Indiana Population 2024

Yearly estimates are given for states within the US, and the most recent suggests Indiana’s population had increased to 6,619,680 in 2015. Indiana has a 2016 growth rate of 0.33%, which ranks 29th.

As for the present day, the last official census within the United States took place in 2010 and at the time, the population of Indiana was declared at 6,483,802, a rise of 6.6% on the numbers from 2000.

Indiana Population Density and Area

In terms of pure land mass, the state of Indiana covers an area of 36,418 square miles (94,321 square kilometers), and this makes it only the 38th largest state in the country by area. However, Indiana ranks much better in terms of numbers and population density. The state has a population density of 181 people per square mile, which ranks it as the 16th most densely populated state in the country.

The largest city in Indiana is Indianapolis, which is also the state's capital, which holds over 860,000 individuals as residents. The largest county by population is Marion County with over 900,000 individuals residing within its borders.

Indiana Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age of the Indiana population is 37.4 years of age. Over the state's population, there is a slight gender gap with 50.8% females and 49.2% males.

In terms of popular religions, Indiana shows its preferences with 72% affiliated with the Christian faith, 2% non-Christian, and 26% non-affiliated with any religion.

Indiana Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Indiana was included in the Northwest Territory (1787) but became a separate territory in 1800. At that time, in addition to most of present-day Indiana, the Territory included all of Illinois and Wisconsin, the western half of Michigan, and northeastern Minnesota. In 1802 the boundary with Ohio was altered and Eastern Michigan was added, but Michigan Territory was separated in 1805 and Illinois Territory in 1809, leaving Indiana Territory with the present State area except for a narrow band along the northern border; the territory also included a portion of the Michigan Upper Peninsula.

On December 11, 1816 Indiana was admitted as a State with essentially its present boundaries. However, even though it was admitted as a state to the US in 1816, the earliest population figures can actually be traced back to 1800.

In 1790 the Northwest Territory had no census coverage. The 1800 census of Indiana Territory enumerated scattered communities in southern Indiana, southwestern Illinois, northern Michigan, and Wisconsin; the populations reported from present-day Illinois and Michigan are shown under those States. In addition, Hamilton County, Ohio included some population in what is now Indiana. In 1810, census coverage of Indiana Territory was limited to southern Indiana, and coverage did not include the whole State until 1830.

Indiana Population History

Indiana is situated just inside the eastern half of the United States, and statistics show that the state was a little slow to embrace the huge waves of early settlers that arrived to the country in the 18th century.

From the figures declared in 1800, the population of Indiana was shown to be 2,632 but just ten years later, it had increased by phenomenal proportions and a rise of over 800% took the total to 24,520.

By the time of the nationwide census of 1830, Indiana had been admitted to the United States, and further substantial growth of over 500% in ten years took the total number of residents to 147,178. Those were by far the biggest population spikes, but further large increases had taken Indiana’s population to over 2.5 million by the beginning of the 20th century.

Indiana Population Growth

From this point, growth slowed down to a great extent, but it remained healthy and constant to the stage where 6.6 million people made up the population of Indiana in 2016. In many ways, Indiana is a fairly unremarkable state in terms of its population statistics, but it is experiencing healthy growth nevertheless.

Indiana Population Projections

By increasing at the same rate, it is estimated to reach 6.85 million people by 2020. By 2030, Indiana is expected to break 7 million people.

For the past two decades, population growth in Indiana has been concentrated in counties surrounding the capital city of Indianapolis. Four of the five fastest-growing counties are in that area: Hamilton, Hancock, Johnson and Hendricks. The 5th county, Dearborn County, is located near Cincinnati, Ohio. Hamilton County remains the fastest growing county in Indiana, as well as the fastest growing in the bordering states of Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois. It's the 20th fastest growing county in the United States, and this trend is expected to continue as the Indianapolis metropolitan area continues to expand beyond 2016.

Indiana has become increasingly diverse in recent years when comparing the 2000 Census results with the 2010 results. Its Hispanic population is rapidly growing, and is the fastest growing minority in the state. Data from 2011 showed that over 28% of children under the age of 1 were classified as minorities.

Indiana has also seen an increase in the population of its black and African American residents. While black residents are scattered throughout cities all over the state, about 62% of the black population resides in just two counties: Marion and Lake. In fact, among these counties, black residents account for over 25% of the total population.

The primary ancestries of Indiana residents include German, with almost one-quarter of the population claiming this ancestry. The state also has a sizable amount of inhabitants of English and Irish descent.

• Just 1.1% of Indiana's population relies on public transportation to get to work.
• Indiana means "Land of the Indians". However, despite its name, it is only home to about 8,000 Native Americans.
• The city of Wabash was the first city in the world to be lighted using electricity. About 10,000 residents witnessed the groundbreaking event.
• The first professional baseball game was played in Fort Wayne in 1871.
• Bedford, Indiana, is the "Limestone Capital of the World." Its limestone has been used to construct the Empire State Building, the Pentagon and other important landmarks.
• Indiana's land was first claimed by Canada's New France.