Honolulu is a city located in Honolulu County Hawaii. Honolulu has a 2023 population of 337,088. It is also the county seat of Honolulu County.Honolulu is currently declining at a rate of -1.23% annually and its population has decreased by -3.63% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 349,800 in 2020.
The average household income in Honolulu is $105,724 with a poverty rate of 10.99%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Honolulu is 42.1 years, 40.4 years for males, and 44 years for females.
Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu and is a significant gateway both to Hawaii and the United States, as well as a major tourist destination. Honolulu is the westernmost and southernmost major U.S. city.
Honolulu is a major hub for military defense, international business, and travel. It is also the only Hawaiian city with a population greater than 50,000. At the last census in 2010, Honolulu's population was 390,700, which is believed to have grown to 402,500. This makes Honolulu the 46th most populous city in the United States, with a metropolitan area boasting a population of 955,000.
Asian Americans are the majority in Honolulu. The largest ethnic groups include Japanese (20%), Filipinos (13%), Chinese (10%), Koreans (4%), Vietnamese (2%) and Asian Indians (0.3%). Those of just Native Hawaiian ancestry is just 3.2% of the population today. Samoan Americans account for 1.5% of Honolulu's population, Marshallese people account for 0.5%, and Tongan people make up 0.3% of the population. Hawaii is the only U.S. state with an Asian majority.
According to the last census, the population of the island of Oahu, on which Honolulu is located, grew 8.8% from 2000 to 2010. By 2030, the state as a whole is projected to have a population of 1.47 million, up more than 9% from the 2010 population of 1.34 million.
Honolulu itself is growing more slowly. After double-digit growth from 1900 to 1980, the city posted flat growth in 1990. Since then, growth has been much slower for several reasons. Among them, it is one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States. Honolulu's population is expected to continue its modest growth that lags behind the other Hawaiian Islands.
Honolulu was first inhabited by original Polynesian migrants, who lived in the area as far back as the 11th century. When Kamehameha I conquered Oahu, the royal court was moved from Hawaii to the island of Waikiki in 1804 and was moved again in 1809 to what is now Honolulu. The capital was moved again just three years later to Kailua-Kona.
The first foreigner to reach Honolulu Harbor was Captain William Brown of Great Britain in 1794, with many more ships following to create a focal area for merchant ships sailing between Asia and North America.
Kamehameha III moved the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom again in 1845 from Lahaina to Honolulu. The area transformed into a modern metropolis, and it became the commerce center for all of the islands.
Through the end of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, Honolulu had a turbulent history, including the overthrowing of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and annexation by the U.S. in 1898. In 1941, the Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, was attacked by the Japanese, which gained the city historical recognition. Despite this, Honolulu remains the largest city of Hawaii and the main airport and seaport.
Today, more than 7.6 million people visit the Hawaiian Islands, with most entering through the Honolulu International Airport.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Honolulu was:
3.33
Average Family Size
2.54
Average Household Size
47.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
64.56% of Honolulu residents speak only English, while 35.44% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 49.31% of the population.
10.99%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.14%
Male Poverty Rate
11.85%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Honolulu is Islander, with 37.97% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Honolulu is Asian, with 9.04% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.76%. Among those working part-time, it was 13.94%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.68%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
44.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
45.6%
Male Marriage Rate
43.7%
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
7%
Veteran Poverty Rate
26.82%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
65%
Labor Force Participation
59.4%
Employment Rate
4.9%
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
48.67%
Born in Honolulu
73.73%
Native Born
28.02%
Foreign Born
11.86%
Non Citizen
16.16%
Naturalized
73.73% of Honolulu residents were born in the United States, with 48.67% having been born in Hawaii. 11.86% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.