Omaha is a city located in Douglas County Nebraska. Omaha has a 2023 population of 479,655. It is also the county seat of Douglas County.Omaha is currently declining at a rate of -0.79% annually and its population has decreased by -2.34% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 491,168 in 2020.
The average household income in Omaha is $90,389 with a poverty rate of 12.1%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Omaha is 35 years, 34.2 years for males, and 35.9 years for females.
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska and sits on the Missouri River, around 10 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River. Omaha also anchors the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area.
The Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) has a population of about 935,000, and there are approximately 1.3 million people in the Greater Omaha area with a 50-mile radius around the city center.
Omaha today is a very diverse city, both in terms of population and economy. Forbes ranked Omaha as the Best Bang-For-The-Buck City in 2009 and the number one Fastest-Recovering City in America.
Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the area, with the city of Omaha established by European Americans from Council Bluffs. Over the next century, many ethnic groups made their way to Omaha. In 1910, the population was 3.9% black. Irish immigrants also moved to the area in high numbers, settling in present-day North Omaha, or Gophertown. Irish immigrants were followed by people from Poland who settled in Sheelytown. In the beginning, immigrants to the city worked in the stockyards and meatpacking industries, although later German immigrants founded the beer industry.
Jewish immigrants moved to Omaha in the early 20th century and began setting up businesses in the commercial area, which is now the heart of the African American community. Omaha also has a Little Italy neighborhood south of downtown.
There is a sizable population of Czechs in the city, and many institutions in South Omaha and Downtown show the history of European immigrants in Omaha. The majority of Omaha's Hispanic population are Mexican, who originally came to the city to work in rail yards. Other early ethnic groups include Danes, Swedes, and Poles.
In the last two decades, some African immigrants have settled in Omaha. There are around 8,500 Sudanese in the city, which is the largest population of Sudanese refugees in the U.S. There are ten tribes from Sudan in Omaha, along with immigrants from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, and Togo.
Since 2000, Omaha has grown more than 13% and the state has a whole has increased steadily, although it has lagged behind the national average for more than twenty years. Omaha and its suburbs are expected to continue moderate population growth in the coming decade.
The area of Omaha was first inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Omaha and Ponca. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area that would later become Omaha in 1804, and members of the expedition met with tribal leaders at the Council Bluff twenty miles from present-day Omaha. Fur trading outposts were eventually built in the area. Through treaties with the federal government, Native American tribes in the state eventually ceded the lands that currently make up Nebraska.
Omaha was settled as residents from nearby Council Bluffs began to stake out claims. The young city has several booms and busts in its early years. From the late 19th century through the 21st century, immigrants have created enclaves throughout Omaha, such as the Irish in Sheelytown, Germans in the Near North Side, and Little Italy and Little Bohemia in South Omaha.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Omaha was:
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 195,393 | 2.44 | 58.3 | 41.7 |
Married | 82,466 | 3.27 | 80.5 | 19.5 |
Non Family | 80,304 | 1.24 | 40.8 | 59.2 |
Female | 22,391 | 3.32 | 44 | 56 |
Male | 10,232 | 3.22 | 48.3 | 51.7 |
3.18
Average Family Size
2.44
Average Household Size
58.3%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
83.42% of Omaha residents speak only English, while 16.58% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 10.43% of the population.
rate
12.1%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.12%
Male Poverty Rate
13.05%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Omaha is Islander, with 32.79% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Omaha is White, with 7.87% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.57%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.69%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 22.18%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
45.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.9%
Male Marriage Rate
44.2%
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 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.7%
Veteran Poverty Rate
25.67%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
70.2%
Labor Force Participation
66.9%
Employment Rate
4.5%
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
60.8%
Born in Omaha
91.37%
Native Born
11.05%
Foreign Born
7.09%
Non Citizen
3.96%
Naturalized
91.37% of Omaha residents were born in the United States, with 60.8% having been born in Nebraska. 7.09% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 1,900 | -455,532 | 3.3% |
1870 | 16,083 | 14,183 | 23.81% |
1880 | 30,518 | 14,435 | 6.62% |
1890 | 140,452 | 109,934 | 16.49% |
1900 | 102,555 | -37,897 | -3.1% |
1910 | 124,096 | 21,541 | 1.92% |
1920 | 191,601 | 67,505 | 4.44% |
1930 | 214,006 | 22,405 | 1.11% |
1940 | 223,844 | 9,838 | 0.45% |
1950 | 251,117 | 27,273 | 1.16% |
1960 | 301,598 | 50,481 | 1.85% |
1970 | 346,929 | 45,331 | 1.41% |
1980 | 313,939 | -32,990 | -0.99% |
1990 | 335,795 | 21,856 | 0.68% |
2000 | 390,007 | 54,212 | 1.51% |
2010 | 408,958 | ||
2011 | 416,667 | 7,709 | 1.89% |
2012 | 424,376 | 7,709 | 1.85% |
2013 | 432,085 | 7,709 | 1.82% |
2014 | 439,794 | 7,709 | 1.78% |
2015 | 447,503 | 7,709 | 1.75% |
2016 | 455,212 | 7,709 | 1.72% |
2017 | 462,921 | 7,709 | 1.69% |
2018 | 470,630 | 7,709 | 1.67% |
2019 | 478,339 | 7,709 | 1.64% |
2020 | 491,168 | 12,829 | 2.68% |
2021 | 487,300 | -3,868 | -0.79% |
2022 | 483,462 | -3,838 | -0.79% |
2023 | 479,655 | -3,807 | -0.79% |
2024 | 475,878 | -3,777 | -0.79% |
2025 | 472,130 | -3,748 | -0.79% |
2026 | 468,412 | -3,718 | -0.79% |
2027 | 464,723 | -3,689 | -0.79% |
2028 | 461,063 | -3,660 | -0.79% |
2029 | 457,432 | -3,631 | -0.79% |