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
1840–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1840–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Iowa'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
595,664 (18.4%)
15 to 64
2,033,214 (62.7%)
65 and older
612,379 (18.9%)
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 Iowa's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 38.6 years | |
| Female | 50.2% | |
| Male | 49.8% | |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | |
| 65 and older | 18.1% | |
| Life expectancy | 78.1 years |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Iowa, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 3.21 M | 31st in the U.S. |
| Density | 22 /km² | |
| Households | 1.30 M | |
| Urban population | 64.0% | |
| Largest metro | Des Moines–West Des Moines (≈ 730,000) | |
| Growth | +0.3%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Iowa remains overwhelmingly non-Hispanic white, but its Hispanic population has grown rapidly in meatpacking towns, and refugee resettlement has brought sizeable Bosnian, Sudanese, Burmese and Lao communities.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 83.5% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.1% | ≈ 227,000 |
| Black or African American | 4.3% | |
| Asian | 2.9% | |
| Two or more races | 2.6% | |
| Native American | 0.4% | |
| Mexican origin | ≈ 5.5% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |
| Refugee communities | Bosnian, Sudanese, Burmese, Lao |