Virginia Population 2023

The current population is estimated at 8,626,210, an increase of over 380,000 since the official census in 2010. Virginia currently enjoys a growth rate of 1.15%, which ranks 13th in the country.

The most recent nationwide Census took place in the United States in 2010, and it revealed that the Virginia population had exceeded eight million for the first time in its history. The final figure was confirmed at 8,001,024. This was a rise of 13% on the numbers declared at the census of 2000.

Virginia Area and Population Density

The US state of Virginia is situated on the central eastern tip of the country and it is the 35th largest in the Union in terms of land mass. As with the majority of states on the US Eastern seaboard, however, Virginia is densely populated. Virginia now ranks 12th in terms of population in the country and 14th in terms of density. Virginia has a population density of 202.6 people per square mile over a total surface area of 42,775 square miles.

Virginia has 11 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Richmond-Petersburg are the most populous. The capital, Richmond, and its metropolitan area has a population of nearly 1.3 million, but Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state. The most populated counties in Virginia are Fairfax and Prince William counties, with respective populations of 1,148,433 and 463,023.

Virginia Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age among the population of Virginia is approximately 37.8 years of age. In terms of the ratio of sexes in the state, 50.8% are females and 49.2% are males.

In terms of preferred religions across the population of the state, Christian based faiths lead at 73% of the population, with non-Christian faiths at 6%, and non-affiliated residents at 20% of the population.

Virginia Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Virginia was one of the 13 original States. Kentucky was part of Virginia until 1792, and a small part of Virginia was included in the District of Columbia from 1791 to 1846. West Virginia was separated from Virginia in 1862, becoming a State in 1863 and adding two more counties in 1866. Since then Virginia's boundaries have remained essentially unchanged, with slight modifications as early surveys were reviewed and corrected. Details of the Virginia-Tennessee boundary were not settled until 1901.

In 1790 census coverage included all of Virginia's present-day territory; Kentucky was reported separately. The populations for 1800-1840 include the area that was then part of the District of Columbia, and the populations for 1790-1860 exclude the counties entirely or primarily included in what is now West Virginia.

Virginia Population History

The majority of states on the eastern edge of the USA displayed healthy population figures from the latter half of the 18th century onwards. Virginia is no exception to this generalization, and in 1790, numbers were recorded at an impressive 691,737.

Just ten years later, this had grown by over 16% to 807,557 but increases in population over the years have been a little sporadic, and there was even a fall in numbers recorded at the 1840 Census.

Virginia Population Growth

It wasn’t until the latter part of the 20th century that these increases began to settle down, and at every Census from 1960 onwards, the growth tends to average out at around 15% on a Census by Census basis, making Virginia one of the fastest growing states in the USA.

Therefore, as a result of this pattern of sustained and substantial growth, the population of Virginia in 2016 has comfortably exceeded 8.3 million.

Virginia Population Projections

The overall picture with regards to the population of Virginia in 2016 is one of sustained growth, and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. The milestone of eight million has now been reached, but if Virginia can achieve a population increase of 15% again, that number will go beyond nine million at the 2020 Census.

As far as current estimates go, Virginia is projected to add over 800,000 new residents every decade, finally reaching 10.5 million by 2040. It's also estimated the population will have a larger representation of racial and ethnic minorities. By 2030, nearly 20% of Virginia's population will be over 65, compared to just 12% in 2010. By 2040, the population under 50 is projected to be the majority minority.

The state of Virginia contains a diverse set of ethnic groups and one of the higher percentages of Asians and African Americans in the country, ranking 9th in terms of percentage when compared to the other 49 states. Its most populous ethnic group, non-Hispanic whites, declined from 76% in 1990 to 64% in 2012.

Many people in the state are of English heritage and are the descendants of those who settled in the state during the colonial period, although British and Irish heritages are also very common. Most people who identify as "American" ethnicity are of English descent. Interestingly, 75% of the English immigrants to Virginia during the 17th century were indentured servants.

Virginia also has a very large population of African Americans, most of whom are descendants of enslaved people who worked the plantations in the state. While a large percentage of the black population left during the Great Migration north, reverse migration occurred in the 1960s.

• The first permanent English settlement was established in Jamestown.
• Virginia was the most populated state from the time it was settled until 1805, when it was surpassed by New York.
• Approximately one-quarter of Virginians work for the United States Government.
• Eight US presidents were born in Virginia, and seven presidents are buried there.
• Approximately half of the US population live within a 500-mile radius of Virginia's Capital.
• Over half of the battles fought during the Civil War were fought in Virginia.
• Virginia's leading industry became tobacco after John Rolfe developed a way to export the crop.