The State of West Virginia Population Charts

According to the most recent West Virginia demographics data available from the 2022 Census Bureau released in the American Community Survey in November of 2022, Figure 1 the state of depicts it has a Population 2021 of 1,801,049 which is the smallest as measured by population of all the other states in the greater region. The state with the highest population in the group is Florida which depicts a population of 21,339,762 ( appreciably bigger). Figure 3 uses the West Virginia population data for a comparison of the population growth/population change estimates from the years 2010 to 2021 and West Virginia shows a decline of 51,945 (3%).

The total West Virginia greater area population percent change for all areas for the years from 2010 to 2021 is shown in Figure 4 and for West Virginia indicates it has a Population Change of -2.8% which is in the mid point range of other states in the greater region.

Looking at the West Virginia population density (measured as people per square mile) and providing comparisons to both the national and state average population density in Figure 5, West Virginia depicts it has a Population Density of 75 which is in the mid range of other states in the area. The state with the highest population density in the group is District of Columbia which depicts a people per square mile of 11,190 ( very much bigger). Figure 6 provides West Virginia demographics for the overall median age for all people in the region and West Virginia shows it has a Median Age of 42.6 which is the largest of all states in the local area. The West Virginia population data for median age broken out by gender for both men versus the median age of women is shown in Figure 7. West Virginia depicts median age of men about 6.3% smaller as the median age of women.

The next demographic analysis (Figure 8) looks at large generational West Virginia population groups (and can be useful internet research for employment related research or identifying areas with retirees). Key findings in this chart includes that West Virginia has the smallest proportion of people less than 20 years of age at 12.1% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people between 20 and 29 years old at 11.7% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people between 50 and 59 yeasr old at 14.2% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of people between 60 and 69 years old at 13.1% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger state being Florida with 14.2%.

Figure 9 illustrates the overall diversity breakdown for West Virginia population and ethnicity groups in the area. (note: Hispanic/Latino is broken out separately in the next diagram and also the group denoted as Native ethnicity includes Native American, and Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.) West Virginia has the smallest proportion of White population at 3.4% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of Black population at 0.8% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of Asian population at 0.1% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of Native population at 3.6% of the total. Figure 10 shows the West Virginia Hispanic (including non Hispanic whites) population household ethnicity in the region and West Virginia depicts it has a Hispanic or Latino of 1.7% which is in the intermediate range of other states in the local area. Figure 11 compares the ratio of the amount of men to the amount of women and depicts total male population about the same size as the total female population.

The State of West Virginia Marital Status and Families Charts

Figure 12 shows the detailed marriage characteristics broken down by %residents who are married, never married, single, divorced, and widowed. West Virginia has the smallest proportion of total percent married at 29% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of never married percent at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of percent divorced at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 14 compares the average household size using the average number of people in a family for West Virginia households. West Virginia depicts it has a Family Size of 3.2 which is less than most other states in the area. The state with the highest average family size in the group is Georgia which depicts an average family size of 3.4 (only about 5.8% larger).

Figure 15 shows the overall ratio of West Virginia households for families to the total number of West Virginia households and that West Virginia depicts it has a Families of 63% which is in the mid range of other states in the metro area. The state with the highest percent of people who are in a family in the group is Georgia which depicts a families percent of 67% (only about 5.2% larger).

Looking at West Virginia households that are headed by a husband and wife as a percent of all families in Figure 16, West Virginia shows it has a Married-couple family of 76% which is the highest of all states in the greater West Virginia region. Figure 17 shows West Virginia demographics for the head of household for each place using a breakdown of married-couple, male-headed alone, and female-headed alone. West Virginia has the smallest proportion of households at 16.6% of the total.

The State of West Virginia Mothers and Children Charts

The next section of charts provide a detailed look at mothers and baby births that occurred over the past 12 months. Figure 18 shows the rate of women aged 15 to 50 years old who have given birth. West Virginia depicts it has a Birth Rate of 4.8% which is the smallest in order of percent of women who gave birth of all the other states in the surrounding region. The state with the highest percent of women who gave birth in the group is South Carolina which depicts a birth rate of 5.4% (12.9% larger). Figure 19 shows the breakdown of the mother's age for all baby births that occurred in the last 12 months and it has the largest proportion of percent of births to mothers aged 15 to 19 at 23% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of percent of births to mothers aged 30 to 34 at 10% of the total.

In Figure 20, the demographic data for West Virginia teenager birth rate is shown (women between the ages of 15 and 19.) the state of depicts it has a Teenager Birth Rate of 4% which is the most of all states in the greater West Virginia region.

In Figure 21, the percentage of all births in the last 12 months to mothers that were unmarried is shown (unwed mothers.) West Virginia indicates it has a Unwed Births of 40% which is the third most percent of unwed women who have given birth of all other states in the greater West Virginia region. The state with the highest percent of unwed women who have given birth in the group is District of Columbia which depicts an unwed mother birth rate of 43% (7.3% larger).

The next chart, Figure 22, shows the percentage of unwed mothers who are also on public assistance. West Virginia depicts it has a Unwed birth and on public assistance of 10.8% which is the third most percent of unwed women who gave birth and are on public assistance of all other states in the greater West Virginia region. The state with the highest percent of unwed women who have given birth and are on public assistance in the group is District of Columbia which depicts a percent of unwed women who gave birth and are on public assistance of 26.9% (approximately 2.5 times bigger). Figure 25 shows the comparative demographic rate of unwed mothers who have given birth in the last 12 months are broken down by racial group (including the Hispanic birth rate.) West Virginia has the percentage of Hispanic unwed birth rate the smallest as measured by White unwed birth rate of all the other states in the greater region at 4.5% of the total.

Figure 26 shows unwed mothers in poverty (based on median household income definition) who have given birth in the last 12 months. West Virginia has the percentage of unwed births and living below poverty level the smallest when ranked by percent of unwed births to mothers living below the poverty level of all the other states in the greater region at 21.6% of the total. Second, it has in the intermediate range of other states in the greater region in terms of unwed births and living between 100% and 199% of poverty level at 24.1% of the total.

For all births to unwed mothers, Figure 27 breaks down the education level of the mother by less than high school through college and post graduate attainment it has the largest proportion of percent of unwed mothers with less than high school education at 44% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has in the mid point range of other states in the greater region when sorted by percent of unwed mothers who are a high school graduate or equivalent at 29% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of percent of unwed mothers with a Bachelors degree at 1% of the total.

The State of West Virginia Marital Status Charts

The next set of demographic data looks at the marital status for West Virginia households which is useful for internet research. Figure 28 compares the total number of single people in each area. West Virginia depicts it has a Total Single People of 50% which is the second smallest in order of percent of people who are single for any reason of all the other states in the local area. The state with the highest percent of people who are single for any reason in the group is District of Columbia which depicts a percent single of 67% (35.0% larger).

Figure 30 compares the single people in each area broken down by never married, divorced, and widowed. West Virginia has the largest proportion of percent never married at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of percent divorced at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 31 shows the demographics for the number of single men adults in each area broken out by never married, divorced and widowed. West Virginia has the largest proportion of men who have never been married at 13% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of men who are divorced at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 32 shows the number of single women adults in each area broken out by never married, divorced and widowed. West Virginia has one of the largest proportions of women who have never been married at 14% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger state being Florida with 15%. Second, it has the largest proportion of women who are divorced at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 33 shows the West Virginia demographics for the ratio of the number of single men between the age of 18 and 65, in each area, broken down by age group for the West Virginia metro area. West Virginia has the smallest proportion of single men 18 to 24 at 14% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of single men 25 to 29 at 10% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of single men 35 to 39 at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of single men 40 to 44 at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of single men 45 to 49 at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of single men 50 to 60 at 7% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 34 shows the West Virginia population data for the ratio of the number of single women between the age of 18 and 65, in each area, broken down by age group for the West Virginia metro area. West Virginia has the smallest proportion of single women 18 to 24 at 13% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of single women 25 to 29 at 9% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of single women 35 to 39 at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of single women 50 to 60 at 10% of the total and is ranked #1.

The State of West Virginia Citizenship Demographics Charts

The next section of demographic information provides detailed data West Virginia residents including: immigrants, citizenship, immigration, country of origin, non citizens and more. To start, Figure 35 shows a high level view of citizenship. West Virginia has the smallest proportion of citizens born In US at 1% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of citizens by naturalization at 1% of the total. The next chart (Figure 36) shows for all citizens what the original place of birth was for people who were born in a foreign country and has the smallest proportion of birthplace in this state at 6% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of birthplace in the South at 2% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of birthplace in West at 1% of the total.

In Figure 37, the demographic percentage of West Virginia residents who were not born in the United States is shown (i.e. percent foreign born.) West Virginia depicts it has a Percent Foreign Born of 1.6% which is in the middle range of other states in the local area. The state with the highest percent of population who was born in another country in the group is Florida which depicts a percent born outside United States of 21.0% ( considerably bigger).

Figure 39 provides a detailed analysis of non citizens by breaking them into two age groups: Under 18 and over the age of 18. West Virginia shows percent of non citizens under 18 years old approximately a twelfth the size as the percent of non citizens over 18 years old. Figure 40 provides further information for non citizen age by showing a comparison of the median age for all non citizens immigrants. it has a Non Citizen Median Age of 36.2 which is in the center range of other states in the surrounding region. The state with the highest median age of non citizens in the group is Florida which depicts a median age of 40.9 (13.0% larger). The next diagram (Figure 41) shows the year of entry that non citizens entered the United States. The year of entry can show the rate of flow at various points of time in the past for when they entered the U.S. it has the largest proportion of non citizens who entered the US after 2010 at 57% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of non citizens who entered the US between 2000 to 2009 at 22% of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of non citizens who entered the US before 1990 at 10% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger state being Florida with 10%.

For all foreign born people who have gone through naturalization (the process of becoming a legal U.S. resident citizen), Figure 42 shows the year when they became fully naturalized U.S. citizens. has the smallest proportion of people naturalized 2015 or later at 13% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people naturalized 2010 to 2014 at 14% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people naturalized before 1990 at 27% of the total and is ranked #1.

The State of West Virginia Birthplace Demographic Charts

Figure 43 displays a map of the globe and shows West Virginia demographic information for large regions of the world that people from this place originally came from. West Virginia has the largest proportion of from Europe at 19% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of from Asia at 43% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of from the Americas at 28% of the total.

Figure 44 categorizes the location for where foreign born people originally come from based on very large continental geographic areas. West Virginia has the largest proportion of from Europe at 43% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of from Oceania at 28% of the total.

Figure 45 is a table that breaks out all the people who were foreign born by which large geographic region where they were born. West Virginia has the largest proportion of people who were born in Northern Europe at 5.2% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in Western Europe at 6.5% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in Southern Europe at 3.4% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in Eastern Asia at 11.5% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in South East Asia at 10.9% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in Western Asia at 7.2% of the total and is ranked #1. Next it has the smallest proportion of people who were born in Central America at 13.1% of the total. Additionally, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in North America at 4.2% of the total and is ranked #1.