Population of West Virginia
Current Population
1,764,325
10yr Growth Rate
-4.79%
Rank
#39 of 50
Population Over Time
Analysis# West Virginia Population Analysis
West Virginia has experienced sustained decline over the past decade, losing approximately 85,000 residents between 2014 and 2024 at a rate of -4.79%, contributing to its #39 ranking among U.S. states. The state's current population of 1,764,325 represents a dramatic reversal from its peak growth period in the 1910s, when the state experienced robust expansion driven by coal mining development. This long-term contraction reflects broader patterns of resource extraction dependency and out-migration that have persisted for over a century since the state's industrial apex.
Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,764,325 | -0.32% |
| 2023 | 1,770,071 | -0.22% |
| 2022 | 1,774,035 | -0.63% |
| 2021 | 1,785,249 | -0.47% |
| 2020 | 1,793,716 | -3.20% |
| 2010 | 1,852,994 | +2.47% |
| 2000 | 1,808,344 | +0.83% |
| 1990 | 1,793,477 | -8.01% |
| 1980 | 1,949,644 | +11.78% |
| 1970 | 1,744,237 | -6.25% |
| 1960 | 1,860,421 | -7.24% |
| 1950 | 2,005,552 | +5.45% |
| 1940 | 1,901,974 | +9.99% |
| 1930 | 1,729,205 | +18.14% |
| 1920 | 1,463,701 | +19.87% |
| 1910 | 1,221,119 | +27.36% |
| 1900 | 958,800 | — |