Bay County Demographics

A map of Bay County's Population by Race

Bay County, Florida has an estimated population of 186,393, an increase from the 175,216 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 72.7% White, 9.8% Black, 9.2% Hispanic, 5.6% Multiracial, 2.0% Asian, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bay County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bay has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Florida overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bay County, that probability was 44.4% in 2020 and 45.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bay County is ranked the 30th most populous county in Florida, out of 67 counties. Bay County was ranked the 30th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Bay County's White Population

135,483 residents of Bay County, or 72.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bay County is significantly higher than in Florida overall, where 50.4% of the population is White. Bay County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's White population has grown by an estimated 5.6%. White residents' share of Bay County's population has decreased from 73.3% to 72.7%.

Bay County is less White than neighboring Gulf County (76.6% White), Washington County (75.9% White), Calhoun County (75.5% White), Walton County (81.2% White), and Holmes County (84.2% White).

Bay County's Black Population

18,301 residents of Bay County, or 9.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bay County is slightly lower than in Florida overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Bay County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's Black population has grown by an estimated 4.3%. Black residents' share of Bay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 9.8%.

Bay County is more Black than neighboring Walton County (4.1% Black), and Holmes County (5.8% Black). Bay County is less Black than neighboring Gulf County (13.5% Black), Washington County (13.4% Black), and Calhoun County (11.4% Black).

Bay County's Asian Population

3,806 residents of Bay County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bay County is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Bay County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 6.4%. Asian residents' share of Bay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.0%.

Bay County is more Asian than neighboring Gulf County (0.6% Asian), Washington County (0.6% Asian), Calhoun County (0.8% Asian), Walton County (1.1% Asian), and Holmes County (0.6% Asian).

Bay County's Hispanic Population

17,061 residents of Bay County, or 9.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bay County is significantly lower than in Florida overall, where 27.4% of the population is Hispanic. Bay County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 23.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Bay County's population has increased from 7.9% to 9.2%.

Bay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Gulf County (4.9% Hispanic), Washington County (4% Hispanic), Calhoun County (5.3% Hispanic), Walton County (8.6% Hispanic), and Holmes County (3.7% Hispanic).

Bay County's Native American/Other Population

1,397 residents of Bay County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bay County is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Bay County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 18.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Bay County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Gulf County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Washington County (0.6% Native American/Other). Bay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Calhoun County (1.9% Native American/Other), Walton County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Holmes County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Bay County's Multiracial Population

10,345 residents of Bay County, or 5.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bay County is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Bay County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bay County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 6.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Bay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.6%.

Bay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Gulf County (4.1% Multiracial), Washington County (5.4% Multiracial), Calhoun County (5.1% Multiracial), Walton County (4.2% Multiracial), and Holmes County (4.9% 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.