Grand Rapids, Michigan Population 2023

202,181

Grand Rapids is a city located in Kent County Michigan. It is also the county seat of Kent County. With a 2023 population of 202,181, it is the 2nd largest city in Michigan and the 131st largest city in the United States.Grand Rapids is currently growing at a rate of 0.54% annually and its population has increased by 1.64% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 198,917 in 2020. Spanning over 46 miles, Grand Rapids has a population density of 4,517 people per square mile.

The average household income in Grand Rapids is $65,615 with a poverty rate of 23.48%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Grand Rapids is 31.2 years, 31 years for males, and 31.5 years for females.

The most common ancestry groups in the city are German (24%), Dutch (21%), English (16%), Irish (11%), Polish (6.5%), and French (5%).

Grand Rapids has a large Dutch Reformed community. The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has more than 230 congregations in the state with many in Grand Rapids. CRCNA followers are largely located in the western region of Michigan where many Dutch immigrants settled. The Reformed Church in America (RCA) also has a large following in Grand Rapids. Other major congregations in the city include the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, the United Reformed Churches in North America, and the United Methodist Church.

Grand Rapids Population Growth

The Metro Grand Rapids area surpassed 1 million residents for the first time in 2013 with the most substantial population growth among all Michigan metro areas. As more people in Michigan continue to move to urban areas, Grand Rapids is expected to continue its steady growth that surpasses the state average.

The Grand Rapids area has been inhabited by many indigenous peoples for thousands of years, including the Hopewell people and the Ottawa, who founded many villages along the river. European fur traders and missionaries began building trading posts in the area among the Ottawa people in the 19th century. The first permanent European American settler established a missionary in 1825.

The official founder of Grand Rapids was Louis Campau, who build a blacksmith shop and trading post in the area in 1826. In 1831, he purchased 72 acres from the government and named the track Grand Rapids. This original track is today's downtown business area. By 1838, the community was incorporated as a village. In 1845, it had a population of 1,510. Grand Rapids was included five years later with a population of 2,686.

In 1880, Grand Rapids became the early center for America's auto industry. During the mid-19th century, Grand Rapids also became a significant timber center and the largest furniture manufacturing city in the country. Grand Rapids was nicknamed the Furniture City, and it's still the leading U.S. city for office furniture manufacturing.

Grand Rapids Demographics

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

  • White: 65.55%
  • Black or African American: 18.06%
  • Two or more races: 7.89%
  • Other race: 5.51%
  • Asian: 2.59%
  • Native American: 0.36%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.04%
The current population of Grand Rapids, Michigan is 202,181 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 198,917.

Grand Rapids, Michigan Population 2023

Grand Rapids Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Grand Rapids Population by Race

Grand Rapids Population Pyramid 2023

Grand Rapids Median Age

31.2

Total

31

Male

31.5

Female

Grand Rapids Adults

There are 154,877 adults, (24,707 of whom are seniors) in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Age Dependency

53.2

Age Dependency Ratio

19

Old Age Dependency Ratio

34.2

Child Dependency Ratio

Grand Rapids Sex Ratio

Female101,73251.01%
Male97,68548.99%

Grand Rapids Population by Age

Grand Rapids Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.21

Average Family Size

2.51

Average Household Size

55.0%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Grand Rapids Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Grand Rapids Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Grand Rapids Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 82.93%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 60.98%.

Grand Rapids Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$34,525

Average Earnings

$38,658

Average Male

$31,071

Average Female

Grand Rapids Earnings by Educational Attainment

Grand Rapids Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Grand Rapids Language

82.99% of Grand Rapids residents speak only English, while 17.01% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 11.38% of the population.

Grand Rapids Language

Grand Rapids Poverty by Race

rate

23.48%

Overall Poverty Rate

18.21%

Male Poverty Rate

21.43%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Grand Rapids

The race most likely to be in poverty in Grand Rapids is Hispanic, with 47.99% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Grand Rapids is White, with 14.46% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.87%. Among those working part-time, it was 26.59%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 32.1%.

Grand Rapids Poverty

Grand Rapids Poverty Rate by Education

Grand Rapids Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Grand Rapids Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Grand Rapids Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

38.0%

Overall Marriage Rate

39.0%

Male Marriage Rate

37.0%

Female Marriage Rate

Grand Rapids Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Grand Rapids 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.

Grand Rapids Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Grand Rapids Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

7,176

Number of Veterans

6,641

Male Veterans

535

Female Veterans

Grand Rapids Veterans by War

Grand Rapids Veterans by Age

count

Grand Rapids Veterans by Race

Grand Rapids Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

12.95%

Veteran Poverty Rate

30.09%

Veteran Disability Rate

Grand Rapids Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

67.7%

Labor Force Participation

63.7%

Employment Rate

5.8%

Unemployment Rate

Grand Rapids Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Grand Rapids Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Grand Rapids 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

71.29%

Born in Grand Rapids

89.14%

Native Born

11.11%

Foreign Born

7.87%

Non Citizen

3.24%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

89.14% of Grand Rapids residents were born in the United States, with 71.29% having been born in Michigan. 7.87% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Grand Rapids Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Grand Rapids Population by Year