Albany, New York Population 2023

99,635

Albany is a city located in Albany County New York. It is also the county seat of Albany County. With a 2023 population of 99,635, it is the 6th largest city in New York and the 358th largest city in the United States.Albany is currently growing at a rate of 0.14% annually and its population has increased by 0.41% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 99,224 in 2020. Spanning over 22 miles, Albany has a population density of 4,655 people per square mile.

The average household income in Albany is $66,612 with a poverty rate of 24.26%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Albany is 30.7 years, 30.5 years for males, and 30.9 years for females.

Albany is located on the Hudson River about 135 miles north of New York City.

Population Density of Albany, New York

Together with Saratoga Springs, Troy, and Schenectady, Albany forms the Capital District, which in turn is made up mostly of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA. This is the 4th largest MSA in the state of New York and the 58th largest in the U.S. with a population of 870,000. The largest limit of metropolitan area around this city has a population of 1.17 million.

Albany Population Diversity

Albany has always been a city of immigrants. Originally it was settled by immigrants from Germany and the Netherlands, although the English overtook the city at the beginning of the 19th century. By the mid-19th century, immigrants from Ireland outnumbered almost all other ethnicities. Later Italians and Poles rose to a majority. In the 20th century, the African-American population began to grow. In 1950, African-Americans accounted for 3% of the people, which doubled by 1960 and again in 1970. By 2010, the African-American population was 30%.

The most common ancestry groups in Albany are Irish (18%), Italian (12%), German (10%), English (5%), and Polish (4%). Albany is noted for having a population that reflects the characteristics of the U.S. consumer population as a whole, more so than any other major city. In fact, Albany is one of the most common test markets for new products.

Albany Population Growth

35 counties in New York experienced a population decline from 2010 to 2013, although downstate New York and Albany experienced population growth. While far from the fastest-growing region in the state, the Capital Region continues modest population growth, according to recent census estimates. Between 2010 and 2013, the region grew by 2,430 immigrants.

Dutch colonists formed the first European settlement in the Albany area in 1614 with the construction of Fort Nassau followed by Fort Orange being built a decade later in its place. The Dutch formed alliances with the Mohawk and Mahican people in the area and developed a fur trade that attracted more settlers. The English took over the nearby village of Beverwijck in 1664 and renamed it the city of Albany after the Duke of Albany. It was chartered under English rule in 1686 and became New York's capital in 1797 after the U.S. gained independence from England.

Throughout the 18th and 19th century, Albany was a major transportation and trade center, and its central location made it home to some of the world's earliest railroad systems. It was also one of the ten most populous cities in the country between 1810 and 1860.

Albany today is one of the oldest surviving settlements of the original 13 colonies, and it is the longest continuously chartered city in the country. It was one of the first cities on earth to install public sewer lines, water mains, electricity, and utilities that attracted new industry. It was also home to one of the world's first commercial airports, which later became Albany International Airport.

Albany Demographics

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

  • White: 53.8%
  • Black or African American: 29.01%
  • Two or more races: 7.08%
  • Asian: 6.93%
  • Other race: 3.01%
  • Native American: 0.17%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
The current population of Albany, New York is 99,635 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 99,224.

Albany, New York Population 2023

Albany Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Asian

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Albany Population by Race

Albany Population Pyramid 2023

Albany Median Age

30.7

Total

30.5

Male

30.9

Female

Albany Adults

There are 80,330 adults, (12,795 of whom are seniors) in Albany.

Albany Age Dependency

43.4

Age Dependency Ratio

18.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

24.5

Child Dependency Ratio

Albany Sex Ratio

Female51,76453.44%
Male45,09646.56%

Albany Population by Age

Albany Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

2.95

Average Family Size

2.08

Average Household Size

36.7%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Albany Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Albany Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Albany Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 70.63%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 41.95%.

Albany Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$40,980

Average Earnings

$44,820

Average Male

$38,328

Average Female

Albany Earnings by Educational Attainment

Albany Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Albany Language

81.92% of Albany residents speak only English, while 18.08% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 6.22% of the population.

Albany Language

Albany Poverty by Race

rate

24.26%

Overall Poverty Rate

22.31%

Male Poverty Rate

23.52%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Albany

The race most likely to be in poverty in Albany is Multiple, with 46.53% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Albany is White, with 14.86% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.84%. Among those working part-time, it was 33.26%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 37.12%.

Albany Poverty

Albany Poverty Rate by Education

Albany Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Albany Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Albany Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

27.3%

Overall Marriage Rate

28.8%

Male Marriage Rate

26.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Albany Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Albany 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 35-44.

Albany Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Albany Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

3,048

Number of Veterans

2,806

Male Veterans

242

Female Veterans

Albany Veterans by War

Albany Veterans by Age

count

Albany Veterans by Race

Albany Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

9.93%

Veteran Poverty Rate

29.21%

Veteran Disability Rate

Albany Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

64.5%

Labor Force Participation

60.1%

Employment Rate

6.7%

Unemployment Rate

Albany Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Albany Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Albany 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

65.73%

Born in Albany

82.51%

Native Born

15.1%

Foreign Born

7.48%

Non Citizen

7.62%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

82.51% of Albany residents were born in the United States, with 65.73% having been born in New York. 7.48% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Albany Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Albany Population by Year