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
1870–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1863–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
West Virginia'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
282,371 (16.0%)
15 to 64
1,099,978 (62.2%)
65 and older
387,446 (21.9%)
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 West Virginia's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 43.1 years | Oldest in the U.S. |
| Female | 50.4% | |
| Male | 49.6% | |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | |
| 65 and older | 21.6% | 2nd highest in the U.S. |
| Life expectancy | 72.8 years | Lowest in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in West Virginia, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 1.77 M | 39th in the U.S. |
| Density | 28 /km² | |
| Households | 735,000 | |
| Urban population | 48.8% | Among the most rural in the U.S. |
| Largest metro | Charleston (≈ 250,000) | |
| Growth | -0.3%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
West Virginia is one of the least racially diverse states in the country, overwhelmingly white with small Black communities in the southern coalfields and around Charleston.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 91.5% | |
| Black or African American | 3.7% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.0% | ≈ 35,000 |
| Two or more races | 2.2% | |
| Asian | 0.9% | |
| Native American | 0.2% | |
| Mexican origin | ≈ 0.9% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |