Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer. Rankings among the 50 states.
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
1820–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1820–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Alabama's civilian population by sex and five-year age group. Choose a year to see how the age structure has changed.
Tap an age group in the pyramid to see its detail.
Under 15
927,680 (18.0%)
15 to 64
3,262,439 (63.4%)
65 and older
955,901 (18.6%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SC-EST2020 and SC-EST2024 age and sex estimates (civilian population, July 1).
Age, sex and longevity
The main indicators describing Alabama's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 39.8 years | |
| Female | 51.5% | |
| Male | 48.5% | |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | |
| 65 and older | 18.0% | |
| Life expectancy | 73.2 years | Among the lowest in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Alabama, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 5.11 M | 24th in the U.S. |
| Density | 38 /km² | |
| Households | 1.99 M | |
| Urban population | 59.0% | |
| Largest metro | Birmingham–Hoover (≈ 1.19 M) | |
| Growth | +0.4%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Alabama has one of the highest shares of Black residents in the country, concentrated in the historic Black Belt and Birmingham area, with a smaller but growing Hispanic population.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 63.0% | |
| Black or African American | 26.8% | 4th highest in the U.S. |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.2% | |
| Asian | 1.6% | |
| Two or more races | 2.7% | |
| Native American | 0.7% |