522,328
Atlanta is a city located in DeKalb County and Fulton County Georgia. It is also the county seat of Fulton County. With a 2023 population of 522,328, it is the largest city in Georgia and the 37th largest city in the United States.Atlanta is currently growing at a rate of 1.53% annually and its population has increased by 4.73% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 498,715 in 2020. Spanning over 137 miles, Atlanta has a population density of 3,848 people per square mile.
The average household income in Atlanta is $106,300 with a poverty rate of 21.05%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Atlanta is 33.2 years, 33 years for males, and 33.5 years for females.
Atlanta is Georgia's capital and most populous city, as well as the economic and cultural hub of the Atlanta metropolitan area. It also ranks 10th economically in the nation with a GDP of $276 billion.
Atlanta's population represents the residents of the city proper, although the urban population is 4.5 million and the Atlanta metropolitan area is home to 5.6 million, making it the 9th largest in the United States. The Combined Statistical Area is even larger at 6.2 million.
Atlanta Diversity
Atlanta is home to one of the highest LGBT populations per capita, which is 19th among major US metropolitan areas. An estimated 4.2% of Atlanta's metro population is gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Atlanta is also the 2nd largest majority black metro area in the country. Still, African Americans in the city have been moving to the suburbs over the last ten years, and the city's black population shrank from 61.4% in 2000 to 54% in 2010.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has seen the fastest growth in the proportion of whites in the city than any other US city. The white population grew from 31% to 38% from 2000 to 2010.
Atlanta Population Growth
Atlanta is a rapidly growing city, and its metropolitan area exceeded 5.5 million for the first time in 2013. While the area's growth is not as high as it was in the 1990s and early 2000s, it's higher than the previous year, and this growth is expected to continue as Atlanta attracts new people.
Slow growth is normal for the United States, as the country is still recovering from the Great Recession. Still, the U.S. Census Bureau found that metro Atlanta was the 6th fastest growing metro area in the country from 2012 to 2013.
It's projected that metro Atlanta's population will reach over 8 million by 2020.
Cherokee and Creek Indians inhabited Atlanta before the arrival of Europeans. Standing Peachtree, a Creek village, is now the closest Indian settlement to Atlanta.
The Western and Atlantic Railroad was approved in 1836 to connect Savannah to the Midwest. After the area was surveyed, the zero milepost was driven into what is now called Five Points. Just a year later, the area around this milepost had become a settlement, known formerly as Terminus and later as Thrashervile.
By 1842, Thrasherville had six buildings and 30 residents and was renamed as Marthasville. J. Edgar Thomson of the Georgia Railroad suggested renaming the settlement to Atlantica-Pacifica, which was shortened to Atlanta, and the town was incorporated in 1847.
Atlanta's population proliferated over the next decade. During the Civil War, its railroads made it a hub for distributing military supplies, and the Union Army moved southward and invaded north Georgia in 1860. Four years later, Confederate General Hood ordered a retreat from Atlanta and all buildings destroyed. The next day, the Mayor of Atlanta surrendered the city to the Union Army.
Union General William T. Sherman ordered Atlanta burned to the ground in 1864 when it became apparent it would be lost to the Union, but the city was rebuilt slowly. By 1880, it surpassed Savannah as the state's largest city, and it had a period of unprecedented growth during the early 20th century.
Atlanta Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Atlanta was:
- Black or African American: 49.79%
- White: 40.42%
- Asian: 4.8%
- Two or more races: 3.18%
- Other race: 1.4%
- Native American: 0.38%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.04%
State
Georgia
County
DeKalb County
Fulton County
Land Area (mi²)
135.7 sq mi
Density (mi²)
3,848.10/sq mi
Growth Rate
1.53% (7,871)
Growth Since 2020
4.73% (23,613)
Rank in State
1st
Rank in Country
37th
The current population of Atlanta, Georgia is 522,328 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 498,715.
Atlanta, Georgia Population 2023
Atlanta Metro Area Population by Year
Atlanta Population by Race
Atlanta Population Pyramid 2023
Atlanta Median Age
33.2
Total
33
Male
33.5
Female
Atlanta Adults
There are 410,015 adults, (57,608 of whom are seniors) in Atlanta.
Atlanta Age Dependency
41.2
Age Dependency Ratio
16.3
Old Age Dependency Ratio
24.9
Child Dependency Ratio
Atlanta Sex Ratio
| Female | 255,321 | 51.31% |
| Male | 242,321 | 48.69% |
Atlanta Population by Age
Atlanta Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
3.16
Average Family Size
2.14
Average Household Size
44.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Atlanta Households and Families
Atlanta Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Atlanta Educational Attainment by Race
Atlanta Earnings by Educational Attainment
Atlanta Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Atlanta Language
89.9% of Atlanta residents speak only English, while 10.1% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 4.85% of the population.
Atlanta Language
21.05%
Overall Poverty Rate
17.62%
Male Poverty Rate
20.69%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Atlanta
The race most likely to be in poverty in Atlanta is Black, with 32.16% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Atlanta is White, with 8.11% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.72%. Among those working part-time, it was 25.64%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 35.35%.
Atlanta Poverty
Atlanta Poverty Rate by Education
Atlanta Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Income by Household Type
Atlanta Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
28.0%
Overall Marriage Rate
29.6%
Male Marriage Rate
26.4%
Female Marriage Rate
Atlanta Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Atlanta Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Atlanta Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Atlanta Marital Status
Atlanta Veterans by War
Atlanta Veterans by Age
Atlanta Veterans by Race
Atlanta Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
14.05%
Veteran Poverty Rate
27.35%
Veteran Disability Rate
Atlanta Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
66%
Labor Force Participation
61.5%
Employment Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
Atlanta Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Atlanta Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Atlanta Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
49.91%
Born in Atlanta
91.83%
Native Born
7.95%
Foreign Born
4.46%
Non Citizen
3.49%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
91.83% of Atlanta residents were born in the United States, with 49.91% having been born in Georgia. 4.46% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
