Virginia population: growth, rural share, race and veterans

Virginia's 8,880,107 residents on July 1, 2025 make up 2.60% of the US population. The state is larger than the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee and West Virginia; smaller than North Carolina¹, and its population of 8,631,393⁶ at the 2020 Census earned it 11⁹ seats in the House of Representatives, the same number as after the 2010 count. These figures cover the whole state; this site does not publish numbers for Richmond, Virginia Beach or other cities and counties.

Largest state in 1790, steady in rank since 1990

At the first census in 1790, Virginia's 691,737 inhabitants, counted within today's state borders, ranked 1st of 18 among the present states. It was still 1st of 25 in 1800. Over the next century other states grew much faster, and by 1910 Virginia had slipped to 20th of 51¹⁰, where it stayed through 1930.

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	Virginia
1790	691,737
1800	807,557
1810	877,683
1820	938,261
1830	1,044,054
1840	1,025,227
1850	1,119,348
1860	1,219,630
1870	1,225,163
1880	1,512,565
1890	1,655,980
1900	1,854,184
1910	2,061,612
1920	2,309,187
1930	2,421,851
1940	2,677,773
1950	3,318,680
1960	3,966,949
1970	4,648,494
1980	5,346,818
1990	6,187,358
2000	7,078,515
2010	8,001,024
2020	8,631,393
2021	8,660,007
2022	8,681,038
2023	8,732,034
2024	8,819,642
2025	8,880,107

The climb back gathered pace after 1940. The 1950 count of 3,318,680 put Virginia 15th of 51, and the state has been 12th of 51¹⁰ at every census since 1990. Today's population is 2.7 times the 1950 count. Each year since 2000 has set a new high in the annual estimates, from 7,105,817¹¹ in 2000 to 8,880,107¹ in 2025.

What percentage of Virginia is rural

At the 2020 Census, 24.4% of Virginians lived in rural areas, 4.4 percentage points above the US figure (20.0%). The Census Bureau classes as urban the densely settled territory that meets its housing and population thresholds; everything else is rural. Virginia's rural share is higher than the District of Columbia and Maryland; lower than Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia¹².

West Virginia55.4%

Kentucky41.3%

Tennessee33.8%

North Carolina33.3%

Virginia24.4%

United States20.0%

Maryland14.4%

District of Columbia0.0%

Source: Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state. Period: April 1, 2020.

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State	Rural population (%)
West Virginia	55.4%
Kentucky	41.3%
Tennessee	33.8%
North Carolina	33.3%
Virginia	24.4%
United States	20.0%
Maryland	14.4%
District of Columbia	0.0%

Density points the other way. With 224.9 people per square mile, Virginia is the 15th most densely populated state, 133% above the US figure (96.7 people per square mile) and denser than Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia; less dense than the District of Columbia, Maryland and North Carolina¹³. Both hold at once: Virginia is more densely settled than most states, yet a larger share of its people live outside urban areas than in the country as a whole.

Growth since 2020: births and immigrants, not other states

Between April 2020 and June 2025, Virginia recorded 68,140 more births than deaths, higher than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia). Net international migration added 207,685, the 11th highest figure among the states. Exchanges with the rest of the country went the other way: −29,169 net, making Virginia one of 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, that lost more residents to other states than they gained between April 2020 and June 2025¹.

The domestic loss is concentrated in the early years. Net domestic migration was −26,089 in the year to June 2022 and −8,117 the year after. The balance then turned slightly positive, to 2,461 in 2024 and 6,268¹ in 2025.

In the year to July 2025 the population grew by 60,465, the 9th highest numeric gain of any state. Of that gain, 67% came from abroad, 23% from natural increase and 10% from other states. Net international migration fell from 69,854 in 2024 to 40,436 in 2025, as it did nationally. Relative to its size, Virginia's net international migration of 4.6 per 1,000 residents was 24% above the US figure (3.7 per 1,000 residents)¹.

Many arrivals, as many departures

The net figures hide a large two-way flow. The Census Bureau's 2024 survey of movers found 265,444 people (±13,701) who had moved to Virginia from another state in the past year, and 263,833 (±16,711) who had left Virginia for another state. Both totals rank between 5th and 7th among the states. The difference between them, 1,611, is far smaller than its margin of error of ±21,610¹⁴.

Moved to Virginia from

Maryland25,183 ±4,200

Florida24,818 ±3,909

North Carolina22,757 ±3,383

California20,180 ±4,162

New York16,364 ±3,786

Texas15,476 ±4,016

Pennsylvania15,246 ±3,605

South Carolina12,665 ±2,634

Left Virginia for

Florida28,901 ±6,694

North Carolina28,409 ±5,573

Maryland28,004 ±5,694

California18,100 ±4,368

Texas17,996 ±4,841

New York10,310 ±2,359

Georgia10,298 ±3,734

Ohio9,082 ±2,897

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
Maryland	25,183 ±4,200	28,004 ±5,694
Florida	24,818 ±3,909	28,901 ±6,694
North Carolina	22,757 ±3,383	28,409 ±5,573
California	20,180 ±4,162	18,100 ±4,368
New York	16,364 ±3,786	10,310 ±2,359
Texas	15,476 ±4,016	17,996 ±4,841
Pennsylvania	15,246 ±3,605	8,597 ±2,499
South Carolina	12,665 ±2,634	8,638 ±2,406
Georgia	–	10,298 ±3,734
Ohio	–	9,082 ±2,897

Tax records tell the same story. IRS migration data for 2022–23 count 230,220 people on returns moving in and 230,262 moving out, a net change of −42. Income moved more unevenly: households that left reported $12.1 billion in adjusted gross income and those that arrived $11.2 billion, a net outflow of −$912 million¹⁵.

Constant turnover leaves a population with many people born elsewhere. Only 47.8% of residents were born in Virginia, 8.6 percentage points below the US figure (56.4%) and 15th lowest among the states. Another 36.1% were born in another state. The share born in the Northeast, 10.5%, is 4.2 percentage points above the US figure (6.3%)¹⁶. In 2025, 3.2% of residents had lived in a different state one year earlier, 1.1 percentage points above the US figure (2.1%)¹⁷.

What percent of Virginia is Black, white, Hispanic and Asian

Virginia's Black population is larger, relative to its size, than in most states. Non-Hispanic Black residents make up 17.9%, 6.2 percentage points above the US figure (11.7%)². Counting everyone who reported Black alone or with another race gives 21.0%, the 10th highest¹⁸ share. The Census Bureau's population estimates put the Black alone share at 19.5% in July 2025, unchanged from 19.5% in 2020¹⁹.

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

White, not Hispanic56.0% 67.9%

Black, not Hispanic17.9% 21.0%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)11.9%

Asian, not Hispanic7.6% 9.9%

Two or more races, not Hispanic5.7%

Some other race, not Hispanic0.6%

American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic0.2% 2.1%

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic0.1% 0.3%

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	56.0%	±0.1	67.9%
Black, not Hispanic	17.9%	±0.2	21.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	11.9%		–
Asian, not Hispanic	7.6%	±0.1	9.9%
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.7%	±0.2	–
Some other race, not Hispanic	0.6%	±0.1	–
American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic	0.2%		2.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic	0.1%		0.3%

The non-Hispanic white share was 56.0% in 2025, down from 57.4% in 2024². The population estimates, a separate series, put it at 57.0% in July 2025, down from 59.4% in 2020, and the Hispanic share at 12.0%, up from 10.6% in 2020¹⁹. Virginia's Hispanic population is unusual in its origins. People of Central American origin make up 4.0% of all residents (2020–2024), 2.0 percentage points above the US figure (2.0%), while the Mexican-origin share, 2.4%, is 8.9 percentage points below the US figure (11.3%)²⁰.

Asian Virginians alone or in combination with another race are 9.9% of the population, the 7th highest share and higher than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia)²¹. The largest group is Asian Indian, at 186,399²² people alone in 2025. Virginia has the 5th largest Korean population and the 6th largest²³ Vietnamese population of any state, by 2020–2024 counts.

Veterans: the second-highest share

In 2025, 9.0% (±0.2 percentage points) of Virginia's civilian adults were veterans, 3.1 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%). Only Alaska, at 9.7%, had a higher share, and given the margins of error Virginia ranks between 1st and 3rd. The count, 623,047, is the 5th highest²⁵ of any state.

Alaska9.7% ±0.7

Virginia9.0% ±0.2

Montana8.6% ±0.5

Wyoming8.2% ±0.7

South Carolina8.0% ±0.2

New Mexico7.8% ±0.4

South Dakota7.8% ±0.5

Hawaii7.7% ±0.4

Maine7.6% ±0.4

Oklahoma7.6% ±0.2

United States5.9%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B21001. Whiskers show the 90% margin of error; states whose whiskers overlap may not differ significantly. Period: 2025.

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State	Veterans, share of civilian adults	MOE
Alaska	9.7%	±0.7
Virginia	9.0%	±0.2
Montana	8.6%	±0.5
Wyoming	8.2%	±0.7
South Carolina	8.0%	±0.2
New Mexico	7.8%	±0.4
South Dakota	7.8%	±0.5
Hawaii	7.7%	±0.4
Maine	7.6%	±0.4
Oklahoma	7.6%	±0.2
United States	5.9%

Virginia's veterans served more recently, and are more often women, than veterans nationally. Those who served after September 2001 make up 43.7% of the state's veterans, 12.3 percentage points above the US figure (31.4%), and those who served in the Gulf War era of the 1990s 36.6%, 11.0 percentage points above the US figure (25.6%). Service periods overlap, so these shares cannot be added. Vietnam-era veterans are 24.4%, 6.5 percentage points below the US figure (30.9%)²⁶. Women are 16.1% of veterans, 4.7 percentage points above the US figure (11.4%)²⁵. VA health care covers 2.3% of all residents, 0.6 percentage points above the US figure (1.7%)²⁷.

VirginiaUnited 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	Virginia	United States
2010	12.3% ±0.2	9.3% ±0.0
2011	12.0% ±0.2	9.1% ±0.0
2012	11.7% ±0.2	8.9% ±0.0
2013	10.9% ±0.2	8.1% ±0.0
2014	10.9% ±0.2	7.9% ±0.0
2015	10.8% ±0.2	7.6% ±0.0
2016	10.4% ±0.2	7.4% ±0.0
2017	10.6% ±0.2	7.3% ±0.0
2018	10.3% ±0.2	7.1% ±0.0
2019	10.0% ±0.2	6.9% ±0.0
2021	9.7% ±0.2	6.4% ±0.0
2022	9.2% ±0.2	6.2% ±0.0
2023	9.1% ±0.2	6.1% ±0.0
2024	8.9% ±0.2	5.9% ±0.0
2025	9.0% ±0.2	5.9% ±0.0

The veteran share has been well above the national level in every year shown. It was 12.3% in 2010, when the national figure was 9.3%²⁸.

Age and sex: at the national median

Virginia's median age, 39.5 years, is not statistically different from the US figure (39.5 years)³. The age mix is shifting. The number of residents aged 65 and older rose to 1,633,891 in 2025, up from 1,401,688 in 2020, and their share of the population reached 18.4%, up from 16.2% in 2020. Children under 18 numbered 1,860,305, down from 1,898,564 in 2020¹⁹.

There are 95.6 males for every 100 females, 1% below the US figure (96.4)¹⁹. The 2025 survey counted 195,849 more women and girls than men and boys (±14,274²⁹).

High incomes, prices close to the US average

The median household income in Virginia was $99,322 in 2025 (±$1,105), $14,542 (17%) above the US figure ($84,780). After adjusting for inflation it was up from $94,513 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars), a statistically significant gain. Allowing for the survey's margins of error, the state ranks between 9th and 13th⁴. Median family income, $123,623, is $18,522 (18%) above the US figure ($105,101)³⁰.

VirginiaUnited States

Under $25,00011.7% 14.0%

$25,000–$49,99912.8% 15.4%

$50,000–$99,99925.8% 27.8%

$100,000–$199,99929.9% 28.0%

$200,000 or more19.8% 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	Virginia	MOE	United States
Under $25,000	11.7%	±0.4	14.0%
$25,000–$49,999	12.8%	±0.4	15.4%
$50,000–$99,999	25.8%	±0.5	27.8%
$100,000–$199,999	29.9%	±0.5	28.0%
$200,000 or more	19.8%	±0.4	14.8%

The distribution leans toward the top. 19.8% of households had income of $200,000 or more, 5.0 percentage points above the US figure (14.8%), while 11.7%³¹ had less than $25,000. Incomes are less concentrated than nationally: the Gini index of 0.469 is 3% below the US figure (0.482)³², and returns reporting $1 million or more held 12.5% of all income reported in 2023, against 16.6%³³ nationally.

Prices barely offset the income advantage. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts Virginia's price level at 101.1 for 2024 (US = 100), 1% above the US figure (100.0); rents are pricier (106.8) and utilities cheaper (92.2). After adjusting for prices, personal income per person was $61,914, $2,719 (5%) above the US figure ($59,195)³⁴.

The poverty rate was 9.4% (±0.4 percentage points), 2.4 percentage points below the US figure (11.8%) and lower than the District of Columbia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia; not statistically different from Maryland. Poverty among residents 65 and older, 9.1%⁵, and deep poverty, 4.8%³⁵, are both lower than in every bordering state. The Supplemental Poverty Measure, which counts taxes, benefits and local housing costs, averaged 10.6%³⁶ over 2023 to 2025. SNAP food benefits reached 9.2% of residents in fiscal 2025, lower than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia)³⁷.

Christian and Muslim congregations

Asked what percent of Virginia is Christian, the U.S. Religion Census, which counts congregations rather than surveying residents, gives 43.0% for 2020. Evangelical Protestant churches are the largest tradition (20.3%) and the Southern Baptist Convention has the most congregations, 2,030, though the Catholic Church counts the most adherents (10.3%³⁸ of residents).

The mosque study estimated 169,371 people taking part in Virginia's mosques, 1.96% of residents, the 7th highest share; it measures mosque participation, not the whole Muslim population. In all, 46.0% of Virginians were counted by a congregation, higher than Maryland and West Virginia; lower than the District of Columbia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee³⁸ (about the source).

Graduate degrees: among the highest shares

44.7% of Virginians aged 25 and older held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2025 (±0.5 percentage points), 7.3 percentage points above the US figure (37.4%) and up from 43.3% in 2024. The state ranks between 5th and 7th³⁹. In 2005 the share was 33.2%²⁸.

The gap is widest at the graduate level. 20.1% of adults have a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 5.1 percentage points above the US figure (15.0%) and tied for 4th highest among the states, behind the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Maryland³⁹.

District of Columbia38.7% ±1.7

Maryland21.8% ±0.4

Virginia20.1% ±0.3

United States15.0% ±0.1

North Carolina14.8% ±0.3

Tennessee12.4% ±0.3

Kentucky12.1% ±0.4

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
United States	15.0%	±0.1
North Carolina	14.8%	±0.3
Tennessee	12.4%	±0.3
Kentucky	12.1%	±0.4
West Virginia	9.9%	±0.5

At the other end, 92.6% of adults finished high school, 2.0 percentage points above the US figure (90.6%)³⁹. In public schools, 89% of students who started high school in fall 2018 graduated within four years, against 87%⁴⁰ nationally.

Immigrants from Asia and Africa, and the languages they speak

Virginia had 1,238,730 foreign-born residents in 2025, the 10th highest number of any state. They are 13.9% of the population, 0.8 percentage points below the US figure (14.7%). Where they come from sets Virginia apart: 43.5% were born in Asia (11.6 percentage points above the US figure (31.9%)) and 11.0% in Africa (5.1 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%)), while the Latin American share, 35.5%, is 14.8 percentage points below the US figure (50.3%)¹⁶.

Many settle for good. 59.0% of the foreign born are naturalized citizens, 5.1 percentage points above the US figure (53.9%)¹⁶. In fiscal 2024, 37,850 people became lawful permanent residents in Virginia and 24,830 became citizens, both the 7th highest⁴¹ totals among the states.

18.5% of residents aged 5 and older speak a language other than English at home, 4.4 percentage points below the US figure (22.9%). Spanish leads, at 685,932⁴² speakers. Behind it the list is unusual. By 2020–2024 estimates, Virginia has the 2nd highest share of Persian speakers, including Farsi and Dari, and of Urdu speakers among the states, and the 3rd highest⁴⁴ share of Arabic speakers. 5.9% of residents speak English less than "very well", 2.6 percentage points below the US figure (8.5%)⁴³.

Households, housing and health

Married couples head 49.1% of Virginia households, 2.5 percentage points above the US figure (46.6%) and higher than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia)⁴⁵.

Homes cost more than in most of the country. The median owner-occupied home was valued at $422,600, $51,500 (14%) above the US figure ($371,100)⁴⁶, and the median gross rent was $1,734, the 11th most expensive⁴⁷ among the states. 67.9% of households own their home, 2.6 percentage points above the US figure (65.3%)⁴⁸. Among owners with a mortgage, 27.2% spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing, 3.5 percentage points below the US figure (30.7%)⁴⁹.

HUD's January 2025 count found 7,240 people experiencing homelessness, 8.2 per 10,000 residents, the 5th lowest rate and lower than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia). Of them, 18.6% were unsheltered, against 35.7%⁵⁰ nationally.

Life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2022, the same as the US figure (77.5 years)⁵². 6.9% of residents had no health insurance in 2025, 1.5 percentage points below the US figure (8.4%)⁵¹. Medicaid and CHIP covered 1,648,992 people in June 2026, 18.6% of the population and lower than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia)⁵⁵. The infant mortality rate in 2024 was 6.0 per 1,000 live births, 8% above the US figure (5.5 per 1,000 live births); the drug overdose death rate, 17.6 per 100,000, age-adjusted, was 24% below the US figure (23.1 per 100,000, age-adjusted)⁵³.

Work and the commute

Virginia's unemployment rate averaged 3.4% in 2025, 0.9 percentage points below the US figure (4.3%) and lower than every bordering state (the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia); in September 2026 it was 3.6%⁵⁶.

Commutes run longer than average. The average one-way trip to work took 28.2 minutes, 0.8 minutes above the US figure (27.4 minutes), and Virginia ranks between 9th and 14th⁵⁷ on this measure. 13.9% of workers mostly worked from home in 2025, 1.0 percentage points above the US figure (12.9%) but down from 15.8% in 2024⁵⁸.