Delaware is the second smallest state in the United States, with a population of 967,171 as of 2019. The population density is 474.8 people per square mile, making it the sixth most densely populated state in the country. The majority of Delaware’s population is concentrated around Wilmington and Dover, which are the two largest cities in the state. The remaining population is scattered throughout smaller towns and rural areas.
The racial makeup of Delaware is 74% White, 21% African American, 2% Asian, 1% Native American and Alaska Native, 1% from two or more races, and 1% from other races. The Hispanic or Latino population makes up 8% of Delaware’s total population. About 19% of Delawareans identify as non-Hispanic white alone.
The median age in Delaware is 39 years old and 24 percent of the population falls into the 18-24 age group. There are also many people aged 65 years and older living in Delaware; they make up 14 percent of the total population.
Delaware has a strong economy with an unemployment rate lower than that of the national average at 4%. Education level among adults aged 25 years or older is higher than that at a national level; 79 percent have earned a high school diploma or equivalent while 27 percent have earned bachelor’s degrees or higher. Income levels in Delaware are also higher than average; median household income was estimated to be $64,120 in 2018 which was higher than that for U.S households overall ($61,937).
Delaware Population by Year – Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,018,396 | 1.35% |
| 2021 | 1,004,807 | 1.28% |
| 2020 | 992,114 | 1.58% |
| 2019 | 976,668 | 1.00% |
| 2018 | 966,985 | 0.94% |
| 2017 | 957,942 | 0.84% |
| 2016 | 949,989 | 0.84% |
| 2015 | 942,065 | 0.96% |
| 2014 | 933,131 | 0.98% |
| 2013 | 924,062 | 0.93% |
| 2012 | 915,518 | 0.87% |
| 2011 | 907,590 | 0.88% |
| 2010 | 899,647 | 0.89% |
| 2009 | 891,730 | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 883,874 | 1.39% |
| 2007 | 871,749 | 1.45% |
| 2006 | 859,268 | 1.67% |
| 2005 | 845,150 | 1.73% |
| 2004 | 830,803 | 1.56% |
| 2003 | 818,003 | 1.47% |
| 2002 | 806,169 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | 795,699 | 1.19% |
| 2000 | 786,373 | 4.36% |
| 1999 | 753,538 | 1.27% |
| 1998 | 744,066 | 1.23% |
| 1997 | 735,024 | 1.09% |
| 1996 | 727,090 | 1.23% |
| 1995 | 718,265 | 1.39% |
| 1994 | 708,416 | 1.28% |
| 1993 | 699,475 | 1.35% |
| 1992 | 690,158 | 1.42% |
| 1991 | 680,495 | 1.71% |
| 1990 | 669,063 | 1.64% |
| 1989 | 658,273 | 1.64% |
| 1988 | 647,622 | 1.68% |
| 1987 | 636,947 | 1.50% |
| 1986 | 627,559 | 1.50% |
| 1985 | 618,280 | 1.10% |
| 1984 | 611,565 | 1.01% |
| 1983 | 605,458 | 1.05% |
| 1982 | 599,148 | 0.53% |
| 1981 | 595,975 | 0.18% |
| 1980 | 594,919 | -0.01% |
| 1979 | 594,984 | 0.03% |
| 1978 | 594,776 | 0.50% |
| 1977 | 591,829 | 0.28% |
| 1976 | 590,166 | 0.61% |
| 1975 | 586,589 | 0.89% |
| 1974 | 581,418 | 0.63% |
| 1973 | 577,759 | 0.85% |
| 1972 | 572,913 | 1.45% |
| 1971 | 564,708 | 3.03% |
| 1970 | 548,104 | 1.50% |
Delaware Population by City
| Rank | Name | 2020 Census | Annual Change | Density (mi²) | Area (mi²) |
| 1 | Wilmington | 70,898 | 0.01% | 6,503 | 10.9 |
| 2 | Dover | 39,403 | 0.84% | 1,707 | 23.67 |
| 3 | Newark | 30,601 | -0.28% | 3,302 | 9.19 |
| 4 | Middletown | 23,192 | 1.80% | 2,074 | 11.81 |
| 5 | Bear | 23,060 | 1.55% | 4,231 | 5.71 |
| 6 | Glasgow | 15,288 | 0.63% | 1,570 | 9.93 |
| 7 | Brookside | 14,974 | 0.41% | 3,846 | 3.94 |
| 8 | Hockessin | 13,478 | -0.04% | 1,341 | 10.04 |
| 9 | Smyrna | 12,883 | 2.13% | 2,188 | 6.28 |
| 10 | Pike Creek Valley | 11,692 | 0.41% | 4,582 | 2.58 |
| 11 | Milford | 11,190 | 1.42% | 1,195 | 9.77 |
| 12 | Claymont | 9,895 | 1.60% | 4,831 | 2.15 |
| 13 | Wilmington Manor | 8,162 | 0.33% | 5,098 | 1.62 |
| 14 | North Star | 8,056 | 0.10% | 1,188 | 6.8 |
| 15 | Seaford | 7,957 | 1.26% | 1,627 | 5.08 |
| 16 | Pike Creek | 7,808 | -0.12% | 2,826 | 2.75 |
| 17 | Georgetown | 7,134 | 0.98% | 1,463 | 5.02 |
| 18 | Millsboro | 6,863 | 4.01% | 1,329 | 5.84 |
| 19 | Edgemoor | 6,635 | 1.41% | 3,710 | 1.87 |
| 20 | Elsmere | 6,229 | 0.16% | 6,222 | 1.01 |
| 21 | New Castle | 5,551 | 0.48% | 1,671 | 3.37 |
| 22 | Rising Sun-Lebanon | 4,104 | 1.67% | 1,208 | 3.57 |
| 23 | Clayton | 3,961 | 2.50% | 2,238 | 1.91 |
| 24 | Laurel | 3,865 | 0.41% | 1,411 | 2.77 |
| 25 | Harrington | 3,774 | 0.55% | 1,409 | 2.72 |
| 26 | Camden | 3,715 | 0.66% | 1,009 | 3.76 |
| 27 | Highland Acres | 3,492 | 0.09% | 2,347 | 1.49 |
| 28 | Lewes | 3,303 | 1.64% | 836 | 4.15 |
| 29 | Milton | 3,291 | 2.10% | 1,961 | 1.79 |
| 30 | Greenville | 3,104 | 2.39% | 1,216 | 2.75 |
| 31 | Long Neck | 3,017 | 3.23% | 1,339 | 2.49 |
| 32 | Selbyville | 2,878 | 2.35% | 876 | 3.53 |
| 33 | Dover Base Housing | 2,810 | -2.39% | 3,572 | 0.73 |
| 34 | Townsend | 2,717 | 2.35% | 2,758 | 1.06 |
| 35 | Ocean View | 2,636 | 2.69% | 1,033 | 2.77 |
| 36 | Woodside East | 2,570 | 0.95% | 1,544 | 1.71 |
| 37 | Bridgeville | 2,568 | 1.95% | 565 | 4.82 |
| 38 | Riverview | 2,458 | 0% | 681 | 3.61 |
| 39 | Kent Acres | 2,144 | 1.14% | 2,614 | 0.85 |
| 40 | Delmar | 2,027 | 2.04% | 1,135 | 1.9 |
| 41 | Cheswold | 1,923 | 2.66% | 1,134 | 1.84 |
| 42 | Delaware City | 1,885 | 0.99% | 1,029 | 1.89 |
| 43 | Millville | 1,825 | 6.15% | 866 | 2.55 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 1,680 | 2.11% | 1,720 | 1.04 |
| 45 | Rodney Village | 1,489 | 0% | 2,537 | 0.59 |
| 46 | Felton | 1,316 | 0.15% | 1,678 | 0.79 |
| 47 | Bellefonte | 1,225 | 0.24% | 6,972 | 0.18 |
| 48 | Blades | 1,179 | -0.51% | 2,088 | 0.56 |
| 49 | Rehoboth Beach | 1,108 | -2.07% | 887 | 1.18 |
| 50 | Frederica | 1,073 | 2.65% | 668 | 1.74 |
| 51 | Greenwood | 990 | 0.20% | 1,173 | 0.85 |
| 52 | Bethany Beach | 954 | -1.18% | 802 | 1.15 |
| 53 | Newport | 910 | -1.59% | 1,982 | 0.44 |
| 54 | Dagsboro | 870 | 0.68% | 610 | 1.46 |
| 55 | Frankford | 790 | -0.77% | 1,059 | 0.73 |
| 56 | Ellendale | 487 | 2.16% | 1,224 | 0.42 |
| 57 | South Bethany | 451 | 0% | 897 | 0.5 |
| 58 | Arden | 430 | -0.23% | 1,701 | 0.25 |
| 59 | Houston | 381 | 0.26% | 1,003 | 0.38 |
| 60 | Odessa | 366 | 0% | 720 | 0.51 |
| 61 | Dewey Beach | 353 | 0.28% | 1,076 | 0.33 |
| 62 | Fenwick Island | 343 | -1.19% | 1,000 | 0.33 |
| 63 | Bowers | 278 | -2.26% | 836 | 0.31 |
| 64 | Magnolia | 277 | 1.74% | 1,490 | 0.2 |
| 65 | Ardentown | 255 | -0.40% | 1,145 | 0.22 |
| 66 | Bethel | 239 | 2.77% | 591 | 0.44 |
| 67 | Ardencroft | 226 | 0% | 2,568 | 0.09 |
| 68 | Slaughter Beach | 218 | 0.46% | 156 | 1.42 |
| 69 | Kenton | 215 | -2.44% | 1,136 | 0.18 |
| 70 | Little Creek | 195 | -1.59% | 1,879 | 0.1 |
| 71 | Woodside | 190 | 0.52% | 1,369 | 0.14 |
| 72 | Leipsic | 178 | 0% | 599 | 0.3 |
| 73 | Viola | 140 | -1.47% | 757 | 0.18 |
| 74 | Henlopen Acres | 139 | 1.40% | 569 | 0.26 |
| 75 | Farmington | 92 | -2.27% | 1,178 | 0.07 |
| 76 | Hartly | 73 | 0% | 1,281 | 0.06 |