Share of the population by age and sex, five-year groups
West Virginia population pyramid, 2021
2021
Population: 1,785,921
PopulationPyramid.net
West Virginia – 2021
Population: 1,785,921
Hover a bar for the number of people. The Census single-year data stops at 85, so the top bar is 85 and over.
Population of West Virginia, 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.
1,785,921 people lived in West Virginia on July 1, 2021:
the 39th-largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The median age was 43.0 years (United States: 38.9);
more residents are 65 or older (20.9%) than under 15 (16.4%): an ageing, top-heavy pyramid. There were 98.3 men for every 100 women.
Since 2010 the population has shrunk
by 3.7%.
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
Rank by population
39th of 51
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
| Age | Men | Women | Total | Share |
|---|
| 0-4 | 45,597 | 43,465 | 89,062 | 5.0% |
| 5-9 | 50,438 | 48,033 | 98,471 | 5.5% |
| 10-14 | 54,346 | 51,469 | 105,815 | 5.9% |
| 15-19 | 56,922 | 53,507 | 110,429 | 6.2% |
| 20-24 | 57,532 | 55,137 | 112,669 | 6.3% |
| 25-29 | 52,601 | 49,384 | 101,985 | 5.7% |
| 30-34 | 53,122 | 51,484 | 104,606 | 5.9% |
| 35-39 | 52,863 | 51,112 | 103,975 | 5.8% |
| 40-44 | 55,709 | 54,797 | 110,506 | 6.2% |
| 45-49 | 54,726 | 53,518 | 108,244 | 6.1% |
| 50-54 | 58,072 | 57,696 | 115,768 | 6.5% |
| 55-59 | 59,833 | 61,718 | 121,551 | 6.8% |
| 60-64 | 62,349 | 66,534 | 128,883 | 7.2% |
| 65-69 | 58,112 | 63,098 | 121,210 | 6.8% |
| 70-74 | 50,786 | 55,904 | 106,690 | 6.0% |
| 75-79 | 30,372 | 35,124 | 65,496 | 3.7% |
| 80-84 | 18,278 | 24,243 | 42,521 | 2.4% |
| 85+ | 13,521 | 24,519 | 38,040 | 2.1% |
How West Virginia compares with similar-sized states, 2021
| Rank | State | Residents | Relative |
|---|
| 36 |
New Mexico |
2,117,300 |
|
| 37 |
Nebraska |
1,964,697 |
|
| 38 |
Idaho |
1,904,855 |
|
| 39 |
West Virginia |
1,785,921 |
|
| 40 |
Hawaii |
1,446,909 |
|
| 41 |
New Hampshire |
1,387,907 |
|
| 42 |
Maine |
1,379,009 |
|
Frequently asked questions about West Virginia's population
What is the population of West Virginia?
West Virginia had an estimated 1,785,921 residents on July 1, 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. That ranks 39th among the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
What is the median age in West Virginia?
The median age in West Virginia was 43.0 years in 2021, the 4th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 4.1 years older than the national median of 38.9.
How many people in West Virginia are 65 or older?
About 373,957 residents of West Virginia (20.9%) were 65 or older in 2021, against 16.4% under 15 and 62.6% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of West Virginia show?
In 2021, West Virginia: more residents are 65 or older (20.9%) than under 15 (16.4%): an ageing, top-heavy pyramid. There were 98.3 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of West Virginia changing?
The population of West Virginia shrank by 3.7% between 2010 and 2021, and by -0.3% in the last year.