Share of the population by age and sex, five-year groups

Population of Tennessee, 2010–2025 · click to pick a year
Estimates up to 2019 are built on the 2010 Census, those from 2020 on the 2020 Census. A line that steps up or down between 2019 and 2020 reflects this re-basing, not a sudden change in population.

Year

-5 -1   2021  +1 +5

6,966,687 people lived in Tennessee on July 1, 2021: the 16th-largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The median age was 39.2 years (United States: 38.9); children (18.2%) and older adults (17.4%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 94.8 men for every 100 women. Since 2010 the population has grown by 9.6%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 estimates (resident population on July 1; public domain). Median age, shares, dependency ratios and rankings are calculated by PopulationPyramid.net from these estimates; the Census Bureau does not endorse this site.

Key indicators, 2021
Population
6,966,687
Rank by population
16th of 51
Median age
39.2
Men per 100 women
94.8
Under 15
18.2%
15–64
64.4%
65 and over
17.4%
Child dependency
28.3
Old-age dependency
27.1
Change since 2010
+9.6%
Dependency ratios count children under 15 or adults 65 and over per 100 residents aged 15 to 64.
Show the population by age group, 2021
AgeMenWomenTotalShare
0-4206,212197,535403,7475.8%
5-9215,072206,096421,1686.0%
10-14226,671216,907443,5786.4%
15-19225,820215,657441,4776.3%
20-24235,081238,872473,9536.8%
25-29227,776234,843462,6196.6%
30-34228,807236,649465,4566.7%
35-39217,664226,706444,3706.4%
40-44210,885218,478429,3636.2%
45-49203,855211,021414,8766.0%
50-54216,723225,566442,2896.3%
55-59220,954237,948458,9026.6%
60-64213,382236,695450,0776.5%
65-69186,367213,455399,8225.7%
70-74156,557182,719339,2764.9%
75-7999,327121,417220,7443.2%
80-8457,35779,374136,7312.0%
85+41,70276,537118,2391.7%
How Tennessee compares with similar-sized states, 2021
RankStateResidentsRelative
13 Washington 7,744,316
14 Arizona 7,274,022
15 Massachusetts 6,996,721
16 Tennessee 6,966,687
17 Indiana 6,814,223
18 Maryland 6,176,035
19 Missouri 6,172,551
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee's population
What is the population of Tennessee?
Tennessee had an estimated 6,966,687 residents on July 1, 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. That ranks 16th among the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
What is the median age in Tennessee?
The median age in Tennessee was 39.2 years in 2021, the 24th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 0.3 years older than the national median of 38.9.
How many people in Tennessee are 65 or older?
About 1,214,812 residents of Tennessee (17.4%) were 65 or older in 2021, against 18.2% under 15 and 64.4% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of Tennessee show?
In 2021, Tennessee: children (18.2%) and older adults (17.4%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 94.8 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of Tennessee changing?
The population of Tennessee grew by 9.6% between 2010 and 2021, and by 0.6% in the last year.
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