Washington: Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	1,201		—
1860	11,594		865.4%
1870	23,955		106.6%
1880	75,116		213.6%
1890	357,232		375.6%
1900	518,103		45.0%
1910	1,141,990		120.4%
1920	1,356,621		18.8%
1930	1,563,396		15.2%
1940	1,736,191		11.1%
1950	2,378,963		37.0%
1960	2,853,214		19.9%
1970	3,409,169		19.5%
1980	4,132,156		21.2%
1990	4,866,692		17.8%
2000	5,894,121		21.1%
Est. 2009[2]	6,664,195		13.1%

Washington Population Density Map

Seattle

Spokane

Tacoma

According to the U.S. Census, as of 2009, Washington has an estimated population of 6,664,195, which is an increase of 770,074, or 13.1%, since the year 2000.^[19] This includes a natural increase of 221,958 people (that is, 503,819 births minus 281,861 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 287,759 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 157,950 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 129,809 people. Washington ranks first in the Pacific Northwest region in terms of population, followed by Oregon, and Idaho.

The center of population of Washington in the year 2000 was located in an unpopulated part of rural eastern King County, southeast of North Bend and northeast of Enumclaw.^[20]

As of the Census 2000, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metropolitan Area's population was 3,043,878, approximately half the state's total population.^[21]

As of 2004, Washington's population included 631,500 foreign-born (10.3% of the state population), and an estimated 100,000 illegal aliens (1.6% of state population).^[22]

6.7% of Washington's population was reported as under 5, 25.7% under 18, and 11.2% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.2% of the population.

Largest cities

See also: List of cities in Washington

The largest cities in Washington according to 2009 state census estimates.^[23]

Rank	City	Population
1	Seattle	602,000
2	Spokane	205,500
3	Tacoma	203,400
4	Vancouver	164,500
5	Bellevue	120,600
6	Everett	103,500
7	Spokane Valley	89,440
8	Federal Way	88,580
9	Kent	88,380
10	Yakima	84,850
11	Renton	83,650
12	Bellingham	76,130
13	Auburn	67,485
14	Kennewick	67,180
15	Lakewood	58,840

Race

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009)

Demographics of Washington (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN*	Asian	NHPI*
2000 (total population)	88.64%	4.12%	2.73%	6.75%	0.74%
2000 (Hispanic only)	7.00%	0.23%	0.28%	0.15%	0.06%
2005 (total population)	87.65%	4.45%	2.65%	7.69%	0.78%
2005 (Hispanic only)	8.16%	0.33%	0.30%	0.20%	0.07%
Growth 2000–05 (total population)	5.49%	15.37%	3.54%	21.57%	12.25%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only)	3.88%	13.41%	2.18%	21.11%	11.20%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only)	24.32%	47.88%	15.40%	41.33%	24.11%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

The seven largest reported ancestries in Washington are: German (18.7%), English (12%), Irish (11.4%), Norwegian (6.2%), Mexican (5.6%), African (4.2%), and Filipino (3.7%).

Washington has the fourth largest Asian-American population of any state. The Filipino-American community is the largest Asian American subgroup in the state. Gary Locke was elected as the first Asian American governor (and so far, the only Chinese American governor of any US state) at the end of the 20th century.

There are many migrant Mexican American farm workers living in the southeast-central part of the state, and this population is also steadily increasing in Western Washington.

African Americans are less numerous than Asian Americans or Hispanic Americans in many communities in Washington, but have been elected as mayors of Seattle, Spokane, and Lakewood, and also as King County Executive. In Seattle, many African Americans are moving into the southern part of the city, as well as to many suburban areas such as South King County. Seattle's black population is largely concentrated on Rainier Valley and the Central District, which remains one of the only majority-black neighborhoods in the Pacific Northwest, the other being in Portland, Oregon's King neighborhood; it is about 40% African-American. Tacoma also has a rising African-American population.

Washington is the location of many Native American reservations, with some placing prominent casinos next to major interstate highways. Residents have adopted many of the artwork themes of the northwest coast Indians who were noted for totem poles, longhouses, dugout canoes and pictures of animals. Many cities have traditional names created by Native Americans such as Yakima, Seattle, Spokane, Puyallup, and Walla Walla.

Religion

Major religious affiliations of the people of Washington are:^[24]

• Protestant: 49%
  • Mainline: 23%
  • Evangelical: 25%
  • Other Protestant: 1%
• Unaffiliated: 25%
• Roman Catholic: 16%
• Latter-day Saint: 4%
• Muslim: 1%
• Jewish: 1%
• Other Religions: 3%

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Roman Catholic Church with 716,133; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 178,000 (253,166 year-end 2007) ; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 127,854.^[25]

As with many other Western states, the percentage of Washington's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average. The percentage of non-religious people in Washington is the highest of any state other than Colorado with 31%.

Demographics

Population

Population of (1350—2009)

According to the 2002 Census the population of the city was 10,382,754, however, this figure only takes into account legal residents. Latest estimate—10,524,400 (1 June 2009).^[99] Population of Moscow with Moscow region is 17,001,292 (as of the 2002 Census).

For centuries Moscow has been the largest city in Russia and/or the Soviet Union, however the collapse of the latter has led to a decline in Siberian as well as many other Russian cities, so that Moscow's growth and dominance over Saint Petersburg and the rest of the nation has become even more pronounced.^{[citation needed]}

It is a highly ethnically homogeneous city, with 86,4% being Russian (as of the 2002 Census).

Due to a low birth rate^[100] and high mortality rate, the population of Russia has been declining by approximately 700,000 persons per year^[101] since the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2003, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by approximately 49,400. Whilst the birth rate has risen in more recent years, the average age of Moscow's population continues to increase.

Substantial numbers of internal migrants mean that Moscow's population is still increasing, whereas the population of many other Russian cities is in decline. Migrants are attracted by Moscow's strong economy which contrasts sharply with the stagnation in many other parts of Russia. In order to help regulate population growth, Moscow has an internal passport system that prohibits non-residents from staying in the capital for more than ninety days without registration.^{[citation needed]}

Moscow is a very unfriendly place for gays and lesbians to be themselves. The city government does not permit gays to hold “gay pride parades,” gay couples cannot show affections openly without fear of harm, and the Mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzhkov is thought be to be “one of the most homophobic politicians” in Russia. ^{[102] [103]}

Religion

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, demolished during the Soviet period, was reconstructed from 1990–2000.

Main article: Religion in Russia

Christianity is the predominant religion in the city, of which the Russian Orthodox Church is the most popular by virtue of being the country’s traditional religion and is deemed a part of Russia's "historical heritage" in a law passed in 1997.^[104] Moscow is also Russia's capital of Orthodox Christianity. The Patriarch of Moscow serves as the head of the church and resides in the Danilov Monastery. Moscow was called "city of 1600 churches" (ru: "город сорока сороков церквей"—city of forty forties churches) prior to 1917. In 1918 Russia became secular state and religion lost its position in society. After disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991 many of the destroyed churches have been restored and traditional religions are gaining popularity.

In Moscow there are other religious societies besides Orthodoxy: Muslims (Moscow is home to 1.5 million people of Muslim backgrounds or more than 15%, many from countries previously a part of the Soviet Union), Protestants, Old-believers, Single-believers, Judaism and various cult buildings of those religions.^[105]

The New Age movement has also led to emergence of some "non-traditional" religions in large cities of Russia. Polls indicate that around 1% of population of Moscow and St. Petersburg self-identify as Buddhists. Many of these are Slavic and have no ethnic connection to Buddhism.