Biloxi Lighthouse on the Gulf Coast at sunset
County in Mississippi

Harrison County

Harrison County has the 2nd largest economy in Mississippi ($12.8 billion GDP) and the 5th largest immigrant share (4.7% foreign-born).

Harrison County is home to 213,730 people (2024 estimate) on 574 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
213,730
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
208,627
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.4%
2020–2024
Land area
574 mi²
1,486 km²
Population density
372.6 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
2,454
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
2,341
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+113
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+2,204
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$50,986
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$12.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$59,479
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
27.5%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
4.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$212,200
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.9%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
213,730▲ 12%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate213,7302024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census187,1052010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000190,071July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+12.4%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+9512024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+1,2532024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate11.5 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate11.0 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Mississippi1st of 822024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$50,986BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$12.8 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$59,479ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate17.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher27.5%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents4.7%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$212,200ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,115/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age38.5 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households83,358ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes62.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Harrison County in context

Comparable indicators for Harrison County, Mississippi and the United States.

IndicatorCountyMississippiU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+2.4%−0.6%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)11.511.510.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)11.012.29.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)10.30.68.22024
Population density (/mi²)372.662.796.32024
Per capita personal income$50,986$52,074$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$59,479$56,447$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate17.1%18.9%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher27.5%25.1%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents4.7%2.4%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$212,200$169,800$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,115/month$954/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age38.5 years38.6 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes62.2%70.0%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

2 cities · choose how to order them

Gulfport
74,621 residents
Biloxi
47,000 residents

Did you know? Harrison County

1st most populous of 82

With 213,730 residents in 2024, Harrison County ranks 1st by population among Mississippi's 82 counties and is home to 7.3% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 190,071 in 2000 to 213,730 in 2024, a change of +12.4%, compared with +3.3% for Mississippi as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 2,454 births and 2,341 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 113.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 213,730.

2nd in density

Harrison County has about 372.6 residents per square mile of land, ranking 2nd of 82 counties; Mississippi averages 62.7.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $59,479 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 13th of 82 Mississippi counties; the state median is $56,447.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $12.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 2nd largest among 82 Mississippi counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 1.6% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology