Philadelphia had 1,574,281 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau Vintage 2025 annual city estimates released in May 2026. That makes it the sixth-largest city in the United States, ahead of San Antonio, San Diego and Dallas.
The city gained 1,546 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, continuing a small recovery after losing population in the years following the pandemic. Its latest estimate remains 29,516 people below the April 2020 Census count of 1,603,797.
Philadelphia has stopped shrinking, but the recovery is fragile. Its latest gain of 1,546 people is small beside the 29,516 residents lost since the 2020 Census. At the current pace, rebuilding that lost population would take years.
The May 2026 Census Bureau release confirms Philadelphia’s sixth-place national ranking.
Population in 2026
The population of Philadelphia remains above 1.57 million, making it the largest city in Pennsylvania and one of the most populated urban centers on the East Coast.
The latest estimate puts the city 29,516 people below its 2020 Census count. Two years of gains have recovered only part of that loss.
| Population Statistic | Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Latest Census population estimate | 1,574,281 |
| Estimate reference date | July 1, 2025 |
| National population ranking | 6th |
| 2020 Census population | 1,603,797 |
| 2010 Census population | 1,526,006 |
| Population change since 2020 | -29,516 |
| Percentage change since 2020 | -1.8% |
| Population per square mile in 2020 | 11,936.9 |
| Land area | 134.36 square miles |
The population totals, density and land area are recorded in Philadelphia QuickFacts.
The 2020 Census recorded 1,603,797 residents. By July 2025, that number had fallen by 29,516, a loss of 1.8%.
The decline has not been steady throughout the decade. Philadelphia lost residents during the first three years after 2020 and began recording small gains again in 2024.
Philadelphia counted 1,526,006 residents in 2010, leaving it 48,275 above that level today. The longer recovery has held, even after the pandemic erased part of its gains.
The Population Started Growing Again
The numbers grew every year from 2006 through 2020. The city went from 1,488,710 residents in 2006 to more than 1.6 million in 2020, reversing decades of population losses that followed its industrial peak.
Then came the pandemic. Philadelphia lost residents for three consecutive years, and its population fell to 1,565,822 in 2023.
The decline ended in 2024. By July 1, 2025, the city had climbed back to 1,574,281 residents, according to the Census Bureau annual estimates dataset.
The Philadelphia 2026 State of the City report, published by The Pew Charitable Trusts in April, confirms that the latest annual gain was around 1,500 people.
| Reference Year | Philadelphia Population | Change From Previous Listed Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,488,710 | Historical estimate, starting point shown |
| 2010 | 1,526,006 | +37,296 |
| 2020 Census | 1,603,797 | +77,791 |
| 2023 | 1,565,822 | -37,975 |
| 2024 | 1,572,735 | +6,913 |
| 2025 | 1,574,281 | +1,546 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 annual city population estimates and decennial Census counts. The 2025 estimate of 1,574,281 refers to July 1, 2025, and was released in May 2026. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 estimates belong to the same Vintage 2025 series. Earlier changes compare the years displayed, including nonconsecutive years and Census counts.
Philadelphia added more than 77,000 residents between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. Its recovery from the 2023 low has been much smaller, with a gain of 8,459 people from July 2023 to July 2025. The increase was 6,913 in 2024 and 1,546 in 2025.
Philadelphia gained only 1,546 residents in 2025 after adding 6,913 in 2024. The recovery continued, but it lost momentum in its second year.
Sixth-Largest City in the US
Philadelphia retained sixth place in the national population rankings released in May 2026.
New York City leads the country with 8.58 million residents, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City, NY | 8,584,629 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,869,089 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | 2,731,585 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | 2,397,315 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | 1,665,481 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | 1,574,281 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | 1,548,422 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | 1,406,106 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | 1,329,491 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | 1,028,117 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 City and Town Population Estimates, published May 14, 2026.
Philadelphia has 91,200 fewer residents than Phoenix but 25,859 more than San Antonio.
The comparison is particularly relevant because Philadelphia’s annual population growth remains limited. San Antonio is close enough in population that changes in either city could affect their positions in future rankings.
Those rankings count residents inside city limits, not entire metropolitan areas. Philadelphia holds sixth place, but its lead over San Antonio is only 25,859 people.
Population by Race and Ethnicity
Black and African American residents form the largest racial group in Philadelphia, followed by White residents.
The Census Bureau reports that 39.4% of residents identify as Black or African American alone, while 35.1% identify as White alone. Because Hispanic origin is recorded separately, the race-alone figures (Black 39.4%, White 35.1%, Asian 8.0%, American Indian and Alaska Native 0.5%, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0%) and the two-or-more-races figure (8.4%) should not be added to the Hispanic or Latino share of 15.6%. The separately reported White alone, not Hispanic or Latino share is 33.2% and is a subset of White alone, not an additional racial group.
Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.6% of Philadelphia’s population. Hispanic origin is recorded separately from race, so Hispanic residents also appear within the racial categories.
| Race or Ethnicity | Share of Philadelphia Population |
|---|---|
| Race Categories (Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Residents, Not Additive to Ethnicity) | |
| Black or African American alone | 39.4% |
| White alone | 35.1% |
| Asian alone | 8.0% |
| Two or more races | 8.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 0.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.0% when rounded |
| Hispanic Origin (Separate Measure, Overlaps With Race) | |
| Hispanic or Latino, any race | 15.6% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino (subset of White alone) | 33.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Race-alone categories are mutually exclusive, but Hispanic or Latino origin includes people of any race. Do not add the Hispanic share to the racial shares. White alone, not Hispanic or Latino is already included in the White alone figure.
The city’s Hispanic population has grown substantially over the past two decades. In 2024, Hispanic residents represented more than one in seven people living in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia also has a sizeable Asian population, with communities across Northeast Philadelphia, South Philadelphia and other parts of the city.
The American Community Survey demographic tables provide more detailed population estimates by age, sex and racial identity.
Around 16% of Residents Were Born Outside the United States
Philadelphia had around 250,000 foreign-born residents in 2024, representing 16.1% of the city’s population.
That share was higher than the national figure of 14.8%, according to the 2024 American Community Survey figures cited in the city’s 2026 State of the City research.
The foreign-born population includes people from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. It covers naturalized U.S. citizens and residents who are not U.S. citizens.
Several Philadelphia neighborhoods have large immigrant communities, especially in Northeast and South Philadelphia.
According to the Census Bureau’s foreign-born population tables, residents born outside the United States have a wide range of arrival dates, education levels and employment circumstances.
The city’s immigrant population has helped Philadelphia maintain a larger population than it would have with domestic migration and births alone. However, the number of foreign-born residents should not be confused with the number who moved to Philadelphia in a single year.
Population Is Getting Older
The Census Bureau age statistics put 21.2% of Philadelphia residents under age 18 and 14.7% at age 65 or older.
Children younger than five represent 6.0% of residents, and women make up 52.7% of the population.
More than one in five Philadelphia residents is a child, and nearly one in seven is at least 65. City officials therefore have to maintain school services for a sizeable young population alongside senior transportation, accessible housing and other age-related services.
The budget challenge is not simply a growing older population. Philadelphia has substantial needs at both ends of the age range, even though its total population remains below the 2020 level. A smaller city does not automatically face smaller service costs.
Neighborhood age figures are particularly useful for planning. A section of the city with many children may need school capacity and playground maintenance, whereas an area with more older residents may place greater pressure on accessible transport and senior services.
Household Income Remains Well Below the National Median
According to the 2024 ACS median household income table, Philadelphia’s median household income was $60,521, compared with $81,604 nationally.
The gap was $21,083 a year, meaning the city’s median household income was about 26% below the national figure.
Median household income is the point at which half of households earn more and half earn less. It is not the same as average income or individual earnings.
The Census Bureau’s household income tables provide the figures behind the comparison.
Philadelphia’s overall median income barely changed between 2023 and 2024, according to the analysis published in 2026.
Black and Hispanic households recorded increases over that period, but White and Asian households recorded declines.
| Household Group | Median Annual Income in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia, all households | $60,521 |
| Non-Hispanic White households | $81,282 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian households | $62,167 |
| Hispanic households | $52,380 |
| Non-Hispanic Black households | $48,275 |
| United States, all households | $81,604 |
Source: 2024 American Community Survey one-year income estimates, analyzed in Philadelphia 2026 State of the City.
The median income for non-Hispanic White households was $33,007 higher than for non-Hispanic Black households.
Household income also varies sharply by ZIP code. Center City, Chestnut Hill and parts of South Philadelphia have much higher median incomes than several neighborhoods in North and West Philadelphia.
Income by Neighborhood Shows Large Gaps
Philadelphia’s $60,521 citywide median masks a much wider divide between neighborhoods.
In Center City-Society Hill, ZIP code 19106, median household income reached $121,047 in the 2020-2024 ACS five-year estimates.
In North Philadelphia-East, ZIP code 19133, median household income was $31,034. The Center City figure was nearly four times as high.
| Neighborhood or ZIP Code Area | ZIP Code | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|
| Center City-Society Hill | 19106 | $121,047 |
| Fairmount South | 19130 | $112,037 |
| Chestnut Hill | 19118 | $109,649 |
| Kensington/Fishtown | 19125 | $109,554 |
| Manayunk | 19127 | $102,106 |
| Roxborough | 19128 | $93,173 |
| Olney | 19120 | $54,000 |
| Northeast-Frankford | 19124 | $45,314 |
| Logan | 19141 | $43,998 |
| North Philadelphia-West | 19132 | $32,823 |
| North Philadelphia-East | 19133 | $31,034 |
Source: 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, published in Pew’s Philadelphia 2026 report. ZIP code areas do not always follow neighborhood boundaries.
Some of the most expensive and highest-income areas sit relatively close to neighborhoods where household incomes remain below $40,000.
Higher neighborhood income does not mean that every resident earns that amount. ZIP code figures describe the midpoint for households in the area, including renters and homeowners.
They also reflect household composition. Areas with more students, retirees or single-person households can have lower median household incomes even when many residents have advanced education.
The gap between ZIP codes 19106 and 19133 exceeds $90,000 in median annual household income. A single citywide figure cannot represent the economic conditions residents face in both neighborhoods.
Poverty Rate Fell Below 20%
Philadelphia’s poverty rate declined to 19.7% in 2024, its lowest level since 2000, according to the 2024 ACS poverty-status table and the citywide trend documented by Pew.
For the first time since 1979, the city’s poverty rate fell below 20%.
That was an improvement from 26% in 2014, a decline of 6.3 percentage points over ten years.
More than 300,000 residents still lived in poverty, however. Philadelphia also remained among the large American cities with substantial numbers of low-income households.
The Census Bureau’s poverty statistics show how poverty varies by age, employment status and racial or ethnic group.
| Population Group | Poverty Rate in 2024 |
|---|---|
| All Philadelphia residents | 19.7% |
| Hispanic residents | 27.6% |
| Non-Hispanic Black residents | 22.3% |
| Non-Hispanic Asian residents | 21.3% |
| Non-Hispanic White residents | 13.1% |
Source: American Community Survey 2024 one-year poverty estimates, as reported in Philadelphia 2026 State of the City.
The poverty rate among Hispanic residents fell from 42.9% in 2014 to 27.6% in 2024. Among Black residents, it declined from 31.4% to 22.3%.
Philadelphia also recorded a deep poverty rate of 9.4% in 2024, down from 12.3% in 2014. Deep poverty describes people whose incomes are below half the official poverty threshold.
Philadelphia has made measurable progress since 2014, but the 19.7% poverty rate still means more than 300,000 residents live below the official threshold. Among Hispanic residents, more than one in four remained in poverty in 2024.
Housing Prices and Rent
Video: Tom Toole Sales Group, a commercial real estate brokerage, discusses the Philadelphia housing market, including inventory and canceled listings. The video is third-party market commentary, not Census data. Its inclusion is editorial and does not constitute an endorsement. No sponsorship relationship is disclosed in the material supplied for this article.
Philadelphia’s housing market has become more expensive even as population growth has slowed.
According to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 estimates, the median value of an owner-occupied home was $243,100. Median gross monthly rent was $1,397.
The Census housing figures put the owner-occupied housing rate at 51.8%, meaning slightly more than half of occupied homes were owned by the people living in them.
For homeowners with mortgages, median monthly owner costs were $1,620. For those without mortgages, the median was $554.
Rent, mortgage-related costs and property values measure separate housing expenses. A $243,100 median home value does not tell us how much a household pays each month, particularly when mortgage rates and down payments vary.
The 2020-2024 ACS housing profile gives the corresponding costs for renters and homeowners.
For a household earning the city’s 2024 median of $60,521, gross monthly income would be $5,043. A monthly rent of $1,397 would represent 27.7% of that income before taxes and other deductions.
That calculation compares two citywide medians. It does not mean a typical renter in Philadelphia earns the median income of all households. Renters tend to have lower incomes than homeowners in many cities, so their actual rent burdens may be higher.
17,338 Homes Were Sold in 2025
Philadelphia recorded 17,338 home sales in 2025, about 6% fewer than in 2024.
The number was well below the 24,935 homes sold in 2022, when the city’s housing market reached a recent high.
Higher borrowing costs have weighed on homebuying across the country. Philadelphia sold 17,338 homes in 2025, down 7,597 from the 24,935 transactions recorded in 2022, a 30.5% fall from that recent peak.
New building permits remained steady at 3,366 in 2025. The number of permits is relevant because new residential construction can eventually increase the number of homes available to residents.
The 3,366 permits issued in 2025 show planned building activity, not completed homes. The sales total remains the clearer measure of how much the resale market has cooled.
Philadelphia Is Investing in 30,000 Housing Units
Video: Third-party coverage of the city housing initiative. The video is provided for context, not as verification of completed housing units or as an endorsement. No sponsorship relationship is disclosed in the supplied article.
In March 2026, Philadelphia issued the first $400 million in bonds for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy initiative.
The program aims to build, preserve and improve 30,000 housing units across the city.
Philadelphia plans to invest $800 million in bond proceeds as part of a $2 billion housing initiative.
According to the City of Philadelphia’s March 26 announcement, the investment will support new construction, housing preservation and improvements to existing homes.
The 30,000-unit figure is a program goal, not the number of homes already built during 2026.
The city has committed financing toward construction and preservation, but financing alone will not provide 30,000 homes. Residents will feel the result only as units are completed, repaired or kept affordable.
The 30,000-unit target is ambitious beside the 3,366 permits issued in 2025, although the measures cover separate activities. Completed and preserved homes, rather than the headline target, will determine the housing benefit.
Unemployment Rose to 5.1%
Philadelphia’s unemployment rate reached 5.1% in 2025, its highest level since 2021.
The metropolitan area and the United States both recorded unemployment rates of 4.3% that year.
That left Philadelphia’s unemployment rate 0.8 percentage points above the national figure.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics regional employment series covers the wider metropolitan economy, including suburban counties.
The metropolitan figures cover a wider region than Philadelphia city. They include employment in suburban counties, so they should not be presented as city-only totals.
The city also remains heavily connected to healthcare and education employment, including major hospitals, universities and research institutions.
At 5.1%, Philadelphia unemployment was 0.8 percentage points above the national figure in 2025. Employment remains a weak point in a city trying to sustain population gains.
Education Levels Have Stopped Rising at Their Earlier Pace
The Census Bureau reports that 35.4% of Philadelphia residents age 25 and older had at least a bachelor’s degree during the 2020-2024 survey period.
A larger share, 87.8%, had completed high school or an equivalent qualification.
The city’s college attainment rate increased for years before the pandemic. It then stayed near 36% between 2021 and 2024, according to the Philadelphia 2026 analysis.
Higher educational attainment is relevant to the city’s job market, especially for roles in healthcare, engineering, research and professional services.
Philadelphia has major universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Temple University. Students contribute to local housing demand, transportation use and economic activity.
University enrollment and permanent population are not identical. A student may be counted in Philadelphia’s population if the city is their usual residence under Census rules, regardless of where their family lives.
Geography and Population Density
Philadelphia covers 134.36 square miles of land and had 11,936.9 residents per square mile at the 2020 Census.
Philadelphia has high population density by American city standards, although development varies widely across its neighborhoods.
Center City contains large apartment buildings, office towers and compact residential blocks. Parts of Northeast Philadelphia have more detached and semi-detached homes, and other sections of the city contain traditional rowhouse neighborhoods.
Philadelphia also has major parks, rivers and industrial land that affect how people are distributed across the city.
Our Philadelphia map and geography guide shows the city’s layout, major waterways and neighborhood locations.
Population density also changes depending on the geographic area used for the calculation. A figure for the entire city includes parks, industrial land and other places where few people live.
A neighborhood density estimate based on census tracts therefore cannot be directly compared with the citywide figure unless the boundaries and population years match.
Population Was Much Larger in the 1950s
Philadelphia was once substantially larger than it is today.
The 1950 Census recorded 2,071,605 residents, the highest population count in the city’s history.
The city lost hundreds of thousands of residents during the second half of the twentieth century as manufacturing employment declined and more households moved into surrounding suburbs.
By 2000, Philadelphia’s population had dropped to 1,517,550.
Growth resumed during the following two decades, reaching 1,603,797 in 2020 before the pandemic interrupted the recovery.
The Census Bureau’s historical census records document the mid-century population peak and provide the basis for long-term comparisons.
| Year | Philadelphia Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,071,605 |
| 1960 | 2,002,512 |
| 1970 | 1,948,609 |
| 1980 | 1,688,210 |
| 1990 | 1,585,577 |
| 2000 | 1,517,550 |
| 2010 | 1,526,006 |
| 2020 | 1,603,797 |
| 2025 estimate | 1,574,281 |
Sources: Historical decennial census counts and the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 population estimates.
Philadelphia has 497,324 fewer residents than it did at its 1950 peak. The city would need population growth of nearly 32% from its latest estimated total to return to that historic level.
The city is no longer losing residents at the pace recorded during its industrial decline. Even so, recent annual gains remain small relative to its earlier population losses.
Methodology
Population totals come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city estimates, released in May 2026, and the 2010 and 2020 decennial censuses.
Demographic, income, poverty, education and housing figures use American Community Survey data. One-year ACS figures for 2024 and five-year figures covering 2020-2024 describe separate survey periods and should not be treated as measurements taken on the same date.
Neighborhood income figures use ZIP code areas, which do not always match locally recognized neighborhood boundaries. Figures for the Philadelphia metropolitan area should also be kept separate from Philadelphia city statistics.
Population changes and percentage comparisons were calculated from the published figures. The housing initiative figures describe announced funding and program targets, not completed construction.
