The state of Wyoming is located in the central northwestern sector of the USA. While it is the 10th largest in terms of surface area, it has the lowest recorded population of any state in the Union. It is also the second most sparsely populated. It's currently enjoying a healthy growth rate of 1.13%, which ranks 15th among all 50 states.
This is a very sparsely populated state, and with an average of just 5.85 people for every square mile, only one other state in the entire US -- Alaska -- can boast a less dense population.
As of 2005, almost 51% of Wyomingites lived in one of the 13 largest municipalities of the state. The largest city, Cheyenne, has a population of just 63,335, followed by Casper (60,285) and Laramie (32,158).
The most populated counties in the state of Wyoming are Laramie county and Natrona county with respective populations of 98,327 and 79,547.
The median age of the population residing in Wyoming is approximately 36.8 years of age. The ratio of females to males is currently at 48.9% females and 51.1% males.
In terms of favored religions among the population of Wyoming, Christian based faith affiliations are at 71%, while non-Christian faith affiliations are at 3%, leaving 26% without any particular religious affiliations.
Although most of Wyoming was acquired as early as the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, an organized government began with the establishment of Oregon, Nebraska, and Utah Territories (1848-54). Later the area was included in Idaho, Dakota, and Utah Territories until Wyoming Territory was established in 1868 with the present State boundaries. Wyoming was admitted as a State on July 10, 1890.
In 1850 and 1860 present-day Wyoming had only limited census coverage, as part of Utah and Nebraska Territories. In 1870 census coverage included the whole of Wyoming Territory.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Wyoming was:
In 1870, the population of Wyoming stood at just 9,118 but significant increases were to follow for the latter half of that century. Just ten years later in 1880, a rise of over 100% had taken the figure to 20,789, and a further 200% increase saw the population in 1890 rise to 62,555.
From that point up until the present day, the overall growth percentage increases have slowed down, although generally speaking, the picture has been one of sustained, if unspectacular, growth. There was an anomaly in 1990, however, when the census of that year revealed a fall in numbers of 3.4% on those declared ten years earlier.
Further rises were to follow, however, and that has continued to the present day where the population of Wyoming in 2016 exceeds 580,000.
The fact that there was a fall in the population of Wyoming as recently as 1990 makes it a little difficult to predict numbers moving forward. However, recent censuses have indicated a return to sustained, if modest growth and therefore, by the time of the next census in 2020, the population may exceed the next milestone of 600,000.
Wyoming is currently enjoying one of the highest growth rates in the country, in part fueled by natural gas jobs in the area and an unemployment rate well below the country's average. Its growth over the last few decades has been in largely rural counties where natural gas exploration has taken off.
Given its healthy economic environment, open space and high growth rate, its population is estimated to be close to 700,000 by 2025.
Wyoming is one of ten states that has a non-Hispanic white population that is over 90%. The state has one of the lowest populations of African American residents in the nation, ranking 42nd out of 50 states. It also has the 4th lowest percentage of Asian residents. Whether these numbers will change in the future is unknown, although 2011 data showed that almost one-quarter of children under the age of 1 born in Wyoming were classified as minorities.
When it comes to the population of Native Americans, the numbers increase a bit more, with US census Bureau data showing that the state of Wyoming ranks as 38th out of 50 in terms of the number of Native American inhabitants.
According to census data from 2000, Wyoming's largest ancestry groups include: German (26%), English (16%), Irish (13.3%), American (6.5%), Norwegian (4.3%) and Swedish (3.5%).
10K
20K
30K
40K
50K
60K
70K
80K
90K
100K
From the time of the last US Census in 2010 to the time that estimates were taken in 2015 by the Census Bureau, the majority of counties in Wyoming experienced increases in their population. Natrona County recorded the highest population gain during this 5-year period, with 8.89% growth, followed closely behind by Teton County with 8.58% growth. Some other counties exhibited lower rates of growth, including Campbell, Laramie, and Lincoln, just to name a few.
A total of six counties in Wyoming recorded declining populations between 2010 and 2015. The highest loss came in Sublette County, with over 3% decrease, followed by Washakie with over 2% decline. Other counties that saw a less significant drop in population counts include Carbon, Goshen, Hot Springs, and Uinta.
White
Two or more races
Other race
Native American
Black or African American
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 230,653 | 2.44 | 71.7 | 28.3 |
| Married | 117,873 | 3.1 | 85.7 | 14.3 |
| Non Family | 84,887 | 1.26 | 56.5 | 43.5 |
| Female | 18,184 | 3.34 | 55.5 | 44.5 |
| Male | 9,709 | 3.19 | 63.9 | 36.1 |
3.05
Average Family Size
2.44
Average Household Size
71.7%
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 black people with a rate of 97.43%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 52.16%.
All
Male
Female
$43,320
Average Earnings
$54,535
Average Male
$32,998
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
93.15% of Wyoming residents speak only English, while 6.85% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 4.64% of the population.
rate
10.74%
Overall Poverty Rate
9.54%
Male Poverty Rate
11.98%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Wyoming is Black, with 36.52% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Wyoming is White, with 9.28% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.32%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.74%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 17.19%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
53.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
53.3%
Male Marriage Rate
53.6%
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
6.59%
Veteran Poverty Rate
31.66%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
65.8%
Labor Force Participation
62.3%
Employment Rate
4.2%
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
42.81%
Born in Wyoming
96.59%
Native Born
3.41%
Foreign Born
2.06%
Non Citizen
1.35%
Naturalized
96.59% of Wyoming residents were born in the United States, with 42.81% having been born in Wyoming. 2.06% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.