Located in the Southeastern United States, Gulf State Mississippi is the 35th most populated state, with a 2023 population of 2,959,473 people. Nicknamed the "Magnolia State," Mississippi posted a net population decrease of -0.26% from 2010 to 2023, joining West Virginia (-4.16%) and Illinois (-0.18%) as the only three states to lose population during that period. The reduction is primarily attributed to the competitive strength of out-of-state job markets.
Jackson is the capital and largest city of Mississippi, home to approximately 147,758 residents as of 2023. Like the state, Jackson has seen a slight population decrease from 2010 to 2023. However, many smaller cities in the state have grown during this time, including Leakesville (6.62%), Oxford (2.43%), and Hattiesburg (0.56%).
Mississippi is considered one of the most rural states in the U.S. and has the highest percentage of black residents (38.83%). Only the non-state District of Colombia has a higher percentage of black residents. Mississippi also has the lowest cost of living in the U.S.
Mississippi, created as part of the Mississippi Territory, gained statehood in December 1817. The state seceded from the Union during the Civil War and did not participate in the 1864 or 1868 presidential elections. Like many southern states, Mississippi voted almost exclusively with the Democratic Party from Reconstruction through the early 1960s, when civil rights legislation and a Republican tactic called the "Southern Strategy" helped turn the state "red." Three times since World War II, Mississippi has voted all its electors for third-party candidates, more than any other state. Since 1972, the state has voted Republican, except for 1976, when it supported Jimmy Carter of Georgia. Unlike many other southern states, Mississippi has not experienced excellent population growth; the 2000 census reduced the state from seven to six electoral votes, the lowest number since 1848. In 2020, Donald Trump easily won the state by 58%, compared to Biden's 41%.
On November 3, 2020, Mississippi residents voted on a new state flag, the New Magnolia. The new flag replaced Mississippi's previous flag, which featured the Confederate flag.
According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 82 counties, 298 cities, towns, and villages, and 437 special districts.[1]
Mississippi Gender and Religion Statistics
The median age of the Mississippi population is approximately 36.7. The state's gender ratio is 51.5% female and 48.5% male.
Regarding preferred religions across the state, 83% of the population is affiliated with a Christian-based faith, 2% with a non-Christian-based faith, and 14% have no affiliation with any religion.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Mississippi was:
White: 57.36%
Black or African American: 37.53%
Two or more races: 2.36%
Other race: 1.28%
Asian: 0.98%
Native American: 0.45%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.04%
Muslims are under 5,000.
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