Georgia’s Population in 2024 – Data-Driven Analysis

The estimated population of Georgia in 2024 stands at around 11,145,300, based on World Population Review data.

The last official Census, conducted in 2020, recorded a population of 10, 711,908 people, marking a 20.3% increase from 2000 when the population was 8,186,453.

By July 2015, estimates indicated that Georgia’s population had grown to about 10,214,860.

Thanks to a steady growth rate of 1.19%, Georgia’s population first crossed the 10 million mark in 2013, making it one of the country’s fastest-growing states.

Georgia Population by Gender

Females represent a slight majority of the population in Georgia, accounting for 51.09%, while males make up 48.91% of the population.

Gender Ratio by Age

Data shows that the gender ratio by age, expressed in percentages, demonstrates that young children (under 5) have a slightly higher proportion of males, at 51.34%, compared to females.

However, as age increases, the balance shifts, with the female population percentage steadily increasing.

In the senior age brackets, particularly those over 80, females constitute over 59%, and in the 85+ age group, females make up 65.11% of the population.

Ethnic and Racial Diversity

The White population represents the majority in Georgia at 54.28%, followed by Black or African American residents at 31.47%.

Multiracial individuals make up 5.96%, and Asian residents 4.34%, with smaller percentages represented by other racial groups according to Neilsberg.

Georgia Counties 2024 and Population Density

Fulton County is Georgia’s most populous, with a population of approximately 1,084,512 according to WPR data.

The county has grown by 1.41% since the last census.

Other major counties with populations exceeding 500,000 include Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb. Gwinnett County has experienced the highest growth among these, with a 3.39% increase.

Counties with the Smallest Populations

The least populated county in Georgia is Taliaferro, with around 1,610 residents, reflecting a 4.4% decrease in population since the previous census.

Other counties with populations under 5,000 include Quitman, Webster, Clay, Glascock, Baker, and Echols, all of which have seen population declines since 2010.

Georgia Counties with the Fastest Growth Rates

Long County has seen the highest growth rate in Georgia, increasing by 27.8% since the last census.

Forsyth County and Jackson County have also experienced rapid growth, with rates over 20%.

Birth and Death Rates

• Crude Birth Rate: Georgia’s crude birth rate in 2022 was 11.4 births per 1,000 population, slightly higher than the national average of 11.0 per 1,000. This indicates a marginally higher birth rate in Georgia compared to the overall U.S. CDC.
• Crude Death Rate: The state’s crude death rate stood at 10.2 deaths per 1,000 population, slightly below the national average of 10.5 per 1,000. This suggests a marginally lower mortality rate in Georgia relative to the national figure.
• Infant Mortality Rate: Georgia’s infant mortality rate was 7.08 deaths per 1,000 live births, notably higher than the U.S. average of 5.6 per 1,000. This indicates a significant area for improvement in maternal and infant health within the state.
• Life Expectancy: The life expectancy at birth in Georgia was 74.3 years, which is 3.2 years lower than the national average of 77.5 years as the Department of Public Health notes

Migration Patterns

• In-Migration: In 2023, Georgia experienced an influx of 327,795 residents from other states, accounting for approximately 2.94% of the state’s total population as per the US census.
• Out-Migration: During the same period, 253,275 residents moved out of Georgia to other states, representing about 2.27% of the population. While this reflects a substantial number of departures, it is outweighed by the number of incoming residents.
• Net Migration: The net migration for Georgia in 2023 was +74,520, meaning the state gained more residents than it lost. This net gain of 0.67% of the total population suggests that Georgia continues to be a net recipient of domestic migration, contributing to its overall population growth.

Georgia’s migration office deports 60 in October. https://t.co/qIbVIvUCEN

— Agenda Georgia (@AgendaGeorgia) November 2, 2024

Labor Market Effects

BLS notes that Georgia’s labor force showed steady growth, increasing from 5,357.1 thousand in April 2024 to a preliminary 5,415.5 thousand in September 2024. This trend reflects more individuals entering or re-entering the workforce over this period.

Employment also rose, although at a slightly slower rate than the labor force. Employment numbers increased from 5,191.6 thousand in April to a preliminary 5,219.9 thousand in September.

Unemployment figures show a gradual increase, from 165.5 thousand in April to 195.6 thousand in September. This rise aligns with an upward trend in the unemployment rate, from 3.1% in April to 3.6% in both August and September. The increase suggests some challenges in job absorption within the growing labor force.

The unemployment rate in Georgia rose incrementally over the months, reaching a preliminary 3.6% in August and September. Although still relatively low, this increase indicates a slight slowing in job availability relative to labor force growth

Housing and Real Estate Trends

The median sale price for homes in Georgia increased by 3.0% from the previous year, reaching $376,700 in September 2024 as per Redfin.

The number of homes sold decreased by 6.7% compared to the previous year, with 9,798 homes sold in September. This reduction in sales suggests either a decrease in demand or fewer buyers in the market, possibly due to economic conditions or affordability concerns.

Homes are staying on the market longer, with the median days on the market increasing by 16 days to 48 days. This trend may imply that buyers are being more cautious or that there is an increase in inventory leading to longer selling times.

Top 10 Metros in Georgia with the Fastest-Growing Sales Prices

Georgia Income Statistics for 2024

Georgia’s average household income is $99,345, slightly below the national average by 6% as per incomebyzipcode. The median household income in Georgia is also below the US median, indicating that while the state has considerable earning potential, it remains slightly behind national income levels on average.

For full-time employees, the average salary is $73,766, while the median salary is lower at $53,381. This disparity suggests a skew towards higher earners, which raises the average relative to the median.

Single-person households in Georgia have a median income of $38,351, while the average per capita income is $37,836. The per capita figure accounts for the entire population, which includes non-working dependents, leading to a lower average compared to household and salary data.

Top 10 Richest Georgia Zip Codes (2024)

Educational Attainment in Georgia (2024)

Approximately 26% of Georgia’s population holds a high school diploma as their highest educational achievement, with an additional 11% not having completed high school.

A combined 35% of Georgians have either a bachelor’s degree or a post-graduate degree. This distribution shows a moderate level of higher education within the state, with 28% having attended some college but not completing a four-year degree, which may reflect either community college or incomplete university education.

Georgia’s high school graduation rate is 89.3%, which is nearly identical to the national rate of 89.8%. This indicates that Georgia’s educational attainment at the high school level is comparable to the rest of the country.

With 35.4% of the population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, Georgia is slightly below the national rate of 36.2%. This suggests a similar but slightly lower percentage of individuals with college degrees compared to the overall US population.

Georgia matches the national average for post-graduate degrees, with 14% of the population holding advanced degrees.

Future Projections

via https://t.co/261pAFAg2K 2024 Population Projections Data |
The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget is charged with the responsibility of preparing, maintaining, and furnishing official demographic data for the state (O.C.G.A. § 45-12-171)… https://t.co/sB7jSTuDoS

— Census State Data Centers (@censusSDC) September 6, 2024

Georgia’s population is projected to continue its growth trajectory over the coming decades. According to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, the state’s population is expected to increase from approximately 11 million in 2024 to over 13 million by 2060 as per Georgia Public Broadcasting

These projections are based on the cohort-component method, which considers factors such as fertility, mortality, and migration rates. The methodology and detailed data can be accessed through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget’s official documentation.

Additionally, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service provides national population projections, including state-level data. Their analysis indicates that Georgia will remain among the top ten most populous states through 2050, reflecting sustained growth.

Methodology

To craft this article, we gathered Georgia’s demographic data from reputable sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, and recent surveys.

We analyzed historical population trends and used demographic modeling methods like cohort-component projection to estimate future growth. Key indicators, such as birth and death rates, migration, and educational attainment, were included for a well-rounded view.

Data was compared with national averages to contextualize Georgia’s statistics within the broader U.S. landscape. Finally, findings were cross-verified with published government reports to ensure accuracy and reliability in our projections and insights.

References

1. World Population Review – Georgia Population 2024
2. U.S. Census Bureau – Georgia Profile Data
3. Neilsberg – Georgia Population by Gender
4. Neilsberg – Georgia Population by Race
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Georgia State Health Profile
6. Georgia Department of Public Health – Maternal Mortality Data
7. U.S. Census Bureau – State-to-State Migration Flows
8. 11Alive News – Where People Are Moving From: Migration Patterns
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Georgia Economy at a Glance
10. Redfin – Georgia Housing Market
11. Income by Zipcode – Georgia Income Data
12. Georgia Public Broadcasting – Georgia Population Projections
13. Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service – National and State Population Projections