Bakersfield, CA Demographics

A map of Bakersfield's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	225,254	212,822	54.7%	52.7%
White	113,582	116,311	27.6%	28.8%
Asian	32,043	30,268	7.8%	7.5%
Black	23,536	26,402	5.7%	6.5%
Multiracial	12,737	12,564	3.1%	3.1%
Native American/Other	4,834	5,088	1.2%	1.3%

Bakersfield, California has an estimated population of 411,986, a slight increase from the 403,455 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 54.7% Hispanic, 27.6% White, 7.8% Asian, 5.7% Black, 3.1% Multiracial, and 1.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bakersfield, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bakersfield has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bakersfield, that probability was 62.8% in 2020 and 61.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bakersfield is ranked the 9th most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Bakersfield was ranked the 9th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Bakersfield's White Population

113,582 residents of Bakersfield, or 27.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bakersfield is lower than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Bakersfield ranks 1196th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Bakersfield's population has decreased from 28.8% to 27.6%.

Bakersfield is more White than neighboring Benton Park (13.8% White), Casa Loma (8.8% White), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (2.9% White). Bakersfield is less White than neighboring Old Stine (37.1% White), and Olde Stockdale (98.9% White).

Bakersfield's Black Population

23,536 residents of Bakersfield, or 5.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bakersfield is comparable to the share in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Bakersfield ranks 147th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's Black population has declined by an estimated 10.9%. Black residents' share of Bakersfield's population has decreased from 6.5% to 5.7%.

Bakersfield is more Black than neighboring Old Stine (5.1% Black), Casa Loma (1.4% Black), and Olde Stockdale (0% Black). Bakersfield is less Black than neighboring Benton Park (7.4% Black), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (21% Black).

Bakersfield's Asian Population

32,043 residents of Bakersfield, or 7.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bakersfield is lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Bakersfield ranks 372nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's Asian population has grown by an estimated 5.9%. Asian residents' share of Bakersfield's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.8%.

Bakersfield is more Asian than neighboring Benton Park (1.6% Asian), Old Stine (0.6% Asian), Casa Loma (1.2% Asian), Olde Stockdale (0% Asian), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (0% Asian).

Bakersfield's Hispanic Population

225,254 residents of Bakersfield, or 54.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bakersfield is considerably higher than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Bakersfield ranks 375th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Bakersfield's population has increased from 52.7% to 54.7%.

Bakersfield is more Hispanic than neighboring Old Stine (51.5% Hispanic), and Olde Stockdale (0% Hispanic). Bakersfield is less Hispanic than neighboring Benton Park (75.3% Hispanic), Casa Loma (87.1% Hispanic), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (72.3% Hispanic).

Bakersfield's Native American/Other Population

4,834 residents of Bakersfield, or 1.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bakersfield is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Bakersfield ranks 776th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 5.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bakersfield's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Bakersfield is more Native American/Other than neighboring Benton Park (0.7% Native American/Other), Old Stine (1% Native American/Other), Olde Stockdale (0% Native American/Other), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (0% Native American/Other). Bakersfield is less Native American/Other than neighboring Casa Loma (1.6% Native American/Other).

Bakersfield's Multiracial Population

12,737 residents of Bakersfield, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bakersfield is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Bakersfield ranks 1165th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bakersfield's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 1.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Bakersfield's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.1%.

Bakersfield is more Multiracial than neighboring Benton Park (1.2% Multiracial), Casa Loma (0% Multiracial), and Olde Stockdale (1.1% Multiracial). Bakersfield is less Multiracial than neighboring Old Stine (4.8% Multiracial), and Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) (3.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.