Idaho is the 14th-largest state in the US in total area (83,569 mi²) and the 38th in population, with 1,920,562 people. Idaho has experienced significant population growth in recent years, gaining more than 325,000 new residents from 2010 to 2023. This increase of 22.52% is the second-highest in the country (behind Utah), making Idaho one of the fastest-growing states in the US.
Attractions in Idaho include the Rocky Mountains, expansive lakes, and Hells Canyon (spelled with no apostrophe)—a winding river gorge whose depth of 7,993 feet exceeds that of the Grand Canyon. The most populated city in the "Gem State" is the capital city, Boise, which boasts approximately 244,687 residents. Idaho gained statehood in July 1890 and has had four electoral votes since 1912. Republicans and Democrats both won elections up through 1928. During the Great Depression and World War II, Idahoans voted for FDR four times. Democrats won a fifth straight election here in 1948 before Dwight Eisenhower flipped the state, winning the election to his first term in 1952. Like most other states in the Mountain West, Idaho has been a Republican stronghold for the last several decades, having voted Democratic just once since Eisenhower's win – the 1964 landslide victory of Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater. In 2020, this trend continued, as Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden by over 30%.
Idaho's largest city and state capital is Boise. Ada is the largest county by population, with over 400,000 residents.
The median age in Idaho is 35.7 years of age, and the state features a slight gender difference with 49.9% females and 50.1% males residing in the state.
In religious terms, the Idaho population has 67% Christian-based faiths, 4% non-Christian faiths, and 27% unaffiliated with any religion in particular.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Idaho was:
White: 86.54%
Two or more races: 5.7%
Other race: 4.3%
Asian: 1.36%
Native American: 1.26%
Black or African American: 0.68%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.17%
Muslims are under 3,000 or .1 percent.
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