Delaware Population

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