State
Mississippi
Mississippi. Mississippi had 2,954,160 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 427 places (300 incorporated and 127 census-designated) in 82 counties; 46,925 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
2,954,160
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,961,279
Median household income
$56,447
±$539 (90% margin)
Median home value
$169,800
±$1,198 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$954
±$8 (90% margin)
How many people live in Mississippi?
The 2020 Census counted 2,961,279 residents in Mississippi. The Census Bureau estimates 2,954,160 for July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 56.2% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
Mississippi is the 35th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,946,779 | −37,639 |
| Households | 1,145,431 ±4,267 | +41,037 |
| Average household size | 2.49 ±0.01 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 1,341,114 ±478 | +18,306 |
Mississippi's population since 2000
From 2,844,658 in 2000 to 2,954,160 in 2025: up 3.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Mississippi?
Jackson is Mississippi's largest place with 141,196 residents in 2025, followed by Gulfport (76,506 residents in 2025) and Southaven (57,819 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | 141,196 | $42,071 |
| Gulfport | 76,506 | $49,919 |
| Southaven | 57,819 | $78,483 |
| Hattiesburg | 48,802 | $46,342 |
| Biloxi | 48,516 | $57,204 |
| Olive Branch | 47,563 | $100,606 |
| Tupelo | 38,087 | $66,257 |
| Meridian | 33,370 | $36,562 |
| Pearl | 28,864 | $61,695 |
| Madison | 28,575 | $119,338 |
| Oxford | 26,773 | $64,451 |
| Horn Lake | 26,741 | $53,311 |
| Clinton | 26,640 | $74,745 |
| Greenville | 26,530 | $40,083 |
| Brandon | 26,122 | $92,783 |
| Starkville | 25,754 | $42,125 |
| Ridgeland | 24,750 | $66,038 |
| Columbus | 22,792 | $42,235 |
| Pascagoula | 21,409 | $52,222 |
| Vicksburg | 19,830 | $45,781 |
| Gautier | 19,069 | $61,926 |
| Ocean Springs | 18,993 | $79,712 |
| Hernando | 18,824 | $76,950 |
| Laurel | 17,662 | $47,661 |
| Long Beach | 17,309 | $70,332 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Mississippi?
Mississippi has 82 counties. Harrison County is the largest with 217,136 residents in 2025; Issaquena County is the smallest with 1,263.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Mississippi?
The median resident of Mississippi is 38.6 years old; 23.3% are under 18 and 17.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 36.3%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 ±0.1 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 23.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±0.1 pts | +0.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.2% ±0.1 pts | −1.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 36.3% ±0.1 pts | −1.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±0.2 pts | – |
| With a disability | 17.8% ±0.2 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.0% ±0.2 pts | −1.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.1% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.1% ±0.3 pts | +3.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Mississippi earn?
Half of Mississippi's 1,145,431 households earn less than $56,447 a year (±$539). In 2015-2019 the median was $55,481 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $966 after inflation. 18.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,447 ±$539 | +$966 |
| Mean household income | $78,922 ±$679 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,549 ±$274 | +$1,558 |
| People below the poverty line | 18.9% ±0.3 pts | −1.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.0% ±0.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.5% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.1% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Mississippi?
Owners occupy 70.0% of Mississippi's occupied homes and renters 30.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,800 by its owner (±$1,198). The median renter pays $954 a month including utilities, and 42.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $169,800 ±$1,198 | +$23,347 |
| Median gross rent | $954 ±$8 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.1% ±0.9 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,394 ±$10 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.0% ±0.4 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Housing units | 1,341,114 ±478 | +18,306 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.2% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.3% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.4% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Mississippi building?
Builders took permits for 8,405 new housing units in Mississippi in 2025 (7,318 single-family), 2.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Mississippi get to work?
81.8% of Mississippi's workers drive alone and 5.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.4% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±0.2 pts | −1.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 81.8% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 9.2% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 5.9% ±0.2 pts | +3.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.6 min ±0.2 | +0.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections