population in the nation.

It has a population density of 11,535 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.

Washington, DC Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age in Washington, DC is 33.8 years, with a slight gender gap of 52.5% female, and 47.5% male spread across the state.

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 Boundary, Census and Creation 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.

Washington, DC Population History

Washington DC had very slow growth initially, with a population of only 100,000 after its first 70 years. This number more than doubled to 250,000 by the time the Civil War had ended and has grown steadily ever since.

Washington, DC Population Growth

The District's population has made more than a 7.5% increase since the 2010 Census, 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.

Washington, DC Population Projections

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.

Washington D.C. has had a large African American population since its founding in 1791. Between 1800 and 1940, African Americans made up 30% of the population, reaching a peak of 70% in the 1970s before declining as more African Americans moved to the suburbs. Between 2000 and 2010, there was a 31% jump in the non-Hispanic white population and an 11.5% decline in the black population.

Approximately 1 in 7 Washingtonians are immigrants, many of whom come from El Salvador, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Due to the large number of immigrants who are not fluent in English, about 35% of District residents are considered functionally illiterate.

The largest Hispanic groups in Washington DC is Salvadoran, which have mostly settled in the Mount Pleasant area. It is estimated that there are over 18,000 Salvadorans living in Washtington D.C., with an estimated Hispanic population that totals over 45,000.

• The second president of the U.S.- John Adams- was the first president to ever live in the White House. He moved in on November 1st of 1800. Construction was not completed while George Washington was in office.
• The Washington Monument was the tallest manmade structure of its time when it was erected in 1884. Just five years later, the Eiffel Tower in Paris overtook the honor.
• Washington, D.C., gets an average precipitation of over 39 inches of rainfall per year. That amount is approximately 2 inches more precipitation than Seattle sees annually.
• Over 177 embassies and numerous international cultural centers are located in the District of Columbia.
• The Smithsonian Museums have an astounding collection of almost 156 million items.
• The D.C. Metro is the second busiest subway system in the nation.
• The Old Stone House is the oldest building on its original foundation 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.