4th most populous of 5
With 73,840 residents in 2024, Kauai County ranks 4th by population among Hawaii's 5 counties and is home to 5.1% of the state's residents.
Kauai County is home to 73,840 people (2024 estimate) on 620 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
73,840
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
73,292
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+0.7%
2020–2024
Land area
620 mi²
1,605 km²
Population density
119.1 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
734
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
686
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+48
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−138
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$67,170
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$5.6 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$97,668
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.1%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
14.4%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$873,200
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.4%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202473,840▲ 26%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 73,840 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 67,091 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 58,568 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +26.1% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +350 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −488 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 9.3 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Hawaii | 4th of 5 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $67,170 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $5.6 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $97,668 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.1% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 14.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $873,200 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,870/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 43.1 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 23,632 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Kauai County in context
Comparable indicators for Kauai County, Hawaii and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Hawaii | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +0.7% | −0.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.9 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.3 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -1.9 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 119.1 | 225.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $67,170 | $71,019 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $97,668 | $100,389 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.0% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.1% | 36.1% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 14.4% | 17.9% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $873,200 | $839,100 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,870/month | $1,971/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 43.1 years | 40.9 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6% | 63.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Lihue
8,000 residents
Did you know? Kauai County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 58,568 in 2000 to 73,840 in 2024, a change of +26.1%, compared with +19.2% for Hawaii as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 734 births and 686 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 48.
Peak population in 2023
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 73,933 in 2023. The 2024 figure is 93 lower.
3rd in density
Kauai County has about 119.1 residents per square mile of land, ranking 3rd of 5 counties; Hawaii averages 225.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $97,668 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 2nd of 5 Hawaii counties; the state median is $100,389.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $5.6 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 5 Hawaii counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.0% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS