Wyoming Population 2024

586,485

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.

Wyoming Area and Population Density

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.

Wyoming Gender and Religion Statistics

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.

Wyoming Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

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.

Wyoming Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Wyoming was:

  • White: 88.65%
  • Two or more races: 4.93%
  • Other race: 2.31%
  • Native American: 2.25%
  • Black or African American: 0.91%
  • Asian: 0.88%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.08%

Wyoming Population History

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.

Wyoming Population Growth

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.

Wyoming Population Projections

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%).

Wyoming Growth Rate

Wyoming Population Rank

Wyoming Population 2024

Wyoming Facts

Population

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20K

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50K

60K

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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.

Wyoming Population by County

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White511,17988.65%
Two or more races28,4374.93%
Other race13,3172.31%
Native American12,9872.25%
Black or African American5,2420.91%
Asian5,0460.88%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander4330.08%

White

Two or more races

Other race

Native American

Black or African American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Wyoming Population by Race

Wyoming Population Pyramid 2024

Wyoming Median Age

38.2

Total

37.8

Male

38.7

Female

Wyoming Adults

There are 442,174 adults, (96,540 of whom are seniors) in Wyoming.

Wyoming Age Dependency

66.8

Age Dependency Ratio

27.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

38.9

Child Dependency Ratio

Wyoming Sex Ratio

Female281,43748.81%
Male295,20451.19%

Wyoming Population by Age

Wyoming Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All230,6532.4471.728.3
Married117,8733.185.714.3
Non Family84,8871.2656.543.5
Female18,1843.3455.544.5
Male9,7093.1963.936.1

3.05

Average Family Size

2.44

Average Household Size

71.7%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Wyoming Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Wyoming Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Wyoming Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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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%.

Wyoming Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$43,320

Average Earnings

$54,535

Average Male

$32,998

Average Female

Wyoming Earnings by Educational Attainment

Wyoming Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Wyoming Language

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.

Wyoming Language

Wyoming Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White468,19443,4479.28%
Hispanic57,64910,11417.54%
Native12,4363,09424.88%
Multiple27,8112,5909.31%
Other13,0262,28517.54%
Black4,8471,77036.52%
Asian4,93673214.83%
Islander4307417.21%

10.74%

Overall Poverty Rate

9.54%

Male Poverty Rate

11.98%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Wyoming

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%.

Wyoming Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade19.99%
High School10.68%
Some College7.78%
Bachelors or Greater4.8%

Wyoming Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed31.41%
Male Unemployed24.61%
Female Employed7.76%
Male Employed4.83%

Wyoming Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Wyoming Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Wyoming Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

53.5%

Overall Marriage Rate

53.3%

Male Marriage Rate

53.6%

Female Marriage Rate

Wyoming Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Wyoming Marriage

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.

Wyoming Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Wyoming Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

43,326

Number of Veterans

39,388

Male Veterans

3,938

Female Veterans

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Wyoming Veterans by War

count

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Wyoming Veterans by Age

count

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Wyoming Veterans by Race

Wyoming Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

6.59%

Veteran Poverty Rate

31.66%

Veteran Disability Rate

Wyoming Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

65.8%

Labor Force Participation

62.3%

Employment Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

Wyoming Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Wyoming Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Wyoming Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

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.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

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

Place of Birth

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.

Wyoming Place of Birth

  1. Wyoming Economic Analysis Division
  2. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  4. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  5. Census QuickFacts
  6. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

Sources