Nevada Population 2024

The landlocked state of Nevada is situated toward the western edge of the United States. According to the latest estimates from the Census Bureau, the population of Nevada is 2,890,845.

Nevada Area and Population Density

It covers a vast area of 110,567 square miles which makes it the seventh largest state in the country in terms of sheer land mass. However, this vast territory is very sparsely filled with Nevada’s citizens and in fact, there are only eight states in the country that are less densely populated. Nevada currently has one of the strongest growth rates in the country, reflecting a 7.05% population between 2010 and 2015, which ranks 6th in the nation.

The last estimate for the population was provided by the US Census Bureau in July 2015. The last confirmed figures were taken during the 2010 Census. At that time, it was revealed that 2,700,551 people had made Nevada their home, representing an increase of over 35% from the numbers declared at the end of the 2000 survey.

Based on those figures, the Census Bureau provides a new population estimate each year. In 2012, it estimated that the population of Nevada had increased to 2,758,931.

A relatively small percentage of Nevada's population lives in rural areas, such as Ely, West Wendover and Tonopah. The culture of rural Nevada is vastly different than the metropolitan areas, as most people in rural counties are native to the state, whereas Reno and Las Vegas are dominated by populations from other states, especially California. Rural populations are also less diverse, both racially and ethnically.

The largest metropolitan areas, and where the majority of the population is concentrated, includes Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas in Clark County and Reno in Washoe County.

The most populated city in Nevada is Las Vegas, and the most populated county is Clark County with over 2 million residents.

Nevada Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age in Nevada is approximately 37.5 years of age. The ratio of females to males is approximately 49.8% females to 50.2% males.

In religious terms, 66% of the Nevada population is affiliated with a Christian based faith, 5% are affiliated with non-Christian based faiths, and 28% are not affiliated with any particular religion at all.

Nevada Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Nevada was acquired from Mexico in 1848 and included in Utah and New Mexico Territories. It was established as a territory in 1861 from Utah Territory, and was admitted as a State on October 31, 1864. Nevada acquired essentially its present boundaries after the annexation of the southern tip from Arizona Territory in 1866.

In 1850 present-day Nevada had no census coverage. The population for 1860 is for the enumerated portions of Utah Territory that were included in Nevada Territory the following year. In 1870 coverage included the entire State. The 1870 population includes Rio Virgin County, enumerated as part of Utah although located within Nevada.

Hispanics and Latinos of any race make up approximately 28.1% of Nevada's population. The most common ancestries include: Mexican (20.8%), German (13.3%), Irish (10%), English (9.2%) and Italian (6.3%). Las Vegas in particular is a minority majority city with a fast-growing amount of ethnic communities, including Armenians, Spaniards, Greeks, Poles and Italians.

Asian Americans have had a significant population in Nevada since the California Gold Rush in the 1850s brought thousands of Chinese miners to Washoe County, who were followed by Japanese farm workers, then immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, India and Vietnam. Las Vegas now has the U.S.'s most prolific Asian American communities. The city has remained a large destination for immigrants from Latin America and South Asia seeking jobs in hospitality and gaming industries, along with farming and construction.

Nevada also has the highest population of illegal immigrants of any state in the United States, accounting for an estimated 8.8% of the total population.