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
1860–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1860–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Washington'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
1,357,654 (17.2%)
15 to 64
5,172,793 (65.4%)
65 and older
1,379,589 (17.4%)
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 Washington's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 38.5 years | |
| Female | 49.7% | |
| Male | 50.3% | |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | |
| 65 and older | 17.0% | |
| Life expectancy | 79.2 years | Top 10 in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Washington, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 7.86 M | 13th in the U.S. |
| Density | 43 /km² | |
| Households | 3.1 M | |
| Urban population | 84.1% | |
| Largest metro | Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue (≈ 4.05 M) | |
| Growth | +0.8%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Washington is one of the most Asian-American states outside Hawaii and California, with large Chinese, Indian, Filipino and Vietnamese communities in the Puget Sound region and a Hispanic majority in several Yakima Valley counties.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 63.8% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.0% | ≈ 1.10 M |
| Asian | 10.4% | 5th-highest share in the U.S. |
| Two or more races | 5.2% | |
| Black or African American | 4.3% | |
| Native American | 1.3% | 29 federally recognized tribes |
| Pacific Islander | 0.8% | Top 5 in the U.S. |
| Mexican origin | ≈ 10.6% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |
| Indian origin | ≈ 2.3% | |
| Filipino origin | ≈ 1.9% |