Bethlehem, PA Demographics

A map of Bethlehem's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	43,762	42,411	56.1%	56.0%
Hispanic	22,391	22,101	28.7%	29.2%
Black	6,401	5,447	8.2%	7.2%
Multiracial	2,797	2,425	3.6%	3.2%
Asian	2,177	2,572	2.8%	3.4%
Native American/Other	428	825	0.5%	1.1%

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 77,956, a slight increase from the 75,781 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 56.1% White, 28.7% Hispanic, 8.2% Black, 3.6% Multiracial, 2.8% Asian, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bethlehem, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bethlehem is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Pennsylvania overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bethlehem, that probability was 59.4% in 2020 and 59.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bethlehem is ranked the 6th most populous place in Pennsylvania, out of 2,002 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). Bethlehem was ranked the 7th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Bethlehem's White Population

43,762 residents of Bethlehem, or 56.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bethlehem is significantly lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 73% of the population is White. Bethlehem ranks 1812th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's White population has grown by an estimated 3.2%. White residents' share of Bethlehem's population has remained roughly unchanged at 56.1%.

Bethlehem is more White than neighboring Freemansburg (43.2% White). Bethlehem is less White than neighboring Fountain Hill (66% White), Middletown (64.2% White), Hellertown (78.2% White), and DeSales University (86.4% White).

Bethlehem's Black Population

6,401 residents of Bethlehem, or 8.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bethlehem is slightly lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 10.3% of the population is Black. Bethlehem ranks 204th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's Black population has grown by an estimated 17.5%. Black residents' share of Bethlehem's population has increased from 7.2% to 8.2%.

Bethlehem is more Black than neighboring Fountain Hill (3% Black), Middletown (5.3% Black), Hellertown (0.9% Black), and DeSales University (6.6% Black). Bethlehem is less Black than neighboring Freemansburg (11.7% Black).

Bethlehem's Asian Population

2,177 residents of Bethlehem, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bethlehem is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.8% of the population is Asian. Bethlehem ranks 186th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's Asian population has declined by an estimated 15.4%. Asian residents' share of Bethlehem's population has decreased from 3.4% to 2.8%.

Bethlehem is more Asian than neighboring Fountain Hill (0.4% Asian), Middletown (1.4% Asian), and Hellertown (0.3% Asian). Bethlehem is less Asian than neighboring Freemansburg (3.9% Asian), and DeSales University (5.7% Asian).

Bethlehem's Hispanic Population

22,391 residents of Bethlehem, or 28.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bethlehem is significantly higher than in Pennsylvania overall, where 8.7% of the population is Hispanic. Bethlehem ranks 26th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 1.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Bethlehem's population has decreased from 29.2% to 28.7%.

Bethlehem is more Hispanic than neighboring Fountain Hill (28.6% Hispanic), Middletown (25.9% Hispanic), Hellertown (16.6% Hispanic), and DeSales University (0.3% Hispanic). Bethlehem is less Hispanic than neighboring Freemansburg (38.5% Hispanic).

Bethlehem's Native American/Other Population

428 residents of Bethlehem, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bethlehem is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Bethlehem ranks 132nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 48.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bethlehem's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.5%.

Bethlehem is more Native American/Other than neighboring Freemansburg (0% Native American/Other), Fountain Hill (0% Native American/Other), Middletown (0.3% Native American/Other), and DeSales University (0% Native American/Other). Bethlehem is less Native American/Other than neighboring Hellertown (1.6% Native American/Other).

Bethlehem's Multiracial Population

2,797 residents of Bethlehem, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bethlehem is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.6% of the population is Multiracial. Bethlehem ranks 1028th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethlehem's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 15.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Bethlehem's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.6%.

Bethlehem is more Multiracial than neighboring Freemansburg (2.6% Multiracial), Fountain Hill (2% Multiracial), Middletown (2.9% Multiracial), Hellertown (2.4% Multiracial), and DeSales University (1% 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.