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United States · state

West Virginia population 2026

West Virginia has 1,766,147 people on the latest official figure, for 1 July 2025, 1,255 fewer than a year earlier (−0.07%). It is 39th of the US’s 50 states and DC by population, home to 0.5% of the US’s people.

If last year’s change continues: about 1.8 million by 1 July 2026. That is our arithmetic, not an official figure.

West Virginia in numbers

Population
1.8 million 1 July 2025
Change in a year
−0.07% −1,255 people
Change since 2020
−1.43% from 1.8 million
Share of the US
0.5% 39th of 50 states and DC
Population density
28per km² 62,267 km²
Births in the year
17 thousand deaths: 25 thousand
International migration
+244 net arrivals from abroad
Moves within the US
+6 thousand more people moved in than left

In the latest year deaths outnumbered births by 7,887, 244 more people arrived from abroad than left, and 6,408 more people moved in from the rest of the US than moved out.

That is about as many people as North Macedonia (1.8 million).

Population of West Virginia by year

Population of West Virginia
1.8M
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
20101,854,265
20111,856,606
20121,857,446
20131,854,768
20141,850,569
20151,843,332
20161,832,435
20171,818,683
20181,805,953
20191,795,263
20201,791,670
20211,785,921
20221,774,003
20231,770,036
20241,767,402
20251,766,147
YearPopulationChange
2025 1,766,147 −1,255
2024 1,767,402 −2,634
2023 1,770,036 −3,967
2022 1,774,003 −11,918
2021 1,785,921 −5,749
2020 1,791,670 −3,593
2019 1,795,263 −10,690
2018 1,805,953 −12,730
2017 1,818,683 −13,752
2016 1,832,435 −10,897
2015 1,843,332 −7,237
2014 1,850,569 −4,199
2013 1,854,768 −2,678
2012 1,857,446 +840
2011 1,856,606 +2,341

2010–2019 are Vintage 2020 estimates and 2020–2025 are Vintage 2025, so the step between 2019 and 2020 is partly a change of base.

West Virginia among the US’s states

Full ranking →
States of the US by population
#
1 California39,355,309−0.02%
2 Texas31,709,821+1.25%
3 Florida23,462,518+0.84%
4 New York State20,002,427+0.01%
5 Pennsylvania13,059,432+0.10%
6 Illinois12,719,141+0.13%
7 Ohio11,900,510+0.34%
8 Georgia (US State)11,302,748+0.88%
9 North Carolina11,197,968+1.32%
10 Michigan10,127,884+0.28%
11 New Jersey9,548,215+0.44%
12 Virginia8,880,107+0.69%
13 Washington State8,001,020+0.92%
14 Arizona7,623,818+0.89%
15 Tennessee7,315,076+0.88%
16 Massachusetts7,154,084+0.22%
17 Indiana6,973,333+0.56%
18 Missouri6,270,541+0.43%
19 Maryland6,265,347+0.32%
20 Colorado6,012,561+0.40%
21 Wisconsin5,972,787+0.26%
22 Minnesota5,830,405+0.57%
23 South Carolina5,570,274+1.46%
24 Alabama5,193,088+0.58%
25 Louisiana4,618,189+0.07%
26 Kentucky4,606,864+0.50%
27 Oregon4,273,586+0.19%
28 Oklahoma4,123,288+0.62%
29 Connecticut3,688,496+0.38%
30 Utah3,538,904+1.02%
31 Nevada3,282,188+0.88%
32 Iowa3,238,387+0.25%
33 Arkansas3,114,791+0.60%
34 Kansas2,977,220+0.40%
35 Mississippi2,954,160+0.14%
36 New Mexico2,125,498−0.06%
37 Idaho2,029,733+1.44%
38 Nebraska2,018,006+0.62%
39 West Virginia1,766,147−0.07%
40 Hawaii1,432,820−0.15%
41 New Hampshire1,415,342+0.48%
42 Maine1,414,874+0.46%
43 Montana1,144,694+0.63%
44 Rhode Island1,114,521+0.37%
45 Delaware1,059,952+0.94%
46 South Dakota935,094+0.86%
47 North Dakota799,358+0.75%
48 Alaska737,270+0.10%
49 District of Columbia693,645+0.34%
50 Vermont644,663−0.29%
51 Wyoming588,753+0.35%

Largest cities in West Virginia

City proper, not the wider metro area; latest figure in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), so years differ.

  1. Huntington48,638
  2. Charleston46,838
  3. Parkersburg30,991
  4. Morgantown30,708
  5. Wheeling27,648
  6. Weirton Heights19,450

Questions

What is the population of West Virginia in 2026?
The latest official figure is 1,766,147, for 1 July 2025 (US Census Bureau). If last year’s change continues, West Virginia would have about 1.8 million people by 1 July 2026; that is our arithmetic, not an official figure. The Census Bureau publishes new state estimates each December.

Is West Virginia’s population growing or shrinking?
It shrank by 1,255 people (−0.07%) in the latest year, and has changed −1.43% since 2020. In the latest year deaths outnumbered births by 7,887, 244 more people arrived from abroad than left, and 6,408 more people moved in from the rest of the US than moved out.

How does West Virginia rank in the US?
West Virginia is 39th of the US’s 50 states and DC, with 0.5% of the people. California is the largest, with 39.4 million.

What is the population density of West Virginia?
About 28 people per km², on 62,267 km². Land area, US Census Bureau Gazetteer.

What is the largest city in West Virginia?
Huntington, with about 49 thousand people in the city proper. Metro areas are larger, and years differ (GeoNames).

Source and method

US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates. US government work, public domain. Land area, US Census Bureau Gazetteer. The Census Bureau publishes new state estimates each December. Ranks, shares and changes are our arithmetic on the published figures. National figures can differ from the UN’s projection for the US, which uses a different method. The 2026 figure above carries last year’s change forward; it does not come from the source.

Cite this page: West Virginia population, US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025. GlobeMetrics, https://globemetrics.org/world-population/united-states/west-virginia/

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