Maryland population and demographics

6.3 million people, the 19th largest state

The Census Bureau estimates that 6,265,347 people lived in Maryland on July 1, 2025, 1.83% of the US population. That is the highest figure ever recorded for the state: every census count and annual estimate before it was lower. Among its neighbors, Maryland is larger than Delaware, the District of Columbia and West Virginia; smaller than Pennsylvania and Virginia¹.

The state's rank has travelled a long way. At the first census in 1790, Maryland's 319,728 residents put it 6th of 18 among the present-day states with a count. As the country spread west it slipped, to 23rd of 49 in 1880 and 28th of 51 in 1920. Then it climbed again: the population rose from 1,821,244 in 1940 to 3,922,399 in 1970, when it ranked 18th of 51⁹. The state now has 2.7 times¹ its 1950 population.

Source: Census Bureau, Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990; Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results and historical resident population 1910-2020; Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Census counts every ten years (April 1); estimates for July 1 after 2020.

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Year	Maryland
1790	319,728
1800	341,548
1810	380,546
1820	407,350
1830	447,040
1840	470,019
1850	583,034
1860	687,049
1870	780,894
1880	934,943
1890	1,042,390
1900	1,188,044
1910	1,295,346
1920	1,449,661
1930	1,631,526
1940	1,821,244
1950	2,343,001
1960	3,100,689
1970	3,922,399
1980	4,216,975
1990	4,781,468
2000	5,296,486
2010	5,773,552
2020	6,177,224
2021	6,176,035
2022	6,183,257
2023	6,204,927
2024	6,245,314
2025	6,265,347

Since then the rank has barely moved: 19th of 51⁹ in 1990 and 18th of 51 in 2020. Growth has slowed: the 2010s added 7.0%, 0.4 percentage points below the US figure (7.4%)⁶, and since April 2020 the state has grown 1.35%, 1.8 percentage points below the US figure (3.10%)¹.

More leave for other states than arrive

Maryland's growth has a particular shape. Population change has three parts: births minus deaths, moves between states (net domestic migration) and moves to and from other countries (net international migration). Since the 2020 Census the first and third have been positive in Maryland and the second strongly negative.

Births+352,146

Deaths−295,358

Net domestic migration−134,770

Net international migration+159,113

Residual (estimation adjustment)+2,576

Total change+83,707

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Each bar starts where the previous one ended. The residual is the part of the change the Census Bureau cannot assign to a component.

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Component	People
Births	352,146
Deaths	−295,358
Net domestic migration	−134,770
Net international migration	159,113
Residual (estimation adjustment)	2,576
Total change	83,707

From April 2020 to June 2025, net domestic migration was −134,770, the 7th lowest in the country and lower than every bordering state (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia). Over the same period net international migration added 159,113 people and births exceeded deaths by 56,788, enough for a net gain of 83,707¹.

The domestic loss has narrowed every year since its peak: −45,953 in the year to June 2022, −31,484 in 2023, −18,367 in 2024 and −12,127 in 2025. In the latest year Maryland was one of 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, that lost more residents to other states than they gained in the year to June 2025. Net international migration of 20,503 alone equalled 102% of the year's population gain of 20,033, and natural increase (65,090 births, 53,646 deaths) added 11,444¹.

The result is slow growth: 0.32% in the year to July 2025, the 17th lowest rate among the 50 states and DC and 0.2 percentage points below the US figure (0.52%). Net migration of all kinds came to 1.3 per 1,000 residents, 64% below the US figure (3.7 per 1,000 residents)¹.

Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida: the main exchanges

The Census Bureau's survey of people who moved in 2024 shows where the traffic runs. Virginia was both the largest source of new Marylanders (28,004) and the largest destination of those who left (25,183). The District of Columbia sent 16,780. On the way out, Pennsylvania (18,254) and Florida (16,358¹⁰) followed Virginia.

Moved to Maryland from

Virginia28,004 ±5,694

District of Columbia16,780 ±3,634

Pennsylvania12,638 ±2,389

New York12,198 ±3,420

California11,078 ±3,398

Texas10,467 ±3,471

Florida9,358 ±2,214

North Carolina6,410 ±2,300

Left Maryland for

Virginia25,183 ±4,200

Pennsylvania18,254 ±3,761

Florida16,358 ±3,488

Texas9,407 ±2,767

California8,901 ±2,151

North Carolina8,874 ±2,299

New York8,400 ±2,298

Delaware7,026 ±2,233

Source: Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024. People aged 1 and over who lived in another state a year earlier (and the reverse). Survey estimates: whiskers show the 90% margin of error.

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State	Moved in from	Moved out to
Virginia	28,004 ±5,694	25,183 ±4,200
District of Columbia	16,780 ±3,634	6,926 ±1,523
Pennsylvania	12,638 ±2,389	18,254 ±3,761
New York	12,198 ±3,420	8,400 ±2,298
California	11,078 ±3,398	8,901 ±2,151
Texas	10,467 ±3,471	9,407 ±2,767
Florida	9,358 ±2,214	16,358 ±3,488
North Carolina	6,410 ±2,300	8,874 ±2,299
Delaware	5,781 ±1,822	7,026 ±2,233

In that survey, 164,290 people moved in from other states and 158,685 moved out; the net figure, 5,605 (±15,532¹⁰), is too small to tell apart from zero. Tax returns give a clearer picture for 2022–23: 135,223 people on returns moved in and 155,335 moved out, a net change of −20,112, the 6th lowest in the country. The households that left reported $8.6 billion in adjusted gross income, against $6.7 billion¹¹ for those who arrived.

Earlier moves show in where residents were born. Fewer than half, 46.0%, were born in Maryland, 10.4 percentage points below the US figure (56.4%). Another 17.8% were born elsewhere in the South (in the Census Bureau's regions the South includes Virginia, DC and Delaware) and 10.2%¹² in the Northeast, both well above the national shares.

No majority group, and a large Black population

In the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, 31.1% of Marylanders were Black (alone, including Black Hispanics). Only the District of Columbia (41.6%), Mississippi (36.8%), Georgia (32.4%) and Louisiana (32.1%) had higher shares; Maryland ranks 4th highest among the 50 states¹³. The 2025 survey counts 1,827,880¹⁴ Black residents; by number, the state ranks 7th largest¹⁵ (2020–2024 survey).

District of Columbia41.6%

Mississippi36.8%

Georgia32.4%

Louisiana32.1%

Maryland31.1%

Alabama25.9%

South Carolina24.4%

Delaware24.0%

North Carolina21.3%

Virginia19.5%

United States13.5%

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Period: July 1, 2025.

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State	Black alone
District of Columbia	41.6%
Mississippi	36.8%
Georgia	32.4%
Louisiana	32.1%
Maryland	31.1%
Alabama	25.9%
South Carolina	24.4%
Delaware	24.0%
North Carolina	21.3%
Virginia	19.5%
United States	13.5%

Non-Hispanic white residents are 44.2% of the population in the 2025 American Community Survey, down from 45.3% in 2024, so no single group is a majority. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race are 13.7%, up from 13.3% in 2024, and non-Hispanic Asian residents 7.3%, up from 6.9% in 2024².

Single group (adds to 100%)Alone or in combination with other races

White, not Hispanic44.2% 54.1%

Black, not Hispanic28.8% 32.2%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)13.7%

Asian, not Hispanic7.3% 9.0%

Two or more races, not Hispanic5.1%

Some other race, not Hispanic0.7%

American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic0.2% 2.2%

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic0.0% 0.2%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B03002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02009. The dark bars are mutually exclusive and add to 100%. The light bars count everyone who reported the race, alone or with another race and of any ethnicity, so they overlap and add to more than 100%.

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Group	Share (single group)	MOE	Alone or in combination
White, not Hispanic	44.2%	±0.1	54.1%
Black, not Hispanic	28.8%	±0.3	32.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	13.7%		–
Asian, not Hispanic	7.3%	±0.1	9.0%
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.1%	±0.3	–
Some other race, not Hispanic	0.7%	±0.1	–
American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic	0.2%		2.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic	0.0%		0.2%

The Census Bureau's diversity index, the chance that two people chosen at random belong to different groups, is 69.5 for Maryland, the 5th most diverse¹⁷ state. Maryland's Hispanic population also has its own profile: in 2020–2024, 5.9% of all residents were of Central American origin, against 2.0% nationally, while those of Mexican origin were 2.0%, 9.3 percentage points below the US figure (11.3%)¹⁸.

The highest shares of Nigerian, Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean ancestry

17.7% of Maryland residents were born abroad in 2025 (±0.4 percentage points), the 9th highest share. What sets the state apart is where they come from: 19.5% of Maryland's foreign-born residents were born in Africa, 13.6 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%)¹².

That shows in the ancestries people report. Using the 2020–2024 survey for every state, Maryland has the highest share of residents of Nigerian ancestry, the highest share of Ghanaian ancestry and the highest share of Sierra Leonean ancestry. It has the largest number of people of Ethiopian ancestry, a rank between 1st and 2nd¹⁹ given the survey's margins of error. Altogether, 278,462 Marylanders reported a sub-Saharan African ancestry in 2025, 4.4%²⁰ of the population.

People who speak Yoruba, Twi, Igbo or other West African languages at home make up 1.1% of residents aged 5 and older, the highest²² share of any state. Spanish remains the most common language after English, spoken at home by 10.3%²¹. Among Asian groups, Korean residents (0.76%²³) are the 6th highest²⁴ share in the country.

Immigration is also current, not only historical. In the federal 2024 fiscal year, 31,320 Maryland residents became lawful permanent residents (green-card holders), 5.0 per 1,000 residents, the 8th highest²⁶ rate. Another 20,590²⁵ became US citizens, a naturalization rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents, tied for 5th highest²⁷.

645.2 people per square mile on a small map

Maryland's land area, 9,711 square miles, is the 10th smallest of the 50 states and DC, and 21.7% of its total area is water, higher than every bordering state (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia)²⁹. With 6.3 million¹ residents on that land, Maryland has 645.2 people per square mile, the 6th most densely populated state and denser than Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia; less dense than the District of Columbia²⁸.

At the 2020 Census, 85.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 14.4% in rural ones, 5.6 percentage points below the US figure (20.0%)³⁰. This site covers states, so it does not break the population down by county or city.

Median age near the US, and fewer men than women

The median age is 39.9 years, 0.4 years above the US figure (39.5 years), the 23rd oldest³ of the 50 states and DC. The population is ageing all the same. Residents 65 and older numbered 1,149,859 in July 2025, up from 988,429 in 2020, and are now 18.4% of the population; the number of children under 18 fell to 1,336,867, down from 1,369,209 in 2020¹³.

MenWomenUnited States

MenWomen

85+

80–84

75–79

70–74

65–69

60–64

55–59

50–54

45–49

40–44

35–39

30–34

25–29

20–24

15–19

10–14

5–9

0–4

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Share of the total population in each age group. Vertical ticks: the United States.

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Age	Men (%)	Women (%)	US men (%)	US women (%)
0-4	2.79	2.68	2.76	2.65
5-9	2.99	2.88	2.96	2.83
10-14	3.12	2.98	3.08	2.95
15-19	3.29	3.14	3.31	3.16
20-24	3.17	3.07	3.43	3.28
25-29	3.23	3.23	3.46	3.37
30-34	3.23	3.41	3.41	3.38
35-39	3.41	3.64	3.38	3.40
40-44	3.27	3.53	3.21	3.27
45-49	2.93	3.19	2.93	3.03
50-54	2.79	3.09	2.83	2.96
55-59	2.90	3.27	2.86	3.02
60-64	3.00	3.41	2.96	3.21
65-69	2.65	3.11	2.75	3.08
70-74	2.09	2.60	2.26	2.64
75-79	1.57	2.06	1.71	2.08
80-84	0.93	1.32	1.00	1.32
85+	0.74	1.28	0.78	1.28

The balance of the sexes is more distinctive. Maryland had 92.7 males for every 100 females in July 2025, the 3rd lowest¹³ ratio in the country. The 2025 survey counts 244,613 more women and girls than men and boys (±7,859³¹). Women are also older on average: their median age is 41.3 years, against 38.5 years³ for men.

Incomes near the top, prices above average

Half of Maryland's households had income above $107,700 in 2025 (±$1,661), $22,920 (27%) above the US figure ($84,780). The point estimate is the 3rd highest, with a rank between 1st and 6th given the margins of error; the figure was not statistically different from $105,613 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)⁴. Median family income, $136,174, also ranks 3rd highest³². The lead sits in the upper bands: 22.4% of households had $200,000 or more, the 4th highest share, and 30.9% had from $100,000 up to $200,000. The share with $25,000 up to $50,000 is 4.6 percentage points below the US figure (15.4%), and the share with $50,000 up to $100,000 3.8 percentage points below the US figure (27.8%)³³.

MarylandUnited States

Under $25,00011.9% 14.0%

$25,000–$49,99910.8% 15.4%

$50,000–$99,99924.0% 27.8%

$100,000–$199,99930.9% 28.0%

$200,000 or more22.4% 14.8%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19001. Share of households in each band of income in the past 12 months, in 2025 dollars.

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Household income	Maryland	MOE	United States
Under $25,000	11.9%	±0.5	14.0%
$25,000–$49,999	10.8%	±0.4	15.4%
$50,000–$99,999	24.0%	±0.6	27.8%
$100,000–$199,999	30.9%	±0.7	28.0%
$200,000 or more	22.4%	±0.4	14.8%

Very high incomes are less common than nationally. Returns reporting $1 million or more were 4.3 per 1,000 tax returns in 2023, 14% below the US figure (5.0 per 1,000 tax returns), and they took 11.9% of all income reported, 4.7 percentage points below the US figure (16.6%)³⁴. Income is also less unequal than in most states: the Gini index is 0.459, 5% below the US figure (0.482)³⁵.

Poverty is low. The official rate was 9.6% (±0.4 percentage points), 2.2 percentage points below the US figure (11.8%), and the share of people below twice the poverty line, 20.2%, is tied for 3rd lowest³⁶ among the 50 states and DC. The child poverty rate, however, rose to 12.0%, up from 10.6% in 2024⁵.

Prices take back part of the income lead. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts Maryland's 2024 price level at 105.0 (US = 100), the 8th most expensive, with rents at 121.1. Personal income per person, $82,387 in 2025, ranks 11th highest³⁸. Adjusted for prices, the 2024 figure was $61,111, $1,916 (3%) above the US figure ($59,195), which ranks 16th highest³⁷ rather than near the top. The median gross rent is $1,822³⁹ a month and the median home value $445,800⁴⁰.

Large Jewish and Muslim congregations

Maryland has some of the largest Jewish and Muslim congregational communities relative to its size. In the 2020 U.S. Religion Census synagogues counted 77,368 members, 1.25% of residents, the 4th highest share; the mosque study estimated 188,914 people taking part in mosques, 3.06%, also the 4th highest⁴². Neither figure is an estimate of the full Jewish or Muslim population.

Among Christians, the Catholic Church is the largest body (14.7%), and historically Black Protestant churches counted 3.5%, the 10th highest share. Christian congregations together counted 38.2%⁴² of residents. All of these are lists kept by congregations; see religion across the states.

Graduate degrees common, associate degrees rare

21.8% of adults 25 and older hold a master's, professional or doctoral degree, the 3rd highest share and 6.8 percentage points above the US figure (15.0%); 3.2% have a doctorate. The share with at least a bachelor's degree reached 45.5% (±0.6 percentage points), up from 44.7% in 2024⁴³, and has risen from 34.5%⁴⁴ in 2005.

The other end of higher education is thin. Only 6.7% of adults have an associate degree as their highest qualification, tied for 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (between 49th and 50th). The share with at least a high school diploma, 91.9%, is 1.3 percentage points above the US figure (90.6%)⁴³.

District of Columbia38.7% ±1.7

Maryland21.8% ±0.4

Virginia20.1% ±0.3

Delaware17.5% ±1.0

Pennsylvania15.2% ±0.3

United States15.0% ±0.1

West Virginia9.9% ±0.5

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B15003. Whiskers show the 90% margin of error. Period: 2025.

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State	Graduate or professional degree	MOE
District of Columbia	38.7%	±1.7
Maryland	21.8%	±0.4
Virginia	20.1%	±0.3
Delaware	17.5%	±1.0
Pennsylvania	15.2%	±0.3
United States	15.0%	±0.1
West Virginia	9.9%	±0.5

The longest commute in the country

Maryland workers spent an average of 33.7 minutes getting to work one way in 2025 (±0.5 minutes), the longest of any state and 6.3 minutes above the US figure (27.4 minutes). New York, at 33.5 minutes, is close enough that Maryland's rank lies between 1st and 2nd. The commute is longer than every bordering state (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia)⁴⁵, and 15.7% of workers travel an hour or more, 6.2 percentage points above the US figure (9.5%)⁴⁶.

MarylandUnited States

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.

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Year	Maryland	United States
2005	30.8 ±0.4	25.1
2006	30.6 ±0.3	25.0
2007	31.1 ±0.4	25.3
2008	31.5 ±0.4	25.5 ±0.1
2009	31.3 ±0.4	25.1 ±0.1
2010	31.8 ±0.4	25.3 ±0.1
2011	32.2 ±0.4	25.5 ±0.1
2012	31.9 ±0.3	25.7 ±0.1
2013	32.5 ±0.4	25.8 ±0.1
2014	32.3 ±0.3	26.0 ±0.1
2015	32.6 ±0.3	26.4 ±0.1
2016	32.8 ±0.3	26.6 ±0.1
2017	33.3 ±0.3	26.9 ±0.1
2018	33.3 ±0.3	27.1 ±0.1
2019	33.7 ±0.4	27.6 ±0.1
2021	29.3 ±0.5	25.6 ±0.1
2022	30.8 ±0.5	26.4 ±0.1
2023	31.4 ±0.5	26.8 ±0.1
2024	32.3 ±0.5	27.2 ±0.1
2025	33.7 ±0.6	27.4 ±0.1

The average was 30.8 minutes in 2005 and 33.7 minutes in 2019. It fell to 29.3 minutes in 2021, when 24.0%⁴⁴ of workers worked from home, and has since climbed back to the 2019 level, while home working dropped to 13.7%. Public transport carries 5.5% of commuters, the 6th highest⁴⁷ share.

A larger share of adults works than nationally: the Bureau of Labor Statistics put labor force participation at 64.5% in 2025, 2.1 percentage points above the US figure (62.4%), and unemployment at 4.0%, 0.3 percentage points below the US figure (4.3%)⁴⁸.

Families, health and veterans

Maryland households are larger than average, 2.53 people on average, tied for 9th largest⁴⁹ among the states. 36.9% of people 15 and older have never married, the 7th highest⁵⁰ share, and families headed by a woman with no spouse present make up 13.7% of households, a share ranked between 4th and 12th⁵¹ among the states.

On the CDC's 2022 life tables, a Marylander could expect to live 77.8 years from birth, 0.3 years above the US figure (77.5 years)⁵². 6.6% of residents had no health insurance in 2025, 1.8 percentage points below the US figure (8.4%)⁵³. The age-adjusted drug overdose death rate in 2024, 26.9 per 100,000, age-adjusted, was 16% above the US figure (23.1 per 100,000, age-adjusted)⁵⁴.

Veterans are 6.6% of civilian adults, 0.7 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%). More of them served recently than nationally: 40.9% served after September 2001, 9.5 percentage points above the US figure (31.4%)⁵⁶, and 17.5% are women, 6.1 percentage points above the US figure (11.4%)⁵⁵.