757,992
Seattle is a city located in King County Washington. Seattle has a 2024 population of 757,992. It is also the county seat of King County. Seattle is currently growing at a rate of 0.58% annually and its population has increased by 2.36% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 740,520 in 2020.
The average household income in Seattle is $161,694 with a poverty rate of 10.09%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Seattle is 35.4 years, 35.1 years for males, and 35.6 years for females.
Seattle, located in the state of Washington, is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and one of the fastest growing areas in the country. At the last census in 2010, the Emerald City had a population of 608,660. The Seattle metropolitan area has more than 3.5 million inhabitants, making it the 15th largest metro area in the country.
Seattle has grown from just 1,150 people in 1870 to an estimated population of 659,000 in 2014. The Seattle metropolitan area, however, has a population of around 3.5 million people. This is more than half of Washington state's total population. The Seattle metro area includes the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metro division and the Tacoma metro division.
Seattle Diversity and Population Statistics
Seattle has historically had a mostly white population. While Seattle's percentage of white residents is lower than the United States as a whole and declining, it is still one of the whitest large cities in the U.S. From 1960 to 2010, the percentage of whites in Seattle has dropped from 91.6% to 66.5%.
According to an American Community Survey, people who speak Asian languages at home account for 10% of the population, followed by Spanish at 4.5%.
Seattle's foreign-born population has increased by 40% in ten years. Of the Asian population, 4.1% are Chinese with origins in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Seattle also has a large Vietnamese community with more than 30,000 Somali immigrants. The Seattle metro area is also home to one of the largest Samoan populations in the mainland United States.
There is also a large lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population in Seattle, which is one of the highest per capita in the country. 12.9% of Seattle citizens identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, just behind San Francisco.
Seattle Population Growth
Seattle has been undergoing a population boom over the last decade and, according to recent Census data, it had the 14th largest population increase in the country, adding more than 12,600 residents between 2011 and 2012.
Seattle has struggled with its population growth, and it has experienced trouble creating space for more residents. Planners in 2006 projected the population would grow an additional 200,000 by 2040, and work has been underway to construct apartment buildings to house new residents. Since 2009, the downtown area alone has experienced a growth of 77% in twenty years.
By 2040, the larger Seattle area is expected to grow by 1.7 million people, with a total of 782,00 in Seattle proper by 2040.
The Seattle area was inhabited by Native Americans for about 4,000 years before the first European settlements. The first European to visit the area was George Vancouver in 1792 during an expedition to chart the region. In 1851, members of the Denny Party founded the village of Dewamps, which was later renamed Seattle after Chief Sealth of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. Seattle was incorporated in 1865.
Seattle's early history experienced many boom-and-bust cycles like other areas near natural and mineral resources. The first boom covered the lumber industry, although there were tensions between management and labor and ethnic tensions culminating in the anti-Chinese riots of the late 19th century. The Klondike Gold Rush caused the second boom and bust. After this, Seattle became a major center for transportation. It was during this time that American Messenger Company (which became UPS) was founded in the area. There was also a shipbuilding boom during World War I that nearly turned Seattle into a company town.
Today, Seattle's economy is more diverse and involves several major technology companies -- including Nintendo of America and Amazon.com -- and biomedical corporations like Eli Lily and Company and Boston Scientific. Seattle now ranks high for the quality of living, sanitation, crime, recreation, and public services.
Seattle Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Seattle was:
- White: 63.62%
- Asian: 16.84%
- Two or more races: 9.4%
- Black or African American: 6.74%
- Other race: 2.62%
- Native American: 0.56%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.22%
State
Washington
County
King County
Land Area (mi²)
83.9
sq mi
Density (mi²)
9,038.60
/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
2.36% (
17,472
)
The current population of Seattle, Washington is 757,992 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 740,520.
Seattle, Washington Population 2024
Population by Race
White
Asian
Two or more races
Black or African American
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Seattle Population by Race
Seattle Population Pyramid 2024
Seattle Median Age
35.4
Total
35.1
Male
35.6
Female
Seattle Adults
There are 631,672 adults, (93,751 of whom are seniors) in Seattle.
Seattle Age Dependency
36.6
Age Dependency Ratio
17.4
Old Age Dependency Ratio
19.1
Child Dependency Ratio
Seattle Sex Ratio
| Female | 359,041 | 48.88% |
| Male | 375,562 | 51.12% |
Seattle Population by Age
Seattle Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 345,246 | 2.05 | 44.5 | 55.5 |
| Non Family | 196,112 | 1.4 | 27.2 | 72.8 |
| Married | 120,103 | 2.89 | 71.7 | 28.3 |
| Female | 19,784 | 2.96 | 48.5 | 51.5 |
| Male | 9,247 | 2.97 | 47.9 | 52.1 |
2.81
Average Family Size
2.05
Average Household Size
44.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Seattle Households and Families
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Seattle Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Seattle Educational Attainment by Race
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 98.37%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 71.9%.
Seattle Educational Attainment by Race
All
Male
Female
$78,127
Average Earnings
$90,139
Average Male
$68,383
Average Female
Seattle Earnings by Educational Attainment
Seattle Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Seattle Language
77.12% of Seattle residents speak only English, while 22.88% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 10.57% of the population.
Seattle Language
Seattle Poverty by Race
rate
10.09%
Overall Poverty Rate
9.37%
Male Poverty Rate
10.85%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Seattle
The race most likely to be in poverty in Seattle is Black, with 24.17% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Seattle is Islander, with 5.17% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.08%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.29%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.93%.
Seattle Poverty
rate
Download Table Data
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 36.12% |
| High School | 16.96% |
| Some College | 12.82% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 3.86% |
Seattle Poverty Rate by Education
rate
Seattle Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Seattle Income by Household Type
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
mean
median
Income by Household Type
Seattle Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
40.0%
Overall Marriage Rate
40.4%
Male Marriage Rate
39.6%
Female Marriage Rate
Seattle Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Seattle Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Seattle Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Seattle Marital Status
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
Seattle Veterans by War
Seattle Veterans by Age
Seattle Veterans by Race
Seattle Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.45%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.13%
Veteran Disability Rate
Seattle Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
73.9%
Labor Force Participation
70.6%
Employment Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
Seattle Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Seattle Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Seattle Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
35.48%
Born in Seattle
80.16%
Native Born
19.84%
Foreign Born
10.66%
Non Citizen
9.18%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
80.16% of Seattle residents were born in the United States, with 35.48% having been born in Washington. 10.66% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Seattle Place of Birth
Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 779,832 | 4,368 | 0.56% |
| 2028 | 775,464 | 4,368 | 0.57% |
| 2027 | 771,096 | 4,368 | 0.57% |
| 2026 | 766,728 | 4,368 | 0.57% |
| 2025 | 762,360 | 4,368 | 0.58% |
| 2024 | 757,992 | 4,368 | 0.58% |
| 2023 | 753,624 | 4,368 | 0.58% |
| 2022 | 749,256 | 17,749 | 2.43% |
| 2021 | 731,507 | -9,013 | -1.22% |
| 2020 | 740,520 | -12,771 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 753,291 | 10,402 | 1.4% |
| 2018 | 742,889 | 13,245 | 1.82% |
| 2017 | 729,644 | 18,957 | 2.67% |
| 2016 | 710,687 | 22,440 | 3.26% |
| 2015 | 688,247 | 17,351 | 2.59% |
| 2014 | 670,896 | 16,596 | 2.54% |
| 2013 | 654,300 | 17,743 | 2.79% |
| 2012 | 636,557 | 13,427 | 2.15% |
| 2011 | 623,130 | 12,476 | 2.04% |
| 2010 | 610,654 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 563,374 | 47,115 | 9.13% |
| 1990 | 516,259 | 22,413 | 4.54% |
| 1980 | 493,846 | -36,985 | -6.97% |
| 1970 | 530,831 | -26,256 | -4.71% |
| 1960 | 557,087 | 89,496 | 19.14% |
| 1950 | 467,591 | 99,289 | 26.96% |
| 1940 | 368,302 | 2,719 | 0.74% |
| 1930 | 365,583 | 50,271 | 15.94% |
| 1920 | 315,312 | 78,118 | 32.93% |
| 1910 | 237,194 | 156,523 | 194.03% |
| 1900 | 80,671 | 37,834 | 88.32% |
| 1890 | 42,837 | 39,304 | 1112.48% |
| 1880 | 3,533 | 2,433 | 221.18% |
| 1870 | 1,100 | -778,732 | -99.86% |
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