Mississippi Population 2023

The last nationwide US Census figures represented a rise of 4.3% from the numbers declared at the Census in 2000. Since then, the population has grown only modestly, and it is now estimated to be just 2.99 million. If similar increases continue to occur, then the number of people living in Mississippi may soon surpass 3 million.

At the time of the Census, the population was recorded as 2,967,297. Mississippi currently has a population growth rate of 0.30%, relatively slow, and ranks at 40th in the nation.

On Novemver 3, 2020, Mississippi residents voted on a new state flag, the New Magnolia. The new flag replaced Mississippi's state flag that featured the Confederate flag.

Mississippi Area and Population Density

Situated in the southeast U.S., Mississippi is the 32nd largest state in the country with an area that covers 48,430 square miles. Population figures are consistent with its size, and it is the 31st most populous state. Its population density ranks 32nd in the United States.

Mississippi has a very widely spread population with a density of just 63.2 people per square mile, which ranks 32nd in the country. For many generations, people have been leaving the United States' rural areas and concentrating in urban areas, with only 1 in 5 people in the country classified as rural. However, Mississippi is a sharp contrast, as 51.2% still live in rural areas, which is the country's 4th largest rural population.

There is only one city in the state with over 100,000, and that's Jackson. Only two other cities currently have a population of at least 50,000: Hattiesburg and Gulfport. The most populated counties are Hinds (239,479 - but has been losing population since 2010), Harrison (205,027), and DeSoto (178,751) counties. Both Harrison and DeSoto counties have a substantial growth rate of over 9% in each county.

Mississippi Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age of the Mississippi population is approximately 36.7 years of age. The state's gender ratio is split at 51.5% female and 48.5% male.

In terms of preferred religions across the state, 83% of the population is affiliated with a Christian based faith, 2% affiliate with a non-Christian based faith, and 14% have no affiliation with any religion.

Mississippi Boundary, Census and Statehood History

Most present-day Mississippi was part of Georgia until the south-central portions of Mississippi and Alabama were established as Mississippi Territory, authorized by Congress in 1798 and agreed to by Georgia in 1802. In 1804, the Territory was expanded to include the northern parts of the two future States. The Gulf Coast portions were added in 1812, although still in dispute with Spain until 1819. Mississippi was admitted as a State on December 10, 1817 with essentially its present boundaries.

Census coverage of present-day Mississippi began in 1800 in the southwestern section close to the Mississippi River. The populations shown for 1800 and 1810 exclude counties now in Alabama. The Census did not fully cover the central and northern portions until 1840.

Mississippi Population History

Like most states in the US, Mississippi enjoyed a population explosion through the 19th century. In 1800, numbers were recorded at 7,600 but just ten years later, those figures had increased by over 300% to 31,306. That was by far the biggest population spike in the state’s history but further significant growth saw the figures rise to 606,526 by 1850.

Mississippi Population Growth

By the start of the 20th century, the population of Mississippi had comfortably exceeded 1.5 million, and while growth has slowed in the modern era, the overall picture remains one of sustained growth. By 1930, numbers had already hit 2 million and continued expansion throughout the latter half of the 20th century has left the Mississippi population in 2016 close to the 3 million mark.

Mississippi Population Projections

Over the years, the big picture is one of population growth, but percentage rises on a decade by decade basis have fluctuated to a great extent and have therefore been a little hard to predict. Mississippi also has a fairly slow growth rate. However, by the time of the next Census in 2020, numbers should have comfortably exceeded 3 million and the only question is how far can they rise beyond that milestone? According to current projections, the Mississippi population will reach 3.15 million by 2020.

Up until the 1930s, black Americans made up the majority of citizens in Mississippi, and although that picture has changed, there is still a relatively large black community in the state. In 2010, Mississippi had the highest proportion of African Americans in the United States.

People of Scots-Irish, Scottish and English ancestry are widespread throughout Mississippi, and people with these ancestries are thought to be higher than reported. One historian estimates at least 20% of the state's population is of English ancestry alone.

Interestingly, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek of 1830 between the U.S. Government and the Choctaw allowed these people to sell their land and agree to be removed to a reservation in current-day Oklahoma, although Article 14 of the treaty allowed those who wanted to remain to become U.S. citizens. Today, about 9,500 Choctaw live in Leake, Jones, Newton and Neshoba counties in Mississippi.

Mississippi also has one of the highest rates of increase of its mixed-race population, which increased 70% from 2000 to 2012, even though the population of the state itself has not increased much.

• The first permanent settlement in Mississippi was established in 1699 by the French near what is now Ocean Springs.
• The oldest permanent settlement along the Mississippi River is Natchez, which was settled in 1716.
• Natchez once was home to 500 millionaires, exceeding every other city in the US with the exception of New York City.
• About 60% of the country's farm-raised catfish come from Mississippi.
• The state has the largest percentage of black residents in the United States.