This value is based on the most recent Census estimates. The last confirmed population for Georgia was recorded during the last nationwide census, which took place in 2010. When the survey was completed, the results revealed that 9,687,653 people were living within the state.
The recorded population in 2010 of 9,687,653 represented a rise of 18.3% on the numbers in 2000, which reached 8,186,453. An estimate released in July 2015 suggested that the population of Georgia had risen to 10,214,860. With the 10th fastest growth rate of 1.19%, the population of Georgia first surpassed 10 million residents in 2013.
Situated in the southeastern corner of the United States, Georgia is the 24th largest US state when it comes to sheer land mass. The total surface area is 59,425 square miles (or 153,909 square kilometers) and for every square mile of Georgian territory, there is an average of 168.4 people.
Georgia ranks 18th in the United States in population density.
The largest city in Georgia by population is Columbus. The county with the highest population in Georgia is Fulton county, with over 1 million residents.
The median age in Georgia is 36.2 years of age, with a gender difference of 51.3% females and 48.7% males across the state.
In religious terms, Georgia shows a 79% affiliation with any Christian based faith, a 3% preference to non-Christian based faiths, and 18% ambivalence or non-preference toward religion over the entire state.
Georgia was one of the 13 original States, obtaining statehood in 1788). At the close of the Revolution it included most of present-day Alabama and Mississippi, an area which finally became Mississippi Territory in 1802. In that year Georgia reached essentially its present boundaries, although survey uncertainties resulted in continuing disputes with bordering States over subsequent decades.
Census coverage in 1790 and 1800 was limited to the eastern portions of the present State near the Savannah River and the Atlantic coast; there was no coverage of present-day Alabama or Mississippi. The population for 1810 excludes 1,026 persons in (old) Walton County, reported as a Georgia county but later determined to be in North Carolina. Census coverage of the State was relatively complete by 1840.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Georgia was:
It may be something of a generalization, but it’s fair to say that as far as population history is concerned, the western and eastern halves of the United States tend to follow two distinct patterns.
In the east, where the first settlers arrived in the 18th century, numbers were healthy from the very start, but in the west they were sparse to start with -- barely over a thousand at the first recorded censuses in some cases.
Georgia tends to reflect this generalization. In 1790, recorded figures show that 82,548 people were living within the state. However, unlike other eastern states where population growth remained steady, Georgia’s increases were quite phenomenal, and just ten years later, the population had almost doubled to 162,686.
That rise proved to be the biggest spike in Georgia’s history but further, substantial growth was to follow, and by 1860, the numbers in the state had comfortably exceeded one million.
Further increases have now taken those confirmed statistics past 10 million total citizens.
Like most US states, Georgia has never seen a decline in its decennial census counts, although from 1920 to 1930, the population only increased by 13,000 people.
As for the present and the future, continued population growth is expected. Georgia continues to grow at greater than 1% per year, which makes it one of the faster growing states in the country (12th).
According to a projection released in 2010 by the state of Georgia, the population was expected to reach 14.7 million by 2030. These projections seem to contradict the US Census projections, and may have overstated the potential growth of the state.
Before the Civil War, approximately half of Georgia's population was made up of Afrian Americans. This number was significantly reduced following the Great Migration that ran through 1970. While the African American population has gone down, a significant percentage still reside in the state. In fact, when looking at the percentages, Georgia has the third highest percentage of African Americans in the United States. The state is also third in terms of numerical African American population.
Georgia has also had the second-highest growth in Asians during the period between 2000 and 2010. During this time period, the population of Asians almost doubled, and recent estimates show that 4% of the total population identifies as Asian. The number of Hispanics in the state -- particularly Puerto Ricans -- has increased in recent years, and Hispanic, Caribbean, Sub-Saharan African and Asians have settled in Georgia, particularly in the metro Atlanta area.
Georgia also has a high number of illegal immigrants and ranks 6th in the nation. In 1990, there were 35,000 undocumented immigrants. This number increased to almost half a million by 2009, doubling between 2000 and 2009.
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1M
Georgia is a state that has many counties -- 159 to be exact -- and in recent years, these counties have experienced significant growth, while others have seen declining populations. Interestingly enough, the counties that have seen the highest rates of growth are mostly grouped together along the southeastern border and close to the northern border. Growth rates were compiled over a 5-year period from the 2010 Census through 2015, when estimates were taken by the US Census Bureau. Two counties saw increases by over 20% -- Forsyth County and Long County, while other counties saw smaller but still significant growth rates, including Cherokee, Hall, and Gwinett.
Just as there are counties with increasing populations, Georgia also has regions that have seen declines in populations over the last several years. Hancock County, with a decline of over 9%, saw the biggest drop in population, while other counties, including Sumter, Randolph, and Baker, recorded declines of more than 5%.
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 3,885,371 | 2.67 | 64.5 | 35.5 |
Married | 1,828,328 | 3.3 | 81.5 | 18.5 |
Non Family | 1,292,934 | 1.26 | 50.3 | 49.7 |
Female | 579,789 | 3.56 | 45.9 | 54.1 |
Male | 184,320 | 3.47 | 55 | 45 |
3.28
Average Family Size
2.67
Average Household Size
64.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 91.57%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 57.28%.
All
Male
Female
$42,475
Average Earnings
$49,470
Average Male
$36,208
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
85.73% of Georgia residents speak only English, while 14.27% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 8.03% of the population.
rate
13.92%
Overall Poverty Rate
12.61%
Male Poverty Rate
15.15%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Georgia is Native, with 24.81% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Georgia is White, with 9.56% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.99%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.85%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 22.1%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
46.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
48.9%
Male Marriage Rate
44.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
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 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.04%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.59%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.6%
Labor Force Participation
59.4%
Employment Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
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.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
54.43%
Born in Georgia
89.71%
Native Born
10.29%
Foreign Born
5.46%
Non Citizen
4.84%
Naturalized
89.71% of Georgia residents were born in the United States, with 54.43% having been born in Georgia. 5.46% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.