Demographics of Oklahoma

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Oklahoma was 3,911,338 on July 1, 2015, a 4.26% increase since the 2010 United States Census.[2]

According to the U.S. Census, as of 2010, Oklahoma has a historical estimated population of 3,751,351 which is an increase of 300,058 or 8.7 percent, since the year 2000.[3] Oklahoma ranks first in the Great Plains region in terms of population, followed by Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. There has historically been a lot of German American, Irish American and English American immigration to what is now the state of Oklahoma.[4]

In the state, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.[5] There were 1,460,450 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. Of all households, 27.5% were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

It was estimated in 2010, that 5.5% of Oklahoma's residents, 206,382 were foreign born. Of them 31.9% were Naturalized US citizens and 68.1% were Not a US citizen.[6]

The median income for a household in the state was $42,072, and the median income for a family was $51,958 (these figures have risen to 44,287 and 55,296 respectively in 2011). The per capita income for the state was $22,254 (risen to 26,192). It was estimated that 16.9% (has decreased to 16.3%, in 2011)[7] of the population were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.7% of those under the age of 18 and 15.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[8]

As of 2010, about 81.1% of the state's civilian non-institutionalized population has health coverage with 61.8% with private insurance and 31.3% with public coverage. About 18.9% of the state's population has no health insurance coverage and 10.0% of all children 18 years and younger in Oklahoma have no health insurance.[8]

The center of population of Oklahoma is located at 35.598464 N, -96.836786 W, in Lincoln County near the town of Sparks.[9]

According to the 2010 United States census, the racial and ethnic composition of Oklahoma was the following:[3][10][11]

• White: 65.3%
• Native American: 9.3%
• Black or African American: 7.8%
• Two or more races: 6.2%
• Asian: 2.3% (0.4% Vietnamese, 0.3% Indian, 0.2% Chinese, 0.2% Korean, 0.2% Filipino, 0.1% Hmong, 0.1% Japanese)
• Pacific Islander: 0.2%

Ethnically, the Hispanic or Latinos (of any race) make up 11% of the population. Major ancestry groups of the Hispanic population include: 7.1% Mexican, 0.3% Puerto Rican, 0.2% Spanish, 0.2% Guatemalan, 0.1% Salvadoran, 0.1% Cuban.

An estimated 7.4 percent of Oklahomans are African American. African Americans are a plurality in southeast Lawton, northeast Oklahoma City, northwest Tulsa, and portions of Muskogee. In Tulsa, prior to the Tulsa race massacre, the historic Black community of Greenwood was once prosperous enough to earn the nickname "the Black Wall Street" in the 1920s.[12][13]

In 2010, Oklahoma had the second-largest Native American population after California, with the highest concentration found in the Tulsa-Broken Arrow metropolitan area (8.3%). As a percentage of population, Oklahoma ranked fourth behind Alaska, New Mexico, and South Dakota with 8.57%.[14] This is largely the result of the Trail of Tears.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are mostly concentrated in the Oklahoma City−Norman metropolitan area. Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond, which are located within Oklahoma and Cleveland counties have sizable Vietnamese and Indian communities, as well as a significant Korean community that is present there.[15] Oklahoma is also home to a large and growing Hmong (3369) and Burmese (1146) population, more than half of whom reside in the Tulsa-Broken Arrow metropolitan area.[16][17]

As of 2010, the largest ancestry groups in Oklahoma were:[18]

• 14.6% German
• 12.6% Irish
• 9.6% American (most Oklahomans who cite American are primarily of English, Scottish, and Welsh ancestries)[19][20]
• 8.2% English
• 7.1% Mexican
• 2.4% French
• 2.0% Dutch
• 1.8% Scottish
• 1.7% Italian
• 1.2% Scots-Irish

Oklahoma had 598 incorporated places in 2010, including three cities over 100,000 in population and 40 over 10,000.[21] Two of the fifty largest cities in the United States are located in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and 58 percent of Oklahomans live within their metropolitan areas, or spheres of economic and social influence defined by the United States Census Bureau as a metropolitan statistical area. Oklahoma City, the state's capital and largest city, had the largest metropolitan area in the state in 2010, with 1,252,987 people, and the metropolitan area of Tulsa had 937,478 residents.[22]

Oklahoma's largest cities in 2010 were: Oklahoma City (579,999), Tulsa (391,906), Norman (110,925), Broken Arrow (98,850), Lawton (96,867), Edmond (81,405), Moore (55,081), Midwest City (54,371), Enid (49,379), and Stillwater (45,688). Between 2000 and 2010, the cities that led the state in population growth were Blanchard 172.4%, Elgin 78.2%, Piedmont 56.7%, Bixby 56.6%, and Owasso 56.3%.[21]

In 2000, 6.8% of Oklahoma's population was reported as under 5, 25.9% under 18, and 13.2% was 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.9% of the population. The state has an above-average birth rate than most of the United States. Oklahoma has dealt with many socioeconomic issues, as the state's rank of annual household income is below national average and the state's poverty rate exceeds 15 percent, higher in rural areas. The state's 2000 per capita personal income was $23,517, 43rd in the nation. However, Oklahoma's cost of living index also among the lowest in the nation.[1] Oklahoma City suburb Nichols Hills is ranked first on Oklahoma locations by per capita income at $73,661.