1st most populous of 39
With 2,340,211 residents in 2024, King County ranks 1st by population among Washington's 39 counties and is home to 29.4% of the state's residents.
King County is home to 2,340,211 people (2024 estimate) on 2,116 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
2,340,211
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
2,269,666
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+3.1%
2020–2024
Land area
2,116 mi²
5,480 km²
Population density
1,106.1 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
22,517
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
15,102
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+7,415
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+35,932
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$128,684
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$477.2 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$124,746
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
56.7%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
25.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$859,900
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.2%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–20242,340,211▲ 35%
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 | 2,340,211 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 1,931,249 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 1,739,009 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +34.6% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +48,433 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −12,501 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 6.5 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Washington | 1st of 39 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $128,684 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $477.2 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $124,746 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 56.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 25.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $859,900 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $2,092/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 37.4 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 941,054 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
King County in context
Comparable indicators for King County, Washington and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Washington | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +3.1% | +3.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.6 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 6.5 | 8.2 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 15.4 | 10.6 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 1106.1 | 119.8 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $128,684 | $85,187 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $124,746 | $98,141 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 9.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 56.7% | 39.6% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 25.8% | 15.4% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $859,900 | $564,600 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $2,092/month | $1,760/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 37.4 years | 38.3 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.4% | 63.8% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
12 cities · choose how to order them
Did you know? King County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 1,739,009 in 2000 to 2,340,211 in 2024, a change of +34.6%, compared with +34.6% for Washington as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 22,517 births and 15,102 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 7,415.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 2,340,211.
1st in density
King County has about 1106.1 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 39 counties; Washington averages 119.8.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $124,746 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 1st of 39 Washington counties; the state median is $98,141.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $477.2 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 39 Washington counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 5.8% 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