Maui Population 2024 – Current Trends and Demographic Insights

A Group of Older Adults Walking Along a Waterfront Street in Maui, Showcasing the Local Lifestyle and A Snapshot of The Maui Population

As of 2024, the estimated population of Maui County is approximately 164,007 people, reflecting a slight decline from the previous year.

Despite this dip, Maui continues to be the third-largest county in Hawaii.

Over the past decade, the population has generally seen moderate growth, reaching around 166,000 residents at one point.

Demographic Overview

Sunset Street View in Maui County with People Gathered Near the Ocean, Cars Parked Along the Road, and A Tree Lit by A Streetlamp
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Street View in Maui County

Maui County, Hawaii, holds a significant place in the state with an estimated population of 164,007 in 2024 according to World Population Review. This makes it the third-largest county in Hawaii.

While its growth rate has slightly declined by 0.11% over the past year, the county has experienced a 5.79% increase since 2010.

Maui County experienced notable population changes between 2010 and 2022. The county’s population increased significantly, spurred by several years of consistent growth. The largest annual increase of 1.3% occurred between 2012 and 2013.

The data reflects an average growth rate of about 0.5% per year during this period. Historical census data indicates a total growth of approximately 6.4% since 2010, underlining Maui’s appeal as a growing community.

Maui Island’s resident population is expected to grow from 129,471 in 2005 to 186,254 in 2030. This is a 1.68% annual growth rate, for a total of approximately 42% increase in population over the 25 year period.

Age Demographics

Category Value
Total Population (Female) 82,461 (50.05%)
Total Population (Male) 82,304 (49.95%)
Median Age (Total) 42.2 years
Median Age (Male) 41.5 years
Median Age (Female) 42.9 years
Adult Population 129,494
Senior Population 31,837
Age Dependency Ratio 68.7
Old Age Dependency Ratio 32.6
Child Dependency Ratio 36.1

Gender Distribution

Maui Countyโ€™s population is almost evenly split between males and females. Females make up 50.05% of the population (82,461 individuals), while males account for 49.95% (82,304 individuals). This balanced ratio indicates a nearly equal gender distribution.

Median Age

The median age of the total population is 42.2 years, with females having a slightly higher median age of 42.9 years, compared to 41.5 years for males. This reflects a relatively older population compared to many regions, with a significant proportion of residents in middle or older age groups.

Adult and Senior Population

A Smiling Middle-Aged Couple at The Beach in Maui County
Middle-Aged Couple at The Beach

The total adult population in Maui County is 129,494, and of these, 31,837 are seniors, indicating that nearly 24.6% of the adult population is aged 65 or older. This highlights a significant aging population that may influence healthcare and senior services needs.

Age Dependency Ratios

  • The age dependency ratio is 68.7, meaning that for every 100 working-age individuals, there are approximately 69 dependents (children and seniors combined).
  • The old-age dependency ratio of 32.6 reflects the proportion of elderly dependents, while the child dependency ratio of 36.1 indicates the proportion of children reliant on the working-age population.

Economic Impact of Population Changes

The economy of Maui County, HI employs approximately 81,600 people. The major industries driving the economy include Accommodation & Food Services, Retail Trade, and Health Care & Social Assistance according to our research.

These industries employ the largest number of people, but the highest-paying sectors differ slightly, with Utilities, Finance & Insurance, and Public Administration topping the list for the best-paying industries.

Employment by Industry

Employment by Industry in Maui County Chart
Employment by Industry in Maui County Chart

Highest-Paying Industries

Highest-Paying Industries in Maui County Chart
Highest-Paying Industries in Maui County Chart

These figures highlight that while industries like Accommodation & Food Services employ the most people, sectors such as Utilities and Finance & Insurance offer much higher compensation.

Employment by Occupations

Maui County has a workforce of 81,600 employees, and the most common occupations are related to administrative support, sales, and management. Below is a breakdown of the major occupational groups by their representation in the workforce:

Major Occupational Groups

Occupation Number of People % of Workforce
Office & Administrative Support Occupations 8,835 10.8%
Sales & Related Occupations 8,773 10.8%
Management Occupations 8,514 10.4%
Construction & Extraction Occupations N/A 5.57%
Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations N/A 9.27%
Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occupations N/A 7.91%

These three sectors (Administrative Support, Sales, and Management) account for a significant portion of the workforce, highlighting their importance in the local economy.

Income and Wage Disparities

There is a noticeable income gap between males and females in Maui County. On average, males earn 1.21 times more than females, who have an average income of $62,644 according to Hawaii University. Additionally, the income inequality in Hawaii, as measured by the Gini Index, is 0.434, which is slightly lower than the national average.

Income and Wage Disparities in Maui County
Income and Wage Disparities in Maui County

The gender wage gap and income inequality measures are important indicators of economic disparities in the county.

Age and Employment Dependency

Maui County has 129,494 adults, of which 31,837 are seniors. This influences the Age Dependency Ratio, which is a significant metric to determine how many dependents (elderly and children) rely on the working-age population.

Age Dependency Ratios

Age Dependency Ratios in Maui County Chart
Age Dependency Ratios in Maui County Chart

These ratios indicate that for every 100 working-age individuals, there are approximately 69 dependents (children and elderly combined). The old-age dependency ratio is 32.6, indicating a considerable proportion of elderly dependents in the county.

Median Earnings by Industry and Gender

The earnings data for various industries in Maui County show that certain industries have high earnings, particularly for men and women employed in public administration, wholesale trade, and construction.

Median Earnings by Industry

Industry Median Earnings (Men) Median Earnings (Women)
Public Administration $67,739 $65,968
Wholesale Trade $57,941 $78,444
Construction $62,518 N/A

This table shows that men and women in Public Administration and Wholesale Trade have some of the highest median earnings in the county, although disparities remain between industries.

Employment Growth and Trends

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Maui County grew at a rate of 0.0049%, indicating stability rather than rapid growth. The total workforce remained consistent at around 81,600 employees over this period.

However, the impact of COVID-19 led to significant drops in employment across various sectors in 2020, with a general employment decline of 22.4% during the early pandemic period.

Employment Growth and Trends in Maui County Chart
Employment Growth and Trends in Maui County Chart

The pandemic impact is still visible in the employment recovery data, but the economy shows resilience in key sectors such as Accommodation & Food Services and Retail.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Unemployment insurance claims spiked significantly during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. While data specific to Maui County isn’t readily available, Hawaii as a state showed a considerable number of claims during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

Establishments by Industry

Establishments by Industry in Maui County Chart
Establishments by Industry in Maui County Chart

In Maui County, certain industries have a high concentration of business establishments, particularly those related to educational services, health care, professional services, and retail trade. These industries provide the backbone for employment opportunities and economic activity within the county.

Housing Market Trends

As of August 2024, the housing market in Maui County, HI has experienced significant price increases and a slowdown in the number of homes sold. Hereโ€™s a detailed breakdown of the key metrics related to home sales and market trends in the area:

Maui County Housing Market Trends (August 2024)

Metric Value Change Year-Over-Year
Median Sale Price $1,297,500 +38.0%
Median Sale Price per Sq. Ft. $956 +10.8%
Number of Homes Sold 134 -12.4%
Median Days on Market 85 days +20 days

Housing Prices in Maui County

  • The median sale price for a home in Maui County in August 2024 was $1.3 million, which represents a 38.0% increase compared to the same month last year according to Redfin. This sharp rise in prices indicates a highly competitive and expensive housing market.
  • The median sale price per square foot is $956, an increase of 10.8% year-over-year, reflecting the rising cost of real estate on a per-unit basis.

Key Insight: The housing market in Maui County has seen dramatic increases in home prices, making it one of the most expensive places for buyers compared to the previous year.

Homes Sold and Days on Market

  • In August 2024, 134 homes were sold, a 12.4% decrease from the 153 homes sold in August of the previous year. This decrease suggests a slight cooling in the housing market in terms of the number of transactions.
  • Homes are taking longer to sell on average, with the median days on market at 85 days, up from 65 days last year. This represents an increase of 20 days, showing that homes are staying on the market longer than before.

Key Insight: Despite rising home prices, fewer homes are being sold, and itโ€™s taking longer for homes to sell. This could indicate either a mismatch between buyer and seller expectations or reduced demand at these higher price points.

Year-Over-Year Growth in Maui County vs. National Trends

The 38.0% increase in median home prices in Maui County far outpaces the national average, which shows a much slower rate of home price growth in most other regions of the United States.

Comparison of Median Sale Prices (August 2024)

Location Median Sale Price Growth % YoY
Maui County, HI $1,297,500 +38.0%
United States N/A Slower growth

Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity in Maui County Chart
Cultural Diversity in Maui County Chart

This table presents a breakdown of a population based on racial categories and their respective percentages of the total population. The group with the largest population is “White,” representing 31.77% of the total population with 52,341 individuals. The second-largest group is “Asian,” comprising 28.36% of the population, followed closely by those who identify as “Two or more races (multiracial)” at 25.95%.

Other racial groups, such as “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” (10.68%) and “Some other race” (2.11%), have smaller populations. Meanwhile, “Black or African American” and “American Indian and Alaska Native” make up the smallest percentages, accounting for 0.75% and 0.38% of the population, respectively.

The data suggests a relatively diverse population, with significant representation of different racial groups and a notable proportion identifying as multiracial. The relatively large percentage of “Two or more races” indicates a high level of racial mixing in this population.

Nearly 33% of the population in Lahaina is foreign-born, highlighting how immigration enriches the island’s diversity and contributes to its social fabric foreign-born population.

Infrastructures Effect on Population

Maui County, Hawaii, has an overall score of 60/100, slightly below both the state average (63) and the peer group average (61). The county is categorized as Urban, High-Performing and performs relatively well in areas like Population Health and Food & Nutrition, but struggles in sectors such as Housing and Education.

Below is a breakdown of the key metrics across various categories according to US news research:

Population Health

Maui County performs exceptionally well in Population Health with a score of 84. Health conditions and outcomes are favorable, with low uninsured rates and long life expectancy.

Population Health Metrics

Metric County Value National Average Peer Group Average State Average
Population with No Health Insurance 5.1% 11.5% 8.9% 4.4%
Smoking Rate 12.6% 19.0% 15.6% 11.8%
Life Expectancy 82.0 years 75.8 years 78.1 years 81.8 years
Heart Disease Prevalence 4.5% 5.9% 5.2% 4.1%
COVID-19, Influenza, and Pneumonia Mortality per 100k 27.8 98.0 67.1 43.7

These metrics demonstrate that Maui County has a relatively healthy population with high life expectancy and low mortality rates compared to national and peer averages.

Equity

The Equity category, with a score of 48, evaluates disparities in education, income, and social factors across different demographic groups. While Maui County performs decently in Income Equity, its scores for Educational Equity and Health Equity are lower.

Equity Metrics

Metric County Value National Average Peer Group Average State Average
Racial Disparity in Educational Attainment 0.20 0.18 0.23 0.15
Segregation Index Score 0.24 0.39 0.30 0.25
Premature Death Disparity Index Score 0.110 0.238 0.088 0.097
Neighborhood Disparity in Poverty 6.78 7.10 7.65 9.01

These scores indicate that Maui County faces challenges in providing equitable educational outcomes and health opportunities across its diverse population.

Education


The Education score of 43 highlights challenges in Educational Achievement and Education Infrastructure. Although the countyโ€™s high school graduation rate is slightly below the national average, there is a significant percentage of the population with advanced degrees.

Education Metrics

Metric County Value National Average Peer Group Average State Average
High School Graduation Rate 86.0% 88.0% 83.2% 86.0%
Population with Advanced Degree 39.8% 33.1% 43.5% 45.8%
Preschool Enrollment 36.2% 41.8% 45.2% 46.2%

Low preschool enrollment and underinvestment in educational infrastructure are areas that require improvement to boost overall education performance.

Environmental Protection Efforts

 

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The Kahikolu Project targets the axis deer population, which has been causing significant environmental damage. These non-native deer have disrupted local ecosystems by overgrazing, leading to soil erosion and habitat loss.

In parallel, legislation is being advanced to enhance air and water quality monitoring across the island.

New bills propose funding for specialists who will track environmental health, providing essential data to inform policy. These proactive measures are designed to mitigate ongoing environmental degradation and improve the resilience of Maui’s natural habitats.

Population vs. Sustainability

Silhouettes of Two People Standing in Front of A Lush Green Landscape, Symbolizing the Balance Between Population Growth and Sustainability in Maui County
The Balance Between Population Growth and Sustainability

The demand for resources such as water has prompted debates over long-term planning.

Recently, the Maui Mayor influenced the state to modify a long-term water plan, which would have primarily benefited private interests.

Balancing increased population with ecosystem protection involves regulating development and resource use. Emphasis is placed on renewable energy initiatives and sustainable agriculture practices.

By prioritizing these strategies, Maui seeks to model a sustainable future that can accommodate its growing population without compromising environmental integrity. This delicate balance requires continuous assessment and adaptation to ensure sustainability goals align with the community’s needs.

Methodology

This research draws on various datasets and reports, including information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Redfin, World Population Review, and U.S. News & World Report. Data on demographics, economic trends, employment, and housing were gathered from publicly available sources and government databases. Population health metrics were calculated using indicators such as life expectancy, healthcare access, and disease prevalence from state and national health departments.

The equity, economy, education, and infrastructure scores were derived from comparative analyses using national averages and peer group comparisons for urban, high-performing regions.

Additionally, the research incorporates environmental and sustainability data, along with government initiatives to monitor population growth and resource management. Metrics such as the age dependency ratio, income inequality (Gini index), and industry-specific employment were analyzed to provide a comprehensive overview of Maui Countyโ€™s demographic, economic, and social landscapes. The housing market analysis reflects data trends from real estate platforms, capturing shifts in pricing, sales, and market behaviors over time.