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Georgia Population Overview (2026 Projection)
Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee and North Carolina to the north, South Carolina to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, Florida to the south, and Alabama to the west.
Georgia is the eighth-most populous state in the United States and ranks 18th in population density. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia recorded a population of 10,711,908 in the 2020 Census. The latest population estimate (July 1, 2024) places Georgia’s population at 11,180,878 (11.2 million).
Based on recent Census trends, migration patterns, and natural population growth, Georgia is projected to continue steady population growth over the next few years.
Projected Population of Georgia (2026): ~11.5 million
Georgia Population Growth (2010–2020)
Georgia has a population growth rate of 10.6% during 2010-2020. It has population increase of 1,024,255 (1 million) since 2010.
Georgia Census Snapshot (2020)
| Indicators | Data |
| Total Population | 10,711,908 (10.7 million) |
| Population Rank | 8th |
| Total Land Area | 57,906 sq mi (149,976 km2) |
| Area Rank | 24th |
| Population Density | 185.2/sq mi (71.5/km2) |
| Median Age | 36.2 years |
Source: US Census 2020 and estimates
Georgia Historical Population
Georgia’s population has grown steadily over the past century, rising from about 2.6 million in 1910 to 10.7 million in 2020, an increase of over 8 million residents. The state experienced significant growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with faster growth after 1980.
Decadal Population Change (1910–2020)
| Year | Population | % Change |
| 1910 | 2,609,121 | 17.7% |
| 1920 | 2,895,832 | 11% |
| 1930 | 2,908,506 | 0.4% |
| 1940 | 3,123,723 | 7.4% |
| 1950 | 3,444,578 | 10.3% |
| 1960 | 3,943,116 | 14.5% |
| 1970 | 4,589,575 | 16.4% |
| 1980 | 5,463,105 | 19% |
| 1990 | 6,478,216 | 18.6% |
| 2000 | 8,186,453 | 26.4% |
| 2010 | 9,687,653 | 18.3% |
| 2020 | 10,711,908 | 10.6% |
Source: US Census 2020
Population Projections
As for the present and the future, continued population growth is expected. Georgia continues to grow at greater than 1% per year, which makes it one of the faster-growing states in the country (12th). According to a projection released in 2010 by the state of Georgia, the population was expected to reach 14.7 million by 2030.
Georgia Demographics (Summary)
Religion in Georgia (Overview)
Christianity is the largest religion in Georgia, followed by about 79% of the population. The main Christian denominations are Protestant (67%) and Roman Catholic (9%). The unaffiliated population accounts for approximately 18%, representing residents who do not follow any religion.
Other non-Christian religions make up around 3% of the population, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
🔗 Read more: Religion in Georgia
Race and Ethnicity in Georgia (Overview)
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial group, comprising 50.1% of residents. It was followed by African American (30.6%), Hispanic or Latino (10.5%), and Asian (4.4%) populations. Residents identifying with two or more races accounted for 3.6% of the population.
Ancestry in Georgia (Overview)
The most common ancestry groups in Georgia are American, English, Irish, German, and Italian.
🔗 Read more: Race and Ethnicity in Georgia
Language in Georgia
About 85.9% of Georgia residents speak only English, while 14.1% speak other languages. The most commonly spoken non-English language is Spanish (8%).
Top cities and Counties in Georgia
Georgia has several major urban centers, with Atlanta, the state capital, being the largest and most populous city, with a 2020 Census population of just over 498,000. Other large cities include Columbus and Augusta–Richmond. In total, Georgia has 17 cities with populations over 50,000.
The state is divided into 159 counties. The most populous county is Fulton County, with over 1 million residents, followed by Gwinnett County (964,564) and Cobb County (766,802).
Read more: Cities and Counties in Georgia
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