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Population and Demography of Iowa
Iowa is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.
Iowa is the 31st most populous state in the United States. The total Land area is 55,857 square miles (144,669 square kilometers) and there is an average of 57 people for every square mile. This makes Iowa the 36th most densely populated state in the US. As per the United States Census Bureau, the population of Iowa in 2020 is 3,190,369 (3.19 million)
Estimated Population of Iowa in 2024: 3,207,004 (3.2 million)
Iowa Population 2010-2020
Iowa has a population growth rate of 4.7% during 2010-2020. It has had a population increase of 144,014 since 2010. The median age in Iowa is 38 years of age. The gender ratio is approximately 50.3% female and 49.7% male.
| Iowa | Census 2020 |
| Total Population | 3,190,369 (3.19 million) |
| Percentage Change | 4.7% |
| Population Rank | 31st |
| Total Land Area | 55,857.1 sq mi (144,669.2 km2) |
| Area Rank | 26th |
| Population Density | 57.1/sq mi (22.0/km2) |
| Capital City | Des Moines |
| Largest City | Des Moines |
Source: US Census 2020
Iowa Historical Population
Iowa has a population growth rate of 4.7% during 2010-2020. In the year 1900 Iowa’s Population was 2.2 million and in 2020, it reached 3.2 million, an increase of almost 1 million.
Let’s look at decade population & percentage change
| Census year | Population | % Change |
| 1840 | 43,112 | — |
| 1850 | 192,214 | 345.80% |
| 1860 | 674,913 | 251.10% |
| 1870 | 1,194,020 | 76.90% |
| 1880 | 1,624,615 | 36.10% |
| 1890 | 1,912,297 | 17.70% |
| 1900 | 2,231,853 | 16.70% |
| 1910 | 2,224,771 | −0.3% |
| 1920 | 2,404,021 | 8.10% |
| 1930 | 2,470,939 | 2.80% |
| 1940 | 2,538,268 | 2.70% |
| 1950 | 2,621,073 | 3.30% |
| 1960 | 2,757,537 | 5.20% |
| 1970 | 2,824,376 | 2.40% |
| 1980 | 2,913,808 | 3.20% |
| 1990 | 2,776,755 | −4.7% |
| 2000 | 2,926,324 | 5.40% |
| 2010 | 3,046,355 | 4.10% |
| 2020 | 3,190,369 | 4.70% |
Source: US Census 2020
Iowa Demographics
Religion and affiliations
Christianity is the majority religion in Iowa followed by 77% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Iowa is Protestants (60%); Roman Catholics (18%) and Other Christians.
Next comes the Unaffiliated population, 22% of the population doesn’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion. Other non-Christian-based religions and faiths are followed by 1% of the population and include Jewish, Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim, and smaller other faiths.
For more details read Religion in Iowa
Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Iowa, comprising 82.69% of the total population. It was followed by the Hispanic or Latino population whose share was 6.77%. Black or African American was the third largest group at 4.05%. Two or more races are at 3.41% and Asians at 2.35%
Ancestry in Iowa
As per Census Studies & estimates German, Irish, and English have made the three largest ancestry groups in Iowa.
For more details read Race and Ethnicity in Iowa
Top cities and counties in Iowa
As of 2022, Iowa is divided into 99 counties. The most populous county in Iowa is Polk County (0.5 million) and The Largest county by Land Area in Iowa is Kossuth County.
The most populous city in Iowa is Des Moines, followed by Cedar Rapids and Davenport. Only these three cities have a population of more than 100,000.
read more about Cities and Counties in Iowa
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