Wichita, Kansas Population 2023

402,080

Wichita is a city located in Sedgwick County Kansas. It is also the county seat of Sedgwick County. With a 2023 population of 402,080, it is the largest city in Kansas and the 50th largest city in the United States.Wichita is currently growing at a rate of 0.38% annually and its population has increased by 1.14% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 397,532 in 2020. Spanning over 166 miles, Wichita has a population density of 2,487 people per square mile.

The average household income in Wichita is $71,335 with a poverty rate of 19.35%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Wichita is 35.3 years, 34.3 years for males, and 36.5 years for females.

Wichita serves as the county seat of Sedgwick County. Wichita is an industrial hub, and it is also a center of trade, media, and culture. The cost of living in Wichita falls well below the national average.

Wichita Population Growth

Wichita has seen continuous population growth since its incorporation as a city. By the 1930s, the city had well over 100,000 inhabitants. This number had more than doubled by 1960. At the time of the census taken in 1990, the city’s population had grown to over 300,000. Wichita’s growth has slowed slightly since the last census in 2010, but so far, estimates show that the population has risen by 2%. This indicates that while Wichita may not be growing as rapidly as it once was, it still has much growing left to do.

It is believed that the area that is now Wichita was inhabited as far back as 3000 BC. The Wichita people were inhabiting the area when Europeans arrived in 1541. However, the Wichita people left the area and moved south following a conflict with the Osage people during the 1700s. The area was originally claimed by France but was acquired by the US during the Louisiana Purchase.

During the Civil War, the Wichita people returned and built a settlement. A trading post was also established. When the war ended, the Wichita once again relocated to what is now known as Oklahoma. In 1868, another trading post was established and shortly after that, a house was built that was used as a post office, hotel and community center. The population began to grow as hunters and traders saw business opportunities in the area. In 1870, plats outlining the first streets of Wichita were filed and later that year, Wichita was incorporated as a city.

The city’s role as a cattle drive destination and the railroad coming to the area resulted in further population growth. The city expanded into the 1880s as more immigrants came to the area. During this period, Fairmount College was established, later becoming Wichita State University. Friends University was also opened as Garfield University. Before the 1900s arrived, the city had already established itself as the most populous in the state. However, an economic recession resulted in bankruptcy for many of the original settlers.

The city bounced back after oil and natural gas deposits were discovered in the early 1900s. The city became prosperous with the many refineries opened during the 1910s and 1920s. This economic boom led to investment in the airplane manufacturing industry. It soon became a center of the industry and was known as “Air Capital of the World.” The city continued to expand, and the economy flourished over the next few decades.

During World War II, the population grew again as the city was a major manufacturing center. The 19tha and 20th centuries saw the introduction of other brands and businesses, including Lear Jet Corporation, Coleman camping retailer, and franchises including Pizza Hut.

Through the 1990s and 2000s, the city government has partnered with local organizations to redevelop the downtown area and gaining neighborhoods. Additional businesses have made their homes in Wichita and new developments, such as the Intrust Bank Arena, have been built.

Wichita Demographics

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

  • White: 72.6%
  • Black or African American: 10.32%
  • Two or more races: 6.44%
  • Asian: 4.9%
  • Other race: 4.72%
  • Native American: 0.94%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.07%
The current population of Wichita, Kansas is 402,080 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 397,532.

Wichita, Kansas Population 2023

Wichita 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

Wichita Population by Race

Wichita Population Pyramid 2023

Wichita Median Age

35.3

Total

34.3

Male

36.5

Female

Wichita Adults

There are 292,833 adults, (56,739 of whom are seniors) in Wichita.

Wichita Age Dependency

65.4

Age Dependency Ratio

24

Old Age Dependency Ratio

41.4

Child Dependency Ratio

Wichita Sex Ratio

Female197,73150.63%
Male192,83549.37%

Wichita Population by Age

Wichita Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.21

Average Family Size

2.49

Average Household Size

58.0%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Wichita Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Wichita Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Wichita 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 81.01%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 30.73%.

Wichita Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$37,846

Average Earnings

$44,074

Average Male

$31,072

Average Female

Wichita Earnings by Educational Attainment

Wichita Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Wichita Language

82.27% of Wichita residents speak only English, while 17.73% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 11.94% of the population.

Wichita Language

Wichita Poverty by Race

rate

19.35%

Overall Poverty Rate

14.15%

Male Poverty Rate

16.91%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Wichita

The race most likely to be in poverty in Wichita is Multiple, with 41.79% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Wichita is Islander, with 9.61% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.96%. Among those working part-time, it was 20.14%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 23.82%.

Wichita Poverty

Wichita Poverty Rate by Education

Wichita Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Wichita Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Wichita Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

45.9%

Overall Marriage Rate

46.4%

Male Marriage Rate

45.5%

Female Marriage Rate

Wichita Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Wichita 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.

Wichita Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Wichita Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

21,630

Number of Veterans

19,758

Male Veterans

1,872

Female Veterans

Wichita Veterans by War

Wichita Veterans by Age

count

Wichita Veterans by Race

Wichita Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

6.5%

Veteran Poverty Rate

29.47%

Veteran Disability Rate

Wichita Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

67%

Labor Force Participation

62.9%

Employment Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

Wichita Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Wichita Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Wichita 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

61.56%

Born in Wichita

88.48%

Native Born

9.77%

Foreign Born

5.44%

Non Citizen

4.33%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

88.48% of Wichita residents were born in the United States, with 61.56% having been born in Kansas. 5.44% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Wichita Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Wichita Population by Year