Washington, District of Columbia Population 2023

715,891

Washington is a city located in District of Columbia County District of Columbia. With a 2023 population of 715,891, it is the largest city in District of Columbia and the 21st largest city in the United States.Washington is currently growing at a rate of 1.24% annually and its population has increased by 3.82% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 689,545 in 2020. Spanning over 68 miles, Washington has a population density of 11,710 people per square mile.

The average household income in Washington is $127,890 with a poverty rate of 17.48%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Washington is 34.1 years, 34 years for males, and 34.2 years for females.

Washington, D.C. (formally the District of Columbia) is also known as the District, D.C. or just Washington, and it's the capital of the United States. This capital district on the Potomac River was created in 1790 when both Maryland and Virginia donated land for its formation, which included areas of Alexandria and Georgetown. Washington, D.C. is named in honor of George Washington, and it was officially founded in 1791.

Washington, D.C. had a population estimated at 632,300 in 2012, which is believed to have grown modestly in 2013. It's now the 24th most populous city in the United States, but it has the 7th largest metropolitan area with 5.7 million people. During the work week, the population of Washington, D.C. also soars to add one million more as commuters rush in from Virginia and Maryland suburbs.

When the Washington, D.C. area includes Baltimore and its suburbs, the resulting Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area has a population of more than 8.5 million, which is the 4th largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States.

Washington DC Population Statistics

Most of the growth in Washington, D.C. between 2000 and 2010 was caused by young people between 20 and 34, whose numbers grew 23%. This has slowed recently, and census figures show that half of the District's population growth from 2000 to 2013 was from so-called millennials.

At the 2010 Census, people under 35 accounted for 60% of Washington, D.C.'s population, which means more babies and strong natural growth in the coming decades. Nearly 17% of the District's population is 18 or younger, which is lower than the United States average of 24%. The District also has the lowest median age (34) when compared to the 50 states.

Washington D.C. has always had a significant African American population since it was founded. Between 1800 and 1940, African Americans accounted for about 30% of the population, which reached a peak in 1970 at 70%. This declined as many moved into the nearby suburbs, which caused gentrification and a 31% increase in the non-Hispanic white population between 2000 and 2010.

A report in 2007 found that 30% of residents in Washington, D.C. are functionally illiterate, which is much higher than the national rate of 1 in 5. The study attributed this partly to immigrants who aren't proficient in English.

Washington DC Population Growth

For six of the last seven decades, Washington, D.C. was shrinking, and lost population since the 1940s with a high in 1950 of 802,178 people, which dropped to just 572,059 in 2000. This shrinking city has been spreading outward with massive urban sprawl, with growth that's been concentrated in the suburbs.

It seems Washington, D.C. has turned this around and is now growing fast, with its 2013 population up more than 10% over 2000, which means its finally growing more quickly than the suburbs. Demographers and a growing preference for the urban lifestyle among its young people means this trend will probably only strengthen.

There are now about 9,000 more people moving into the District than moving out, and its natural growth rate is adding 13,000 more every year.

While it hasn't broken through the rank of the 24th most populous city in the country, the District's growth rate has been faster than most larger cities, including Houston, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Dallas, and it's one of the fastest growing cities on the East Coast. According to the D.C. Chief Financial Officer, Natwar Gandhi, the District's significant growth over the last few years is expected to end as housing construction and job growth slows, although there will still be growth. According to Gandhi, the growth rate of 1.8% in 2013 will drop to 1.3% in 2013, 1.1% a year later and drop by 0.8% in 2017.

By 2020, this means the District will likely have a population of 700,000.

Washington Demographics

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

  • Black or African American: 45.39%
  • White: 41.07%
  • Other race: 4.81%
  • Two or more races: 4.24%
  • Asian: 4.1%
  • Native American: 0.35%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.05%
The current population of Washington, District of Columbia is 715,891 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 689,545.

Washington, District of Columbia Population 2023

Washington Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

Black or African American

White

Other race

Two or more races

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Washington Population by Race

Washington Population Pyramid 2023

Washington Median Age

34.1

Total

34

Male

34.2

Female

Washington Adults

There are 575,926 adults, (85,912 of whom are seniors) in Washington.

Washington Age Dependency

43.3

Age Dependency Ratio

17.5

Old Age Dependency Ratio

25.7

Child Dependency Ratio

Washington Sex Ratio

Female368,83752.54%
Male333,13747.46%

Washington Population by Age

Washington Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.36

Average Family Size

2.3

Average Household Size

42.5%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Washington Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Washington Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Washington 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 86.14%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 79.65%.

Washington Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$68,622

Average Earnings

$73,842

Average Male

$64,094

Average Female

Washington Earnings by Educational Attainment

Washington Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Washington Language

82.8% of Washington residents speak only English, while 17.2% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 9.06% of the population.

Washington Language

Washington Poverty by Race

rate

17.48%

Overall Poverty Rate

14.29%

Male Poverty Rate

16.5%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Washington

The race most likely to be in poverty in Washington is Native, with 35.92% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Washington is Islander, with 3.66% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.38%. Among those working part-time, it was 20.5%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 34.75%.

Washington Poverty

Washington Poverty Rate by Education

Washington Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Washington Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Washington Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

29.1%

Overall Marriage Rate

32.1%

Male Marriage Rate

26.5%

Female Marriage Rate

Washington Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Washington 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.

Washington Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Washington Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

25,514

Number of Veterans

22,595

Male Veterans

2,919

Female Veterans

Washington Veterans by War

Washington Veterans by Age

count

Washington Veterans by Race

Washington Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

9.76%

Veteran Poverty Rate

26.94%

Veteran Disability Rate

Washington Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

70.7%

Labor Force Participation

65.2%

Employment Rate

7.1%

Unemployment Rate

Washington Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Washington Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Washington 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

37.43%

Born in Washington

88.14%

Native Born

13.66%

Foreign Born

7.43%

Non Citizen

6.23%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

88.14% of Washington residents were born in the United States, with 37.43% having been born in District of Columbia. 7.43% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Washington Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Washington Population by Year