Minnesota Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Minnesota, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Minnesota. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Minnesota. The estimated population of Minnesota is 5,670,472 people, with a median age of 38.2.

We can look at the total population in Minnesota over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
5,670,472
+1.26%
+3.27%
2020
5,600,166
+0.66%
-
2019
5,563,378
+0.65%
-
2018
5,527,358
+0.67%
-
2017
5,490,726
 - -

Population of Minnesota by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
78.3%
80.8%
 -3.09%
Black/African American
6.5%
5.9%
 +10.17%
Native
0.8%
0.9%
 -11.11%
Hispanic
5.6%
5.2%
 +7.69%
Asian
5%
4.6%
 +8.70%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.4%
2.5%
 +36.00%
Other
0.3%
0.1%
 +200.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Minnesota by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 38.2 +0.26% 37.5 +0.54% 38.9 -0.26%
2020 38.1 +0.26% 37.3 +0.54% 39 0%
2019 38 +0.26% 37.1 +0.27% 39 +0.26%
2018 37.9 0% 37 +0.27% 38.9 0%
2017 37.9 - 36.9 - 38.9 -

The median age of Minnesota gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 365,211 +0.89% 347,656 +0.5% 368,449 349,364
10 to 19 365,164 +4.73% 351,157 +4.66% 382,621 367,728
20 to 29 371,372 -0.76% 357,371 +0.04% 368,532 357,522
30 to 39 370,699 +6.44% 359,971 +5.32% 395,120 379,489
40 to 49 343,851 +1.39% 337,762 -1.23% 348,510 333,561
50 to 59 387,750 -2.58% 392,699 -5.31% 377,763 372,266
60 to 69 294,664 +12.51% 304,800 +11.49% 333,261 341,337
70+ 233,120 +12.99% 307,479 +7.18% 264,879 330,070

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Minnesota is $77,706.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Minnesota.

  • Under 25
    $42,756.00
  • 25 to 44
    $88,800.00
  • 45 to 64
    $94,880.00
  • 65 and over
    $52,710.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Minnesota, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Minnesota, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Minnesota is currently $102,691.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

9.68% of households in Minnesota are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Minnesota against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    13.44%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    17.92%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.97%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.99%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.89%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    9.11%
  • $200,000 or more
    9.68%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Minnesota is $41,204.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Minnesota by the total population of Minnesota.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Minnesota, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Minnesota to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    14.75%
  • Bachelor's degree
    39.31%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.51%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    33.36%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.06%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Minnesota that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Minnesota over the age of 16 is 4,495,952.

Of those people, a total of 69.20% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Minnesota is 66.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 293,642 52.30% 10.70%
20 to 24 years 354,809 83.30% 6.70%
25 to 29 years 371,245 88.60% 4.40%
30 to 34 years 384,970 89.00% 3.80%
35 to 44 years 738,714 88.70% 3.10%
45 to 54 years 688,596 87.60% 3.00%
55 to 59 years 394,429 80.90% 3.20%
60 to 64 years 368,030 64.70% 3.30%
65 to 74 years 535,592 28.00% 3.20%
75 years and over 365,925 6.60% 2.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Minnesota. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 3,749,444 68.50% 3.40%
Black or African American 259,171 71.90% 8.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 38,516 57.40% 12.90%
Asian 213,126 72.80% 4.10%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1,947 62.70% 3.60%
Other 85,210 75.80% 6.20%
Two or more races 148,538 74.10% 7.30%
Hispanic or Latino 211,126 77.00% 6.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 3,660,634 68.40% 3.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Minnesota as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Minnesota is 2,980,477, with median earnings of $45,687.00.

Women in Minnesota earning approximately 73.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 2,980,477 $45,687.00
Male 1,552,811 $53,267.00
Female 1,427,666 $39,376.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 337,361 $79,399.00
Business and Financial 194,327 $69,653.00
Computer and Mathematical 112,568 $85,274.00
Architecture and Engineering 66,664 $81,190.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 36,279 $64,539.00
Community and Social Service 60,644 $48,049.00
Legal 30,384 $88,760.00
Educational and Library 183,177 $44,353.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 62,586 $43,909.00
Healthcare Practitioners 199,432 $63,273.00
Healthcare Support 112,595 $25,275.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 19,365 $36,258.00
Law Enforcement 19,258 $69,827.00
Food Preparation and Serving 145,260 $15,281.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 92,098 $25,056.00
Personal Care and Service 75,152 $20,418.00
Sales 277,556 $40,005.00
Office and Administrative Support 313,554 $39,186.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 19,888 $30,954.00
Construction and Extraction 130,513 $52,737.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 86,137 $52,681.00
Production 201,668 $39,814.00
Transportation and Material Moving 103,346 $43,094.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 201,260 $87,822.00 136,101 $67,905.00
Business and Financial 87,116 $78,810.00 107,211 $63,889.00
Computer and Mathematical 83,068 $88,993.00 29,500 $74,968.00
Architecture and Engineering 56,539 $82,989.00 10,125 $72,858.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 18,563 $70,886.00 17,716 $61,002.00
Community and Social Service 19,118 $50,604.00 41,526 $47,072.00
Legal 13,511 $119,414.00 16,873 $70,727.00
Educational and Library 48,684 $56,203.00 134,493 $40,305.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 28,902 $49,862.00 33,684 $39,979.00
Healthcare Practitioners 44,404 $83,363.00 155,028 $59,372.00
Healthcare Support 19,248 $25,751.00 93,347 $25,153.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 14,152 $38,005.00 5,213 $27,213.00
Law Enforcement 16,107 $71,286.00 3,151 $62,909.00
Food Preparation and Serving 60,460 $17,201.00 84,800 $14,304.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 58,288 $31,038.00 33,810 $17,319.00
Personal Care and Service 15,066 $22,174.00 60,086 $20,125.00
Sales 149,934 $53,929.00 127,622 $26,249.00
Office and Administrative Support 84,659 $42,087.00 228,895 $38,284.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 16,142 $32,973.00 3,746 $20,030.00
Construction and Extraction 125,944 $53,128.00 4,569 $35,425.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 83,095 $52,935.00 3,042 $43,743.00
Production 144,536 $43,869.00 57,132 $31,805.00
Transportation and Material Moving 89,770 $45,054.00 13,576 $28,315.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 2,229,100 households in Minnesota, with an average household size of 2.49 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 1,415,231 families in Minnesota with an average family size of 3.09 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 1,115,048 97,344 202,839 813,869
Average Household Size 3.13 3.31 3.35 1.29
Total Families 1,115,048 97,344 202,839 0
Average Household Size 3.11 2.86 3.06 0

Poverty

Of the 1,415,231 families in Minnesota, 5.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Minnesota:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 2,470,483 housing units in Minnesota.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 2,229,100 90.23%
Vacant 241,383 9.77%

24.01% of the total 2,470,483 housing units in Minnesota are rental units. This is approximately 593,096 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 1,610,801 are occupied by the owner - or 65.20% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Minnesota is $1,081.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Minnesota that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    25,203
  • Less than $500
    65,384
  • $500 to $999
    193,815
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    196,115
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    93,601
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    28,214
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    7,948
  • $3,000 or more
    8,019

Property Value

The median value of a property in Minnesota is $250,200.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Minnesota that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    69,939
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    98,957
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    152,547
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    237,736
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    462,457
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    424,762
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    142,729
  • $1,000,000 or more
    21,674

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Minnesota. The chart below shows the number of properties in Minnesota that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    392,615
  • 1940 to 1949
    108,301
  • 1950 to 1959
    239,067
  • 1960 to 1969
    235,148
  • 1970 to 1979
    361,174
  • 1980 to 1989
    309,770
  • 1990 to 1999
    326,231
  • 2000 to 2009
    331,807
  • 2010 to 2013
    161,978
  • 2014 or later
    4,392

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Minnesota that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    144,942
  • 1 vehicle available
    662,707
  • 2 vehicles available
    892,324
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    529,127

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Minnesota get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Minnesota that commute to work in a particular way.

23.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Minnesota.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    96,140
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    315,284
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    383,571
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    408,374
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    381,571
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    195,592
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    322,657
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    84,607
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    95,313
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    167,137
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    95,774
  • 90 or more minutes
    45,050

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Minnesota in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Counties in Minnesota

We have data for 87 counties in Minnesota. Click on a county below to see more information about the demographics of that county, with links to cities and towns within that county.

Zip Codes in Minnesota

If you want to find out more about the population and demographics of specific zip codes in Minnesota, click on the links below.