Callaway County Demographics

A map of Callaway County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	39,393	38,453	88.0%	86.8%
Multiracial	2,203	2,367	4.9%	5.3%
Black	1,672	1,943	3.7%	4.4%
Hispanic	1,098	965	2.5%	2.2%
Native American/Other	311	333	0.7%	0.8%
Asian	64	222	0.1%	0.5%

Callaway County, Missouri has an estimated population of 44,741, a slight increase from the 44,283 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.0% White, 4.9% Multiracial, 3.7% Black, 2.5% Hispanic, 0.7% Native American/Other, and 0.1% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Callaway County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Callaway has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Missouri overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Callaway County, that probability was 24.1% in 2020 and 22.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Callaway County is ranked the 24th most populous county in Missouri, out of 115 counties. Callaway County was ranked the 24th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Callaway County's White Population

39,393 residents of Callaway County, or 88.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Callaway County is considerably higher than in Missouri overall, where 76.3% of the population is White. Callaway County ranks 81st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.4%. White residents' share of Callaway County's population has increased from 86.8% to 88.0%.

Callaway County is more White than neighboring Audrain County (87.2% White), Boone County (75.8% White), and Cole County (79.2% White). Callaway County is less White than neighboring Osage County (96.6% White), and Montgomery County (92.3% White).

Callaway County's Black Population

1,672 residents of Callaway County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Callaway County is lower than in Missouri overall, where 10.9% of the population is Black. Callaway County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's Black population has declined by an estimated 13.9%. Black residents' share of Callaway County's population has decreased from 4.4% to 3.7%.

Callaway County is more Black than neighboring Osage County (0.3% Black), and Montgomery County (0.8% Black). Callaway County is less Black than neighboring Audrain County (4.4% Black), Boone County (9.5% Black), and Cole County (9.7% Black).

Callaway County's Asian Population

64 residents of Callaway County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Callaway County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 2.1% of the population is Asian. Callaway County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 71.2%. Asian residents' share of Callaway County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Callaway County is less Asian than neighboring Audrain County (0.6% Asian), Boone County (4.8% Asian), and Cole County (1.4% Asian).

Callaway County's Hispanic Population

1,098 residents of Callaway County, or 2.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Callaway County is slightly lower than in Missouri overall, where 5.2% of the population is Hispanic. Callaway County ranks 52nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 13.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Callaway County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.5%.

Callaway County is more Hispanic than neighboring Osage County (1.1% Hispanic), and Montgomery County (2.3% Hispanic). Callaway County is less Hispanic than neighboring Audrain County (3.2% Hispanic), Boone County (4.5% Hispanic), and Cole County (3.6% Hispanic).

Callaway County's Native American/Other Population

311 residents of Callaway 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 Callaway County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Callaway County ranks 45th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 6.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Callaway County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Callaway County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Osage County (0.1% Native American/Other), Audrain County (0.5% Native American/Other), Boone County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Montgomery County (0.5% Native American/Other). Callaway County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Cole County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Callaway County's Multiracial Population

2,203 residents of Callaway County, or 4.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Callaway County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Callaway County ranks 24th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Callaway County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 6.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Callaway County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.9%.

Callaway County is more Multiracial than neighboring Osage County (1.8% Multiracial), Audrain County (4.1% Multiracial), Boone County (4.8% Multiracial), and Montgomery County (3.9% Multiracial). Callaway County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cole County (5.1% 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.