Population
West Virginia has a population of 1,780,000 as of 2026, making it the #39 most populous state in the United States.
West Virginia Rankings
Where West Virginia places in every state-level dataset StatsPanda tracks. Each row opens the full ranking.
West Virginia Population Clock
These statistics show the estimated changes to West Virginia's population based on birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns from US Census Bureau data.
One birth every — seconds
One death every — seconds
One net departure every — seconds
Net change every — seconds
| West Virginia Population (as of 7/14/2026) | 1,780,000 |
| Births per day | 50 |
| Deaths per day | 60 |
| Net migrations per day | -5 |
| Net population change per day | -15 |
| Population change since Jan 1st | — |
Demographics
The racial composition of West Virginia includes 91.43% White, 3.41% Black or African American, 0.76% Asian, 0.53% other race, and smaller percentages for Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.
Population by Race
Why is Hispanic separate? Following U.S. Census methodology, Hispanic or Latino origin is an ethnicity, not a race — people of Hispanic origin may be of any race. “All” shows the racial breakdown; the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic views show ethnicity, so the two groupings overlap rather than adding up to 100%.
| Race | Population ↓ | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,627,486 | 91.43% |
| Two or more races | 66,421 | 3.73% |
| Black or African American | 60,784 | 3.41% |
| Asian | 13,504 | 0.76% |
| Other race | 9,435 | 0.53% |
| Native American | 1,717 | 0.10% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 652 | 0.04% |
West Virginia Marital Status
Population by Age and Gender
Median Age
Geography
West Virginia's population has seen modest growth in recent years. According to the latest census data from 2010, there were 1,852,994 people living in West Virginia at that time. This represented a 2.5% increase from the 2000 census, when the state population stood at 1,808,344. Though not a rapidly expanding state, West Virginia has maintained steady population growth over the past couple of decades. It will be interesting to see where the numbers stand when new census data is collected for 2020. This should give further insight into demographic trends in this geographically isolated but scenic state.
Economics and Income Statistics
West Virginia's average per capita income is $31,462. Household income levels show a median of $55,217. The poverty rate stands at 16.80%.
Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.
Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.
Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.
| Name | Median ↓ | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Married Families | $71,678 | $91,748 |
| Families | $71,678 | $94,615 |
| Households | $55,217 | — |
| Non Families | $31,167 | $44,257 |
Income & Poverty
Largest Cities in West Virginia
The largest city in West Virginia is Charleston with a population of 46,636.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | 46,636 |
| 2 | Huntington | 46,048 |
| 3 | Morgantown | 30,455 |
| 4 | Parkersburg | 29,838 |
| 5 | Wheeling | 27,062 |
| 6 | Weirton | 19,082 |
| 7 | Fairmont | 18,504 |
| 8 | Martinsburg | 17,927 |
| 9 | Beckley | 17,116 |
| 10 | Clarksburg | 16,030 |
Population by County
West Virginia's population shows distinct regional patterns, with the most populous counties concentrated in metropolitan areas. The most dramatic growth is occurring in suburban areas, while rural and some urban areas show more mixed trends.
Counties in West Virginia →Population by County
Population Growth by County
Population Density by County
Research Papers Related to West Virginia
Sources
Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.
Detailed demographic and economic data for West Virginia.
Quick access to state-level statistics and comparisons.
Data Methodology
Population totals are sourced from the latest available US Census Bureau data. Totals for the current year are projected using each state's USCB data and previous year population growth rate. Growth rates are calculated based on births, deaths, and net migration estimates.