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Population and Demography of Washington (state)
Washington, officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north.
Washington is the 13th most populous state of the United States. The total Land area is 66,544 square miles (172,587 square kilometers) and there is an average of 103 people for every square mile. This makes Washington the 25th most densely populated state in the US. As per the United States Census Bureau, the population of Washington in 2020 is 7,705,281 (7.7 million)
Population of Washington State in 2024 – 7,812,880 or 7.8 million
Washington Population (2010-2020)
Washington has a population growth rate of 14.6% during 2010-2020. It has had a population increase of 980,741 since 2010. The median age across the state of Washington is 37.6 years of age. In terms of the ratio of females to males, 50.1% of the population is female and 49.9% male.
| Washington | Census 2020 |
| Total Population | 7,705,281 (7.7 million) |
| Median Age | 37.6 years |
| Population Rank | 13th |
| Total Land Area | 66,544 sq mi (172,587 km2) |
| Area Rank | 3rd |
| Population Density | 103/sq mi (39.6/km2) |
| Capital City | Olympia |
| Largest City | Seattle |
Source: US Census 2020
Washington State Historical Population
Washington has a population growth rate of 14.6% during 2010-2020. In the year 1910 Population of Washington was 1.1 million & in 2020, it reached 7.7 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 | 1,141,990 | 120.4 |
| 1920 | 1,356,621 | 18.8 |
| 1930 | 1,563,396 | 15.2 |
| 1940 | 1,736,191 | 11.1 |
| 1950 | 2,378,963 | 37 |
| 1960 | 2,853,214 | 19.9 |
| 1970 | 3,409,169 | 19.5 |
| 1980 | 4,132,156 | 21.2 |
| 1990 | 4,866,692 | 17.8 |
| 2000 | 5,894,121 | 21.1 |
| 2010 | 6,724,540 | 14.1 |
| 2020 | 7,705,281 | 14.6 |
Source: US Census 2020
Religion and Affiliations
Christianity is the majority religion in Washington followed by 61% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Washington is Protestant (40%); Roman Catholics (17%); Mormonism (3%); Jehovah’s Witnesses (2%), and Other Christians.
Next comes the Unaffiliated population, 32% 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 Washington
Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Washington State, comprising 63.84% of the total population. It was followed by the Hispanic or Latino population whose share was 13.75%. Asian American was the third largest group at 9.38%. Two or more races population are at 6.63% and African Americans are at 3.84%.
Ancestry
As per Census Studies & estimates German, English, Irish, Norwegian and American have made the five largest ancestry groups in Washington State.
For more Details read Race and Ethnicity in Washington
Top cities and Counties in Washington
As of 2022, Washington is divided into 39 counties. The most populated counties in Washington State are King and Pierce counties with respective populations of 2,188,649 and 876,764. Okanogan is the largest county by Area in Washington and San Juan is the smallest by area.
Seattle is the largest city in the state with a population of 769, 714 followed by Spokane and Tacoma.
read more about Cities and Counties in Washington
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