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Population and Demography of Virginia
Virginia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Maryland to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the northwest.
Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The total Land area is 42,774 square miles (110,786 square kilometers) and there is an average of 207 people for every square mile. This makes Virginia the 12th most densely populated state in the US. As per the United States Census Bureau, the population of Virginia in 2020 is 8,631,393 (8.6 million)
Estimated Population of Virginia in 2024: 8,715,698 or 8.7 million
Virginia Population (2010-2020)
Virginia has a population growth rate of 7.9% during 2010-2020. It has had a population increase of 630,369 since 2010. The median age among the population of Virginia is approximately 37.8 years of age. In terms of the ratio of sexes in the state, 50.8% are females and 49.2% are males.
| Virginia | Census 2020 |
| Total Population | 8,631,393 (8.6 million) |
| Median Age | 37.8 years |
| Population Rank | 12th |
| Total Area | 42,774.2 sq. mi (110,785.67 sq. km) |
| Area Rank | 35th |
| Population Density | 206.7/sq. mi (79.8/sq. km) |
| Capital City | Richmond |
| Largest City | Virginia Beach |
Source: US Census 2020
Virginia Historical Population
In the year 1910 Population of Virginia was 2 million and in 2020 it grew up to 8.6 million, an increase of almost 6.6 million.
Let’s look at the decade population & percentage change from the Year 1910 to 2020.
| Year | Population | % Change |
| 1910 | 2,061,612 | 11.2% |
| 1920 | 2,309,187 | 12% |
| 1930 | 2,421,851 | 4.9% |
| 1940 | 2,677,773 | 10.6% |
| 1950 | 3,318,680 | 23.9% |
| 1960 | 3,966,949 | 19.5% |
| 1970 | 4,648,494 | 17.2% |
| 1980 | 5,346,818 | 15% |
| 1990 | 6,187,358 | 15.7% |
| 2000 | 7,078,515 | 14.4% |
| 2010 | 8,001,024 | 13% |
| 2020 | 8,631,393 | 7.9% |
Source: US Census 2020
Religion and affiliations
Christianity is the majority religion in Virginia followed by 73% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Virginia is Protestant (58%) followed by Roman Catholics (12%).
Next comes the Unaffiliated population, 20% of the population doesn’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion. Other non-Christian-based religions and faiths are followed by 6% of the population and include Hinduism , Buddhism, Jews, Islam and other smaller faiths.
For more details read Religion in Virginia
Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in West Virginia, comprising 89.14% of the total population. It was followed by the Two or more races population whose share was 4.02%. Black or African American was the third largest group at 3.61%. Hispanic or Latino population is at 1.94% & Asian at 0.83%
Ancestry in Virginia
As per Census Studies & estimates German, Irish, American, English, and Italian have made the five largest ancestry groups in West Virginia
For more Details read Race and Ethnicity in Virginia
Counties and Cities in Virginia
As of 2022, Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities. The most populated counties in Virginia are Fairfax and Prince William counties, with respective populations of 1,148,433 and 463,023.
Virginia Beach with a nearly half-million population is the most populous city in the state followed by Chesapeake and Norfolk.
read more about Cities and Counties in Virginia
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